Little Ball Club

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Ball Club Lake, which is located withinthe Leech Lake Reservation, was conducted beginning on July 10, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 10 sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 4 stations and a 15-foot seine was used at 5 stations. Sampling was difficult at 1 station, which was not seined because site conditions prevented wading. Nearshore sampling captured 11 species of fish, including 1 species that is intolerant of disturbance (Iowa Darter). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a survey conducted in June of 2018 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., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Little Ball Club Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. This is the first time an FIBI score has been calculated for Little Ball Club Lake.

Black Crappie are primary management species with Northern Pike and Bluegill being considered secondary management species. The 2010 lake management plan had goals of maintaining a Black Crappie gill net or trap net catch rate >3.5/net with size structure indices characterized by 90% greater than 8 inches, 50% greater than10 inches and 10% greater than 12 inches and a Bluegill trap net catch rate <6.1/net with size structure indices characterized by a 80% greater than 6 inches, 40% greater than 8 inches and 10% greater than 10 inches. The lake is passively managed through statewide regulations. This was one of many surveys conducted to assess the status of the fish population. Trap net catches for Black Crappie have been above average for lakes with comparable habitat, sometimes well above the expected range. The catch was similar to the management plan goal. Size structure was fair and similar to the previous survey, though short of the ambitious management goal. Lengths ranged from 5.6 to 11.5 inches with an average length of 8.5 inches. Age determination identified ages 2 to 4 and 6 to 8. Recruitment seemed somewhat sporadic. Age 4 comprised 55% of the expanded age frequency. Growth was below average for all ages. Black Crappie averaged almost 9 inches by age 5. Bluegill catches have typically been lower than expected compared to lakes of similar habitat, but have increased in recent surveys. The 2018 catch was low but still comparable to lakes with similar habitat and the previous survey. The catch was close to management goals while size structure was short. Lengths ranged from 3.2 to 9.5 inches with an average length of 6.1 inches. Age analysis identified ages 2 to 8, though ages 2 to 4 were well represented, containing 87% of the expanded age frequency. Growth surpassed the lake class averages and was similar to the previous survey. Bluegill averaged 7.8 inches by age 5. Northern Pike are well suited for the lake, being one of the most abundant in gill nets and similar to the previous survey. Size structure was moderate and similar to the previous survey. Lengths ranged from 14.6 to 32.8 with an average length 23.5 inches. Fish within the north central protected slot regulation (22" to 26") comprised 40% of the catch. Ages 1 to 8 were represented and distribution was somewhat sporadic. Age 4 comprised 32% of the expanded age frequency. Growth was similar to the statewide averages for all ages with fish averaging 23.1 inches by age 4. Yellow Perch catches have exceeded the expected range for similar lakes in all surveys, including the most recent. Size structure was poor with very few fish caught over 8 inches sampled and no fish over 10 inches, and similar to previous surveys. Lengths ranged from 5.2 to 9.9 inches with an average length of 7.0 inches. Walleye are not well suited for lakes with comparable habitat. Only a few Walleye have been caught in the surveys, despite past stocking efforts and surplus stocking by LLIR. Four Walleye were caught with lengths from 22.1 to 25.2 inches in 2018. Other species sampled include Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish and White Sucker.

Little Ball Club Lake is located about 12 miles northwest of Deer River, MN, within the Chippewa National Forest, and within the Mississippi River Headwaters Watershed. The 184 acre lake has 82 littoral acres with a 30 foot max depth, and is relatively undeveloped. Diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 2.5 mile shoreline. The U.S. Forest Service administered earthen public access is located on the west side of the lake with parking availability for about 4 rigs. Little Ball Club is connected to Tuttle Lake to the north. Black crappie were sampled in gill nets at a rate lower than the previous assessment, and at the low end of the expected range for lakes similar to Little Ball Club. However, the trap net catch (11.6/net) was significantly higher than the expected range (0.7-3.4/net) and the previous assessment (5.2/net). The high trap net catch rate and the lower gill net catch rate is likely related to the cool spring, in which more fish were in the shallows at the time of the assessment. Size structure appeared good with lengths ranging from 7.2-12.6 inches and an average length of 9.3 inches in the trap net sample. Recruitment appeared reasonably consistent with scale analysis identifying consecutive age classes from age 3-7. Ages 3 and 4 were well represented, comprising 31% and 58% of the catch, respectively. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging nine inches by age 4. Northern pike were sampled at a gill net rate near the high end of the expected range, however it was less than the historical high of the previous assessment (12.8/net). Size structure appeared moderately poor with 19% of the sample exceeding 24 inches. Lengths ranged from 14.1-29.2 inches with an average length of 20.5 inches. Scale and bone analysis indicated that six ages were present with fish up to age 7 in the sample. Growth was near the statewide average with fish averaging 24 inches by age 5. Yellow perch were sampled in gill nets at a rate near the high end of the expected range, similar to the previous assessment. Lengths of perch were typically too small to interest anglers with an average length of 6.8 inches. Forty one perch were externally examined for parasites with yellow grub having a 98% occurrence and neascus (black spot) having an 83% occurrence. Scale analysis indicated eight age classes present with fish up to age 9 present. Growth started out similar to the statewide average, but slowed by age 8 to less than 15% of the statewide average. Bluegill were sampled at a historically high rate of 11.2/trap net, within the expected range. Similar to crappie, the high net catch is likely related to the cool spring, in which more fish were in the shallows at the time of the assessment. The previous assessment sampled bluegill at a rate of 4.2/trap net. Size structure appeared moderate. Scale analysis identified seven consecutive age classes with fish up to age 9 present. By age 2, growth exceeded the statewide lake class 31 average. This was the first assessment walleye were not sampled in gill nets, however one was sampled in a trap net (19.9 inches). Other species sampled include black bullhead, bowfin, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, white sucker, and yellow bullhead. Trap nets also sampled eighteen painted turtles and two snapping turtles which had a mean length of almost ten inches.

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

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

Little Ball Club has a maximum depth of 30 feet and a mean depth of 15.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Ball Club is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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