Osier

Osier Lake is a 72 acre lake located in the Superior National Forest about four miles southwest of Isabella. The maximum depth is 6.5 feet and it has dark brown bog stained water. The access is a narrow gravel back down off of USFS Road #102 (Snake Trail). The only fish sampled in 2019 were Yellow Perch and Central Mudminnows. Finland Fisheries has tried to make Osier Lake into a sport fishery by stocking Walleye fry and adult Yellow Perch. In the following assessments only perch were sampled, with the numbers greatly increasing and average size greatly decreasing over time. The 2019 Yellow Perch gill net catch was 45/net which would be considered very high for lakes of this type. However, the average size was only about 5 inches and without the presence of a predator the Yellow Perch are of little value to most anglers. With some sparse wild rice present, Osier Lake is currently more value to duck hunters than fishermen.

Public access is a carry-in from a small trail off USFS Road #102 (also called Snake Trail). This road is unmarked and provides only a small turn-around area. A small trailer can be used but the boat must be carried into the lake because of many boulders along the shore. Osier Lake is lightly fished probably due to lack of a large game fish. While the lake has consistently produced year classes of perch since the 2000 introduction; their decreasing size and increasing abundance deter most anglers. Yellow perch abundance was very high in the 2009 assessment with a trap net catch rate of 79.9 fish per net. Average size was only 6.4 inches although several yellow perch over 12 inches (up to 13.6 inches) were sampled. The only other species sampled in 2009 were creek chubs and white suckers.

A lake population assessment in 2004 showed yellow perch are continuing to flourish in Osier Lake. Yellow perch were introducted in 2000 and since that time have produced several natural year classes. This lake is marginal for most gamefish; however, yellow perch appear to be doing well with above average numbers sampled in this assessment, including fish up to 13 inches. The quality of the yellow perch population is good with many fish between 10 and 13 inches taken. There were no other gamefish sampled in the 2004 assessment.

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

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

Osier has a maximum depth of 6.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Osier is from 2019.

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