Bowstring

Bowstring Lake is located 12 miles northwest of Deer River, Minnesota. Fall, night electrofishing was conducted to sample young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye. The survey was the first since adult zebra mussels were found in 2020. The surface water temperatures and weather were good for sampling young Walleye. Water levels were very low and visibility was clear for all stations. The sampling stations that were previously considered very good were now full of vegetation following the introduction of zebra mussels, especially water celery. Lakes with relatively low to no vegetation in the electrofishing stations have consistently been better for sampling YOY Walleye. If these conditions remain, sampling young Walleye will likely become more challenging in the future. Anglers should note that reproduction and recruitment is variable in Walleye populations. Fall electrofishing can be an effective tool to document Walleye reproduction and/or survival to their first fall when conducted as part of a long-term evaluation, but individual electrofishing events are often a poor indicator of year-class strength or future angling success. Natural reproduction and survival of young Walleye appeared to be poor among area lakes in 2025. The seven stations were sampled for more than 1 hour and 35 minutes and no YOY Walleye were observed. Ten adult Walleye were observed and they appeared in good condition. Substantially more Largemouth Bass and panfish were noted. Some stations had abundant shiners and YOY Yellow Perch, though only one adult perch was observed. A few YOY Burbot, modest numbers of Brown and Yellow Bullhead, and small, skinny Northern Pike were also observed.

Bowstring Lake is a productive, shallow, 9,220 acre lake located 12 miles northwest of Deer River, MN. The lake has four public accesses and moderate shoreline development. The 2015 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Walleye and Black Crappie as the primary species of management because they are well-suited to the lake and popular with anglers. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch were considered secondary species for management because they also were suited to the lake, though pike size structure is poor and perch size structure is variable. The LMP goals were to maintain a catch of 8.3 Walleye/gill net, reduce the pike catch to 5.0/gill net, and maintain a catch of 3.0 Black Crappie/gill net. In the spring of 2007, a special Northern Pike regulation was implemented that required all fish from 22 to 36 inches to be released and only one fish over 36 inches could be possessed. The regulation also had an expanded bag limit of nine fish. In the spring of 2017, the regulation was rescinded and Bowstring moved into the North-central zone regulation for pike (10 fish bag limit, 22 to 26 protected slot with only two over 26 inches). The targeted survey in August of 2021 was conducted to assess the fish community, with an emphasis on Northern Pike and Walleye management. The survey was the first since Zebra Mussels were found in Bowstring. A total of 15 gill-nets were set during the survey. Black Crappie catch rates have been variable since 1957, ranging from 0.3 to 9.2 fish/gill net. The catch of 3.4/net in 2021 was average for the lake and above the LMP goal. The sampled fish ranged from 4.3 to 12.2 inches and averaged 8.1 inches. Six age-classes were identified by scale analysis with fish from age 1 to 7 represented. Growth was comparable to other lakes with similar habitat to Bowstring. Crappie likely provide good fishing when a strong year-class grows to a size angler's desire. Bowstring Lake a history of high pike catches with poor size structures. Northern Pike catches have ranged from 5.7 to 15.8 fish/net since 1957. Catches in the prior three surveys were the lowest on record but the catch of 15.6 fish/gill net in 2021 approached the record high. The catch also was nowhere near meeting the management goal of 5.0 fish/gill net. Lower pike populations are desirable because they have better growth, average size, and have less influence on prey within the fish community than high pike populations. The 2021 sampled fish ranged from 14.1 to 32.1 inches and averaged 18.6 inches. Only 9% of the sampled fish were longer than 21 inches. Unfortunately, neither of the regulations since 2007 appear to have made appreciable gains in pike size structure. Bowstring Lake has a long history of having a good Walleye fishery maintained by natural reproduction. Walleye catches have ranged from 3.5 to 22.6/net since 1957. The 2021 catch of 10.2 Walleye/net exceeded the management goal of 8.3 fish/net. The sampled fish ranged from 7.7 to 24.0 inches and averaged 14.2 inches. Thirteen age-classes were estimated from bony structures like scales and otoliths (an inner-ear bone) and fish from age 0 to 14 were found. Recruitment appeared good; age-2 fish represented 36% of the sample while another six age-classes represented from 8 to 11% each. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages. Walleye averaged 14.6 inches after four years of growth. Walleye stocking was discontinued in 1991 because natural reproduction had long been considered an important component of the population. Five of the six highest Walleye catches have occurred since stocking was discontinued. Frequent fall electrofishing surveys for young-of-the-year Walleye since 1995 has also documented consistent natural reproduction. Continued electrofishing for young Walleye may be an important tool to monitor the population and changing habitat now that Zebra Mussels are established. The Yellow Perch population in Bowstring Lake has produced a quality fishery at times. Gill-net catches have fluctuated from a low of 7.8 fish/net in 2021 to a high of 59.0 fish/net in 1980. The record low catch in 2021 reflects declining trends observed throughout the state from 1970 to 2013. There is also some evidence the declining trends in gill-net catches is related to perch maturing at earlier ages than before, resulting in smaller size distributions that are less vulnerable to be captured in the gear. The low perch catches also correspond to high Walleye catches and near record high pike catches in Bowstring. High predator numbers may be directly effecting perch catches because of predation (actually fewer perch) or indirectly by the predation creating a response for perch to mature earlier, resulting in slower growth so the smaller perch are less catchable. The 2021 sampled fish ranged from 5.1 to 11.9 inches and averaged 6.9 inches. Additional research should help us better understand these complex ecosystems. Other species observed during the targeted survey included Bluegill, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Tullibee and White Sucker.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Bowstring Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 12-15 July 2021. Twenty-four sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sites with one site sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample sixteen sites, a 15-foot seine was used at four sites, and soft sediments with abundant vegetation and deep water prevented the use of seines at four sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 21 native species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Burbot, Iowa Darter, Longnose Dace, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two species (Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow) that are tolerant of disturbance. A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted on 12-15 July 2021 by IBI Program Staff. Fourteen trap nets were set along the shoreline that encompassed multiple habitat types. Shorthead Redhorse, Black Crappie, Bowfin, and Bluegill comprised a majority of the trap net catch by number and Bowfin, Shorthead Redhorse, and Silver Redhorse comprised the majority of the catch by biomass. The number of Bluegill sampled per net was below the 25% quartile for similar Lake Class 22 lakes but the average length was 7.3 inches with 63% over 7 inches. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates Bowstring Lake is in good health as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Big Fork River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Bowstring has a maximum depth of 32 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bowstring is from 2021.

Yes — Bowstring has confirmed faucet snail and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.