Rat

Lake County

Near Isabella

DOW: 38056700

PumpkinseedAverage · 26Rock BassPoor · 7Northern PikePoor · 0

A 8-acre lake near Isabella in Lake County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 2004.

Fish Species (6)

Pumpkinseed

Average · 26

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.0"

Avg Weight

0.09 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.50	4.0"	0.09 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	42.67	4.0"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 22, 1993	0.25	2.0"	0.01 lbs	Special trap nets

Rock Bass

Poor · 7

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.9"

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 1.2 per trap net · typical 3.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass0% keeper-size (8"+)

4–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.17	4.9"	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	0.83	4.9"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 22, 1993	0.25	5.0"	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Poor · 0

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

15.4"

Catch rate: 0.83 per trap net

Size of catchable northern pike0% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 100%Largest sampled 20"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	0.83	15.4"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	2.17	15.4"	0.79 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 22, 1993	2.25	18.4"	1.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Poor · 0

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.3"

Catch rate: 3.8 per trap net

Size of catchable yellow perch0% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.33	5.3"	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	3.83	5.3"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 22, 1993	0.25	5.0"	0.04 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (2)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

15.4"

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	1.50	15.4"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jul 6, 2004	3.17	15.4"	1.77 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 1, 1961	4.50	-	-	Standard trap nets

Golden Shiner

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 3.3 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2004	3.33	-	-	1/4-in trap nets

Biologist Notes

July 6, 2004Rat Lake is a wide spot in the Little Isabella River that has very little fishing value. There is no developed access; however, canoes or very small b…

Rat Lake is a wide spot in the Little Isabella River that has very little fishing value. There is no developed access; however, canoes or very small boats can be carried a short distance to the lake from a gravel road. The 2004 assessment sampled relatively low numbers of northern pike and they were small, averaging less than one pound. The largest northern pike collected in the lake during the assessment was 1-3/4 pounds.Yellow perch were sampled in below-average numbers and they were too small to interest anglers; almost all were smaller than 7 inches.

June 22, 1993Rat Lake is little more than a wide spot in the Little Isabella River with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake historically has maintained a small pop…

Rat Lake is little more than a wide spot in the Little Isabella River with a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake historically has maintained a small population of Northern Pikeas well as low numbers of White Sucker, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed sunfish, and Rock Bass. The results of the 1993 survey indicate the quality of the Northern Pike fishery continues to be marginal as low abundance and small average size (1 lb each) discourage most fishermen. For this reason and the small size of the lake there is very little fishing pressure.

September 1, 1961Rat Lake has an area of only 8.2 acres, and the maximum depth is 4.5 feet. Being that the moderately hard waters were clear and shallow a secchi disc…

Rat Lake has an area of only 8.2 acres, and the maximum depth is 4.5 feet. Being that the moderately hard waters were clear and shallow a secchi disc could be seen on the lake bottom. Aquatic vegetation consisted of a moderate to scattered growth of waterlilies, Robbin's pondweed, largeleaf pondweed, burreed, water milfoil, scouring rush, and sedge. Soils of the lake bottom were judged to be 50% sand, 45% mixed gravel and sand, and 5% muck. The Little Isabella River serves both as an inlet and outlet to the lake. No shoreline marshes were present. Trapnets caught White Sucker and Northern Pike in numbers that were above 1961 medians calculated for the watershed. The Rock Bass populations appear to be above both the state-wide and watershed medians. Fishing pressure is reported to be very limited.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Rat?

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

Is there public access at Rat?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Rat. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Rat?

Rat has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Rat last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Rat is from 2004. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.