Little O'Reilly

Itasca County

Near Bovey

DOW: 31022000

Northern PikeGood · 70Largemouth BassGood · 50Rock BassAverage · 43

A 38-acre lake near Bovey in Itasca County — best known for pike and bass. Last surveyed 2004.

Fish Species (9)

Northern Pike

Good · 70

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

19.8"

Avg Weight

3.99 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 2.7–9.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike71% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 29%Largest sampled 28"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.50	19.8"	3.99 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2004	0.78	19.8"	2.08 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

0.76 lbs

Catch rate: 0.56 per trap net · typical 0.4–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.56	10.0"	0.76 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.33	6.3"	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 25

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.0"

Avg Weight

0.11 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 1.9–19.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.11	6.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	0.50	6.0"	0.11 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Crappie

Poor · 21

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.9"

Avg Weight

0.21 lbs

Catch rate: 0.89 per trap net · typical 0.7–4.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie0% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.89	6.9"	0.21 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Poor · 20

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.7"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 8.6 per trap net · typical 2.9–41.2 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	8.56	4.7"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	2.00	4.7"	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Poor · 16

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.9"

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 1.2 per trap net · typical 1.5–7.4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.00	4.9"	0.12 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2004	1.22	4.9"	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (2)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 39

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

8.2"

Avg Weight

0.31 lbs

Catch rate: 2.7 per trap net · typical 1.4–7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	2.67	8.2"	0.31 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 38

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.0"

Avg Weight

1.06 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 0.5–5.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.11	12.0"	1.06 lbs	Standard trap nets

Biologist Notes

July 6, 2004Little O'Reilly Lake is a small lake located in central Itasca County, north of Bovey, MN. The Division of Waters lists the lake area as 77 acres, but…

Little O'Reilly Lake is a small lake located in central Itasca County, north of Bovey, MN. The Division of Waters lists the lake area as 77 acres, but the open water portion of the lake is closer to 45 acres. The lake has a maximum depth of 41 ft and a littoral area of 25 acres. This was the first assessment ever conducted on Little O'Reilly Lake. The surrounding watershed was actively mined in the past and red sediments are still present in the deeper portions of the lake. Access can only be gained through private property and fishing pressure is probably very light. Two gill nets sampled three northern pike for a gill net catch rate of 1.5/net, which was lower than the expected range for similar lakes. Northern pike varied in length from 24 to 25 inches. The survey crew commented that the northern pike were heavy for their length indicating they were in good condition. Growth was slower than the statewide average for ages one to three, and faster than the average for ages four to five. Northern pike averaged 24 inches by age four. Bluegill trap net catch rate was 8.6/net and was within the expected range for similar lakes. Size structure was poor with no fish larger than 8 inches sampled. Growth was slower than the lake class average with fish averaging 6 inches by age eight.Black crappie trap-net catch was 0.9/net, which was similar to the low end of the expected range. No black crappie were sampled in gill nets. Size structure was poor with no fish larger than 10 inches sampled. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 8 inches at age five. Five largemouth bass were sampled in trap nets for a catch rate of 0.6/net, which was within the expected range. No largemouth bass were sampled in gill nets. Size structure was poor with no fish larger than 15 inches sampled. Growth was slower than the statewide average with fish averaging 14 inches by age eight.Yellow perch catch rates were very low with two fish sampled in gill nets and trap nets. Other species sampled include pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, brown bullhead, and yellow bullhead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Little O'Reilly?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie in Little O'Reilly. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Little O'Reilly?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Little O'Reilly. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Little O'Reilly?

Little O'Reilly has a maximum depth of 41 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Little O'Reilly last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little O'Reilly is from 2004. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.