Kowalski

Kowalski Lake is located 10 mile northeast of Finland, MN and surrounded by private, state and county land. This 12.8-acre lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet and littoral area of 8.7 acres. Access to the lake is via a 0.7 mile unmarked walk-in trail from Lake County Road. #7. There has been no maintenance on this trail for many years and it is difficult to follow. The initial lake survey (1987) sampled northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish and yellow perch, the same species sampled in the 2007 re-survey. Northern pike numbers were higher in the 1987 initial lake survey than the re-survey in 2007 although the mean weight was larger in 2007 (2.0 lbs) than in 1987 (1.4 lbs). Growth for northern pike sampled in 2007 was average for the Finland area. The mean length of age-4 northern pike was 20.7 inches. Reproduction was sufficient to maintain a self-sustaining northern pike population. The 2007 yellow perch catch was down from 1987 and generally small, less than 8 inches, in both surveys. The average size of yellow perch in Kowalski Lake would not interest most anglers. Pumpkinseed sunfish, ranging in size from 3.5 to 4.5 inches, were sampled in both surveys in low numbers. Four minnow traps sampled one pumpkinseed sunfish.

The lake supports a very high Northern Pike population with a gillnet catch nearly 3 times the local average. Average size was 1.4 pounds. Scale reading indicated strong year classes in the age-2 to 5 age groups. Adequate forage is available with 14.5 Yellow Perch/gillnet lift. Pumpkinseed sunfish sampled were small, with an average length of 3.8 inches, of two year old fish.

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

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

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

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Kowalski is from 2007. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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