Pughole

Pughole Lake is a moderately developed lake located 13 miles north of Grand Rapids, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake has no inlets or outlets, and floating leaf vegetation is common. Secchi disk transparency has varied from 6 to 9 feet with bog-stained water. Pughole Lake is in ecological lake class 35. Other area lakes in this class include Big Island and Scrapper Lakes. The 2010 lake management plan (LMP) listed Northern Pike as the primary management species and Black Crappie as a secondary management species. A standard lake survey was conducted in mid-July 2024 to update information on the fishery. Previous surveys on Pughole have found moderate density and size structure of Northern Pike. Management goals for both number and size were generally met. In 2024, Northern Pike were captured at a typical rate for Pughole and lakes with similar habitat. Size structure was favorable; sampled pike ranged from 19.0 to 33.2 inches with an average length of 24.9 inches. Twenty-four percent of pike exceeded 28 inches. Ages 2-11 were represented with ages 5 and 6 the most abundant. Northern Pike averaged 23.7 inches at age 5. Like many northern Minnesota lakes, net catches for Black Crappie on Pughole have fluctuated over time. Black Crappie trap net catches were just above average in 2024 and exceeded the management goal. Size structure was modest as crappie ranged from 4.3 to 10.8 inches and averaged 8.5 inches. Twenty-six percent of Black Crappie exceeded 10 inches. Ages 2-7 were represented with no dominant year class. Growth was moderate with crappie averaging 8.7 inches after 5 years of growth. Historically, Pughole Lake has produced moderate numbers of Bluegill with modest size structure. The 2024 trap-net catch rate was average for the lake and lakes with similar habitat. Size structure was fair with Bluegill ranging in size from 3.6 to 7.8 inches and averaged 5.9 inches. About half the sampled Bluegill exceeded 6 inches. Ages 3-9 were represented with no dominant year class. Growth was moderate with Bluegill averaging 6.2 inches after 6 years of growth. Largemouth Bass were sampled in low numbers with fish ranging from 11.2 to 13.7 inches. An electrofishing assessment conducted in 2009 indicated a moderate population of Largemouth Bass of modest size. Yellow Perch are often an important prey species and catches have typically been low in Pughole Lake. The 2024 catch was the lowest on record, suggesting a limited prey base. One Walleye (20.4 inches) was sampled in the 2024 survey. Past Walleye stocking failed to produce a meaningful fishery and that management was discontinued in 1997. A marginal Walleye population may persist through natural reproduction. Other species sampled in 2024 included Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.

Pughole Lake is in ecological lake class 35 and is located 14 miles north of Grand Rapids, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 169 acres and has a maximum depth of 23 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area fisheries staff beginning on 9 July, 2024. Ten 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 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at 6 sites using the 15-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 7 different species: 6 species by seining and 3 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 15 July, 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.

Pughole Lake is a class 35 lake located 13 miles north of Grand Rapids, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake has a surface area of 152 acres, a maximum depth of 23 feet, and moderate shoreline development. Pughole Lake is primarily managed for northern pike and panfish. The 2009 northern pike gill-net catch was 3.8/net, below the lake class median but similar to the two previous assessments. Northern pike size structure was fairly poor. Sampled pike ranged from 16.9 to 33.5 inches with a mean length of 20.6 inches. Ages 2-4, and 8 were identified from cleithra and scale samples. Growth was similar to the statewide average with individuals growing to 21.4 inches in 4 years. The black crappie trap-net catch rate remained near the lake class first quartile at 1.0/net. Trap-net sampled fish ranged from 5.6 to 11.5 inches with a mean length of 9.5 inches. Ages 2-4, 6 and 7 were identified from scale samples. Growth was similar to the statewide average for all ages, with fish reaching 10.1 inches in 6 years. The trap-net catch rate for bluegill remained within the expected range at 14.9/net. Size structure was moderate with fish ranging from 3.3 to 8.8 inches, with a mean length of 7.1 inches. Recruitment appeared consistent, with ages 2-8, and 10 represented in the sample. Growth was similar to the lake class average for all ages, with fish growing to 6.9 inches in 6 years. Largemouth bass are also fairly abundant in Pughole Lake. Since traditional summer test-netting does not give a good representation of a lake's bass population, night electrofishing was conducted in June 2009. This assessment recorded a moderate catch rate of 21 fish/hour of on-time. Largemouth bass size structure was modest. Sampled bass ranged from 8.2 to 17.0 inches with a mean length of 12.3 inches and a mean weight of 1.1 pounds. Age analysis revealed fish from age 3-7, and 10 were represented. Back-calculated lengths-at-age were similar to the statewide average for all ages, with fish reaching 14.6 inches in 6 years. Yellow perch gill-net catch rates have generally been low, and declined in the 2009 assessment to below the first quartile at 1.8/net. Sampled perch ranged from 5.9 to 6.6 inches with a mean length of 6.2 inches. One walleye (23 inches) was captured in a trap net in the most recent assessment. Despite frequent stocking in the past, walleye catch rates never exceeded the lake class first quartile of 1.0/gill net in any assessments since 1965. Walleye management was discontinued in 1997. Other species sampled in this assessment included pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish and golden shiner.

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

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

Pughole has a maximum depth of 23 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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