Siseebakwet

Siseebakwet Lake, also known as Sugar, is a popular Walleye fishery known for producing keeper sized fish, though the bite can be difficult due to exceptional water quality. To maintain the fishery, Walleye fingerlings are stocked in odd years. Rusty crayfish are an invasive species that has been documented at various abundances in past surveys. It is unclear what, if any, impact they have on the fish community. Walleye were sampled at a rate well above what is expected for lakes of this type, and consistent with recent observations for Siseebakwet. Sizes of the fish were moderate, averaging 14 inches, with few large individuals which was similar to past surveys. There was a wide range of ages observed, and distribution was comparable to the stocking history. However, natural reproduction was evident as almost 11% had ages associated to non-stocked years. Growth was consistent with the statewide average and past surveys suggesting abundance has not been averse to growth. Walleye averaged almost 16 inches by age 5. Yellow Perch are an important prey species. The 2024 catch was lower than expected for the lake and lake type. However, there appears to be favorable angling opportunities as lengths averaged 9 inches and fish over 12 inches were sampled. Northern Pike are not abundant and catches have consistently been lower than expected. The few fish sampled had an average length of 30 inches. Siseebakwet has the attributes to produce large pike and anglers are encouraged to release fish over 26 to help realize the lakes potential. Lakes like Siseebakwet are not known for panfish production, yet panfish catches were favorable. The Bluegill catch was about average for the type of lake but noticeably more than what has been observed. The Black Crappie catch exceeded expectations and was similar to the past survey. Rock Bass were abundant, exceeding expectations for both gear types. Observed sizes was satisfactory for all species. Other species sampled included Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Tullibee and White Sucker.

Siseebakwet Lake is in ecological lake class 22 and is located 7 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 1,306 acres and has a maximum depth of 105 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area fisheries staff beginning on 11 July, 2024. Eighteen sampling sites (100 feet long) were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-ft or 50-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at one site using the 15-ft seine and 17 sites with the 50-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 18 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 17 different species: 12 species by seining and 14 species by backpack electrofishing. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report. Nearshore catches will be used with the gill net and trap net data from the standard survey conducted on 26 August, 2024, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on Siseebakwet Lake on August 2, 2023, to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 26 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 90.9 feet, which was below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4.9°C (40.8°F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.5°C indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for Cisco. Dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Cisco was available across a wide range of depths at the time of sampling during the summer of 2023. Data collected in 1979-2017 further indicate suitable oxythermal habitat across years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2012. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore experience higher levels of stress.

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

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

Siseebakwet has a maximum depth of 105 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Siseebakwet is from 2024.

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