Wasson

Wasson Lake is located about 22 miles north of Taconite, MN, within the Mississippi River Watershed. The 415 acre lake has 208 littoral acres with a 67 foot max depth. The shoreline is moderately developed with very little public ownership. There is one resort with eight cabins and 45 private dwellings. Diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 8.2 mile shoreline. Yellow iris was noted as being present around the shoreline. This species is noted as having invasive characteristics and is proposed to become a regulated exotic species. There is no public access to the lake. Northern pike were sampled within the expected range for lakes similar to Wasson and similar to the previous assessment. The pike fishery can be characterized as having a modest size structure indicated by a 20 inch average and a top length of 35 inches in the gill net sample. Scale analysis indicated eight consecutive ages were sampled with fish up to age-8 in the sample. Back calculated length-at-age indicated growth was similar to the statewide average for all ages. Northern pike averaged nearly 24 inches by age-5. Black crappie were sampled at a rate exceeding the expected range in gill nets, similar to the previous assessment, while the trap net catch rate was lower than expected, also similar to the previous assessment. A moderate fishery exists for crappie with a few larger individuals in the population. Lengths ranged from 6.1-12.4 inches, in the gill net sample, with a mean length of 8.5 inches. Scale analysis indicated relatively consistent year classes with only one missing age class in seven years. Fish up to age nine were present in the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age indicated growth was slow early, but near the statewide average by age-3. Black crappie averaged 10 inches by age-6. Bluegill were sampled at the upper end of the expected range, nearly double the previous assessment. Size structure was moderate with lengths from 2.9-9.2 inches and a 5.5 inch average. Scale analysis indicated consecutive age classes 3-9 were present in the sample. Growth was similar to the statewide average for lake class 25 up to age-6, whiles ages 7-9 were slightly faster. Bluegill averaged almost eight inches by age-7. Yellow perch were sampled at a rate below the expected range, yet similar to the previous assessment. Lengths were typically too small to interest most anglers, averaging 6.7 inches. Trap nets sampled two largemouth bass, 7.1 and 16.9 inches, age 2 and 7, respectively. This was the first assessment since 1970 to not sample smallmouth bass in any standard gear. Tullibee were not sampled in 2010, they had been present in every assessment except 1986. Gill nets sampled three walleye, with lengths from 19.3-22.6 inches. This was the first assessment to sample walleye since 1954. Records indicate no walleye stocking has occurred and the occurrence in the sample is likely resultant of illegal stocking activity. Other species sampled in test netting included golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, and white sucker. As part of IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) sampling, Iowa darter, blackchin shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch were sampled in 5 seine hauls. Backpack electrofishing sampled bluegill, bluntnose minnow, central mudminnow, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, and yellow perch.

Ecological lake classification #25 will be used for comparison. Wasson Lake has a northern pike CPUE above average of mostly smaller fish. The largemouth bass and black crappie gill net CPUE's are high, above the third quartile. Yellow perch gill net CPUE is low, below the first quartile. The pumpkinseed trap net CPUE is low, below the first quartile, the other species CPUE are similar to the lake class median.

EXTREMELY LOW NUMBER OF YELLOW PERCH CAUGHT IN NETS, WITH 1 CISCO CAUGHT IN NETS (1 PER LIFT CAUGHT IN 1976). SMALLMOUTH BASS NUMBERS AND SIZE IS GOOD WITH 1986 HATCH BEING GOOD.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye, and Pumpkinseed in Wasson. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Wasson has a maximum depth of 67 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wasson is from 2010. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Wasson in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.