Larson

Larson Lake is located 12 miles east of Effie, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 198 acres and a maximum depth of 177 feet. There is a DNR-administered access at the State Campground on the west side of the lake. The current lake management plan lists Splake as the primary species of management, with a goal of maintaining a gill-net catch at 2.0/net. Splake have been stocked in Larson Lake since 1988. The current state record Splake (13 lbs. 5.4 oz.) was caught from the lake in February 2001. Splake fingerlings are stocked in the fall in even-numbered years at a rate of 50/acre. A standard lake survey was conducted in August 2020 to assess the status of the fishery and the effectiveness of the stocking plan. Gill-net catches for Splake ranged from 0.8 to 6.8/net in previous surveys. The 2020 gill-net catch was 0.3/net, well below the management plan goal. The low catch rate suggests poor survival of stocked fingerlings. A change to stocking a more advanced life-stage (yearlings) could be considered. The two fish sampled were 10.2 and 30.5 inches. The largest trout was quickly measured, weighed and released, and weighed approximately 13.65 lbs. If accurate, this weight would exceed the current state record. Management of other trout species has been attempted in Larson Lake. Brown Trout yearlings were stocked in the springs of 2005 and 2007. Brown Trout management was discontinued after these initial stockings failed to produce a fishable population. Rainbow Trout were stocked as recently as 2003. Previous surveys indicated poor returns from Rainbow Trout stocking. Larson Lake was chemically reclaimed in 1966 to remove undesirable species. Several undesirable species have become re-established in the lake since that time. Yellow Perch were sampled at 10.5/gill net, up from the previous survey but near the historical average (10.1). Yellow Perch can be a competitor with stream trout in lakes, since they both utilize invertebrates as a prey source; however, Yellow Perch in Larson Lake also provide a prey source for Splake. Other species sampled in this survey included Black Bullhead, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and White Sucker.

Larson Lake is located 12 miles east of Effie, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 198 acres and a maximum depth of 177 feet. Larson Lake is in ecological lake class 23. Class 23 lakes are relatively small, deep and clear with high alkalinity. Other area lakes in this class are Bluewater and Caribou Lakes. There is a DNR-administered access at the State Campground on the west side of the lake. The current lake management plan lists Splake as the primary species of management. Splake have been stocked in Larson Lake since 1988. The current state record Splake (13 lbs. 5.4 oz.) was caught from the lake in February 2001. Splake fingerlings are stocked in the fall in even-numbered years at a rate of 50/acre. The 2014 gill-net catch for Splake was 2.2/net, near the management plan goal of 2.0/net. Sampled fish ranged from 10.6 to 23.0 inches. Comparing the length-frequency distribution of sampled Splake against the alternate-year stocking regime indicated most of the fish were stocked in 2012. These age 2 fish ranged from 10 to 16 inches. Two larger Splake (22 to 23 inches) were attributed to the 2010 stocking. Brown Trout yearlings were stocked in the springs of 2005 and 2007. Only one Brown Trout (17.8 inches) was captured in the 2007 assessment, indicating poor survival. Another Brown Trout (27.4 inches) was sampled in 2014. Brown Trout management was discontinued after these initial stockings failed to produce a fishable population. Rainbow Trout were stocked as recently as 2003. Previous surveys indicated poor returns from Rainbow Trout stocking. Larson Lake was chemically reclaimed in 1966 to remove undesirable species. Several undesirable species have become re-established in the lake since that time. Yellow Perch were sampled at 1.8/gill net, down substantially from the 2007 catch rate of 33.8/net. Yellow Perch can be a competitor with stream trout in lakes, since they both utilize invertebrates as a prey source; however, Yellow Perch in Larson Lake also provide a prey source for Splake. Other species sampled in this assessment included Black Bullhead, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and White Sucker.

Larson Lake is located 13 miles east of Effie, MN in the Big Fork River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 198 acres and a maximum depth of 177 feet. Larson Lake is in ecological lake class #23. Other area lakes in this class include Antler, Caribou and Thistledew Lakes. There is a public access on the west shore at the DNR campground. The current lake management plan lists splake and brown trout as the primary species of management. Splake have been stocked in Larson Lake since 1988. The current state record splake (13 lbs. 5.4 oz.) was caught from the lake during the winter of 2001. In 2007, a total of 41 splake were caught in gill nets for a catch rate of 6.8/net. This is well above the 2002 catch rate of 1.3/net and the management plan goal of 2.0/net. By comparing the length-frequency distribution of sampled splake against the alternate year stocking regime, it was determined that most of the splake (75.6%) were stocked in the fall of 2006. These age 1+ fish ranged from 7 to 11 inches. The remaining splake ranged from 16 to 24 inches and were attributed to the 2004 and 2002 stockings. Brown trout yearlings were stocked in the spring of 2005 and 2007. Only one brown trout (17.8 inches) was sampled in the 2007 assessment, indicating poor survival. Rainbow trout were stocked as recently as 2003, but none were sampled in this assessment. Previous surveys indicated poor returns from rainbow trout stocking efforts. Larson Lake was chemically reclaimed in 1966 to remove undesirable species. Several undesirable species have become re-established in the lake since that time. Similar to the previous two assessments, the 2007 gill-net catch rate for yellow perch was high at 33.8/net. Perch sampled in this assessment were small, ranging from 6.1 to 9.8 inches, with an average length of 7.2 inches. Yellow perch are thought to be a competitor with stream trout in lakes since they both utilize invertebrates as a primary prey source. Other species sampled in this assessment included black bullhead, golden shiner, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish and white sucker.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brook Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch in Larson. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Larson. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Larson has a maximum depth of 177 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Larson is from 2020.

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