Round

Round Lake is located on the west side of Squaw Lake, MN. Round Lake has two public accesses and moderate shoreline development. Other area lakes with similar habitat having quality Walleye fisheries include Island, Moose, Jessie, and Split Hand. The 2020 lake management plan identifies Walleye as the primary species of management interest with Yellow Perch as a secondary species. The goal was to maintain a catch near 5.5 Walleye/net by natural reproduction and regulations; and Yellow Perch catch above 18.2/net with 10 to 30% of the sample exceeding 10 inches. Round Lake has received various special regulations to improve the fishery in the last 20 years. In the spring of 2005 and 2007, special Walleye and Northern Pike regulations were implemented. The Walleye slot length limit required the release of all fish between 17 and 26 inches and only one over 26 inches could be in possession. The Northern Pike slot length limit required the release of all fish between 22 to 36 inches and only one over 36 inches could be possessed (nine fish bag limit). The Northern Pike special regulation was dropped in 2017 in favor of the North-central Zone regulation in 2019, which was anticipated to produce similar results and reduce regulation complexity. In 2023, the Walleye regulation was modified to a 20 to 24-inch protected slot length limit with only one over 24 inches in possession. Since 1954, Walleye catches have ranged from 3.3 to 12/net. Walleye catches have been stable, with numbers often within the expected range for this lake type (3.3 to 8.8/net). In 2024, the Walleye gill-net catch of 12.0 fish/net was the highest on record, exceeding the management goal. Sampled Walleye ranged from 9.4 to 26.0 inches and averaged 14.7 inches. Fourteen age-classes were observed with fish from 2 to 18 years old present. The 2021 year-classes represented 61% of the sample. Growth was good for Round Lake with Walleye averaging 15.8 inches after four years of growth. Natural reproduction for Walleye has been well documented and sufficient to maintain a high-quality fishery for years. The record high catch in 2024 should provide good fishing for a few years as fish from the strong 2021 year-class grow to sizes anglers prefer to keep. Northern Pike gill-net catch rates have fluctuated greatly from a low of 4.9 fish/net in 2009 to a high of 22.1 fish/net in 2013. The catches in 2019 (12.1/net) and 2024 (12.9/net) were more representative of the lake average yet high compared to other lakes. Sampled Northern Pike ranged from 8.7 to 33.9 inches and averaged 19.9 inches. Age and growth information was not collected in this survey but based on the lake's history growth likely remained poor. Anglers can expect good action from smaller pike. Yellow Perch catches have fluctuated from a low of 9.2 fish/net in 2019 to a high of 102.7 fish/net in 1983. Following a record low in 2019, Yellow Perch catches increased to 15.9/net in 2024. Catches were comparable to lakes with similar habitat. Yellow Perch ranged from 5.0 to 11.2 inches and averaged 7.9 inches. Perch catches and size structure did not attain the management goals. Five age-classes were identified with fish from 2 to 6 years old present. Growth was fast compared to statewide averages with fish averaging 8.5 inches after four years. Although the Yellow Perch size structure has often been good, frequency of yellow grub, a parasite, may limit angler interest. Tullibee is a species that can be difficult to sample but they are important to fish communities as a prey source. In 2006, the gill-net catch rate of 2.7 fish/net was the highest on record and was above average for lakes of similar habitat. Only three have been sampled in the last four surveys, including none in 2024. Though Round Lake has marginal habitat for Tullibee, the climate in the last couple decades have not been favorable for the species. Other species observed during the survey included Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, and White Sucker.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Round Lake was conducted on July 12th thru 14th, 2021 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 seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 24 sampling stations. Similarly, and 50-foot seine was used to sample 19 stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at five stations. Nearshore sampling captured 23 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Burbot, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (Black Bullhead, and Fathead Minnow). A concurrent summer trap net survey was conducted by IBI Program Staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Brown Bullhead, Walleye, and Northern Pike comprised a majority of the trap net catch by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from a June 24th 2019 standard 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 (Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow). 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 provides supporting evidence that the fish community in Round Lake is likely adversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score just below 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.

Round Lake is in ecological lake class 27 and is located near Squaw Lake, MN, in the Chippewa National Forest and Big Fork River Watershed. The lake is 2,828 acres and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. A survey targeting nearshore fish species was conducted by Area fisheries staff beginning on 25 June, 2019. Twenty-four 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 50-ft or 15-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at 17 sites: 7 with the 15-ft seine and 10 with the 50-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 19 different species: 17 species by seining and 13 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 24 June, 2019, 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.

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

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

Round has a maximum depth of 24 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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