Caribou

Caribou Lake is located about six miles south of Marcell and in the Chippewa National Forest. Fish production is limited due to low fertility associated with oligotrophic conditions. Caribou Lake has a long history of trout management and has been primarily managed for Lake Trout since 1942. Management has consisted mainly of numerous stockings. Most stocked fish were given a specific fin clip to help differentiate between stocked fish and natural reproduction since 1990. Stocking was discontinued after 2017 due to poor returns from stocking and because natural reproduction appeared capable of maintaining the fishery. The 2016 lake management plan (LMP) lists Lake Trout as a primary management species, with a deep-water gill net goal of 3.0/net. Because quality size Smallmouth Bass have been sampled in most surveys, the plan includes a goal of maintaining the presence of Smallmouth Bass greater than 17 inches. The 2022 targeted survey was conducted to evaluate the status of the Lake Trout population as well as to collect additional pre-regulation data. An experimental Lake Trout regulation will be implemented in the spring, 2023. Lake Trout will have a minimum harvest size limit of 20 inches with a one fish bag limit. Lake Trout are seldom abundant due to the nature of the cold, infertile lakes they inhabit. They often occupy deep, open water area difficult to sample, so low catch rates are not uncommon. Catches in deep-water gill nets have ranged from 1.0 to 4.8/net since 1987. The 2022 catch of 3.3/net attained the management plan goal. No fin clipped fish were sampled. Trout ranged from 7.9 to 32.6 inches with an average length of 17.4 inches in deep-water gill nets. The wide range of lengths suggests recruitment has been consistent. The lack of fin clips indicated these fish originated from natural reproduction. Past surveys suggest Yellow Perch, especially their early life stages, are an important prey species for Lake Trout in Caribou Lake. Perch were sampled at a rate of 4.3/net in deep-water gill nets. Catches in deep-water gill nets have ranged from 0 to 5.4/net but have averaged about two per net. Lengths ranged from 6.5 to 12.2 inches with an average length of 8.4 inches, suggesting a modest size distribution. Catches in deep-water gill nets tend to be low and may not reflect the numbers of other species. Three gill nets were set above the thermocline at depths more suitable for cool-water species. Smallmouth Bass were sampled at a rate of 6.0/net, well above catches for comparable lakes yet similar to the previous survey (5.7/net). Lengths ranged from 6.1 to 16.7 inches with an average length of 12.1 inches. A few fish from the shallower gill nets were near 17 inches and one from the deep-water gill nets exceeded 17 inches so the LMP goal was met. Lake Trout were also sampled in the shallower gill nets at a rate of 1.7/net, suggesting they are utilizing the entire available habitat. The five sampled fish ranged from 16.2 to 32.5 inches. Other species sampled include Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, White Sucker and Yellow Perch. The species composition was the same between gear types.

Lake Trout are the primary management species with a management catch rate goal of 3.0/net maintained through natural reproduction and stocking. Smallmouth Bass are a secondary management species with no defined goals. The lake management plan was last updated in 2016. The 2017 targeted survey was conducted to increase the sample size for Lake Trout genetic testing as well as sex and maturity data. Netting effort was increased from the traditional six nets to eight. Yearling Lake Trout have been stocked at a rate of 5 fish/surface acre (1,200) in odd years since 1991. All stocked fish were given a specific fin clip to differentiate between stocked age classes and natural reproduction. Multiple strains of Lake Trout have been stocked over time. An evaluation between Gillis and Mountain strains occurred from 2005 and 2009 with Mountain Lake strain exclusivity stocked since. Deepwater gill nets sampled 58 Lake Trout, at a rate of 7.3/net, exceeding the previous survey (2.5/net) and management goals. This was the highest observed catch, over double the lake average (3.4/net). The increased netting pressure was similar to the 2007 targeted survey with a catch rate of 4.8/net. Lengths ranged from 7.2 to 31.8 inches with a mean length of 16.4 inches. No distinguishing marks were identified during a field examination, similar to what was observed in past surveys. The limited number of Mountain Lake strain Lake Trout ever sampled indicates poor performance and survival. Sex and maturity was determined from 45 Lake Trout with the remainder (n=13) being alive and released. Males and females were evenly split in the sample. A total of 16 immature and 7 mature females were sampled while 17 immature and 5 mature males were sampled. Immature fish dominated the sample (73%), suggesting a young population. Lengths of immature females were from 11.1 to 17.3 inches with a mean length of 13.7 inches, and mature females ranged from 15.0 to 24.8 inches and a mean length of 18.5 inches. Immature males ranged from 10.7 to 15.7 inches with a mean length of 12.6 inches, and mature males were from 18.9 to 24.7 inches with a mean length of 21.7 inches. The sample suggests Lake Trout began to appear mature around 15 to 18 inches with females slightly larger. Naturally reproduced Lake Trout otoliths sometimes display slight crystallization, especially at early ages, providing only moderately confident age estimations. Hatchery reared Lake Trout almost always will have some degree of crystallization in the otoliths at early ages and cannot be aged accurately without the aid of a fin clip. Ages determined through otolith analysis identified ages 4 to 9 present in the sample, similar to the 2009 otolith analysis. Age 4 comprised 50% of the sample. Lengths ranged from 10.7 to 15 inches with an average length of 12.6 inches in age-4 fish and all except one were immature. Age 5 comprised 15% of the sample with an average length of 15 inches and 71% immature. Only five fish were age 6 (11%) with 40% immature and an average length of 18 inches. Five fish were not aged due to crystallization, but their lengths suggest four would likely be age 4 and one age 5. Lake Trout are typically long lived fish and with fish only up to age 9 in the sample, suggests older and larger individuals may be over exploited. Other area Lake Trout lakes typically sample fish near 20 years old with one 36 year old caught in 2017. Genetic analysis was not finished by the report due date and will be included in the lake management plan.

Caribou Lake is located about six miles south of Marcell, MN, within the Chippewa National Forest, and within the Big Fork River watershed. The 240 acre lake has 45 littoral acres and a 152 foot maximum depth. Relatively diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 3.4 mile shoreline. There is a U.S. Forest Service access on the southwest shore with limited parking available. Lake Trout are the primary management species with a catch rate goal of 3.0/net, maintained through natural reproduction and stocking. Smallmouth Bass are a secondary management species with no written goals. The lake management plan was last updated in 2010. Periodic Lake Trout stockings had occurred as early as the 1900's and in most years since 1951. Yearling Lake Trout have been stocked biennially in odd years since 1991. All stocked yearlings since 1993 were given a specific fin clip to differentiate between stocked age classes and natural reproduction due to the difficulty of ageing Lake Trout. Deepwater gill nets are set below the thermocline specifically targeting cold-water species, while standard gill nets are set above the thermocline in habitat better suited for cool-water species. Lake Trout were the only species sampled with deepwater gill nets in 2015. Complementing the six deepwater gill nets typically set, three standard gill nets were also set to better sample cool-water species. Deepwater gill nets sampled 15 Lake Trout at a rate of 2.5/net, below the lake management plan goal of 3.0/net. This catch was the lowest since the biennial stocking regime began in 1991. Previous catch rates have ranged from 2.7/net in 1996 to 4.8/net in 2007 and 2009 with an average catch rate of 4.1/net since 1992. Lengths ranged from 7.1 to 23.6 inches with an average length of 13.9 inches and an average weight of 1.5 pounds. Field analysis identified two marked fish (left ventral) correlating to age 1 and the 2015 spring stocking. The remaining fish had no distinguishing marks and are assumed to be from natural reproduction. The 2015 length frequency suggests there were multiple age classes present with about 60% of the sample age 3 or less, based on previous length frequencies with ages identified through otolith analysis. Smallmouth Bass were the most numerous species sampled in standard gill nets. The catch rate of 5.7/net exceeded the expected range for lakes similar to Caribou. Lengths ranged from 7.4 to 17.7 inches with an average length of 13.4 inches. A favorable size structure exists with fish over 17 inches present. Scale analysis identified ages 3 to 7 present with growth slower than the statewide average. Smallmouth Bass averaged 13.4 inches by age-5. Largemouth Bass were sampled at a rate of 2.3/net, slightly above the expected range. Lengths ranged from 7.4 to 15.2 inches with an average length of 12.3 inches. The sample size was too small to accurately assess age structure, but scale analysis identified ages 2, 4-6. Trap nets sampled Bluegill at a rate of 17.7/gill net, within the expected range but less than the previous assessment of 25.3/net. Lengths ranged from 3.0 to 7.6 inches with an average length of 4.3 inches. Size structure was poor with few fish exceeding six inches. Deepwater gill nets failed to sample Yellow Perch, while eight were sampled in gill nets. Yellow Perch have typically been sampled in low numbers with deepwater gill nets in past assessments. Yellow Perch fry, and a few individuals up to four inches, were identified in the stomach analysis of Lake Trout, similar to previous assessments. It appears Yellow Perch are an important prey species for Lake Trout. Other species sampled were Rock Bass and White Sucker.

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

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

Caribou has a maximum depth of 152 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Caribou is from 2022.

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