South McDougal

South McDougal Lake is located in the Isabella area within the Superior National Forest. The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of just seven feet, and 287 acres in size. Anglers access the lake by boating from North McDougal Lake upstream via Coyote Creek approximately 1.6 miles. The current fish community is maintained by natural processes that regulate the populations of each species that inhabit the lake. A standard survey was complete in 2021 to monitor the status of the fisheries resources in the lake. Anglers that make their way to South McDougal Lake in the coming years will be greeted by an abundant Walleye population with a small size structure. The 2021 catch rate of 13.7 per gill net was above normal for similar lakes and the highest to date from nine previous surveys of the lake. Size of Walleye captured from all gears combined ranged from 7.2 to 26.2 inches, but a majority of the fish were less than a foot long. Age analysis determined eleven year classes were represented in the catch with the 2019 year class accounting for 35% of the catch. These results indicate that natural reproduction continues to provide a Walleye population with good opportunities for smaller fish along with the potential for catching a quality sized fish. The Northern Pike catch rate of 2.33 per gill net was below the normal range for similar lakes, but not significantly different from historic catches on the lake. While most pike captured tend to be of a small size, fish exceeding 30" long have been sampled in surveys fairly regularly over the years. Although unlikely to encounter a trophy sized pike, anglers have a reasonable chance to catch this hard fighting species. Bluegill are a relatively new species to the McDougal chain of lakes and appear to have established a self-sustaining population throughout the system. They were first sampled from Middle McDougal Lake in 2000, when all of the lakes in the chain where sampled in a single season. They have subsequently been sampled in all of the surveys of North, Middle, and South McDougal Lakes. The 2021 catch rate of 3.89 per trap net was the highest to date on South McDougal Lake. Anglers able to catch Bluegill from the lake will appreciate the large size structure of the current population as the average size of fish sampled was over eight inches long.

South McDougal Lake is a 273 acre lake located 11.0 miles west of Isabella, Minnesota within the Superior National Forest. The shoreline around the lake is forested in the upland and bog in the lowland areas. There is a mix of private and public ownership along the lake shoreline. The lake has a maximum depth of 7.0 feet although most of the lake is 5.0 feet or less. The Secchi disk measurement was 2.4 feet in brown bog-stained water. Aquatic vegetation is sparse and grows to depths of 3.0 feet along the mainly gravel and sand shoreline. There are several areas in the lake with submerged boulder pockets as well as many large boulders throughout the lake. Access to South McDougal Lake is via Coyote Creek (1.6 miles upstream) from North McDougal Lake. Coyote Creek does have some submerged rocks and tree stumps; caution is advised when navigating the creek. Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch are the primary game fish found in South McDougal Lake. The 2015 Walleye gill net and trap net catches were above average compared to similar lakes in the area but growth of Walleye was slow for the Finland Area. The average weight of the Walleye caught was 0.5 pounds and measured 11.2 inches in length. The largest Walleye sampled was 18.4 inches and 2.1 pounds. Ten year classes were represented in the sample with 43 percent being comprised of ages 1 and 2, indicating good natural reproduction. Northern Pike gill net catch was near the average for the lake class and higher than the three previous investigations on the lake, although growth of pike was very slow when compared to the average for the Finland Area. Northern Pike averaged 15.8 inches in length with an average weight of 0.9 pounds; largest fish sampled was 26.0 inches and 3.4 pounds. The Yellow Perch catch was near the average for the area and growth was fast in younger year classes and was considered average with the older year classes. The average weight of Yellow Perch was 0.2 pounds with an average length of 6.9 inches; the largest fish sampled was 9.9 inches and 0.5 pounds. Six year classes were present in the sample with age-2 and age- 3 comprising 70 percent of the sample. Sixteen Bluegills were caught in trap nets, which were slightly above average for the lake class and higher than previous assessments on South McDougal Lake. The average Bluegill length in 2015 was 8.3 inches and the average weight was 0.54 pounds. The largest individual was 10.6 inches and weighed 1.1 pounds (age-10). Bluegill growth was above average compared to other lakes in the Finland Area. Two Smallmouth Bass were sampled in South McDougal Lake, both age-11 and weighing over 3 pounds each. Smallmouth Bass are present in other lakes in the McDougal chain and in the Stony River system. White Suckers were sampled at lower than average numbers with gill nets and at average numbers with trap nets. The average size of White Sucker was 16.0 inches and 1.8 pounds. Golden Shiner, Spottail Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Tadpole Madtom comprise the rest of the non-game fish community in the lake.

The 2009 walleye population in South McDougal Lake was above average for the lake class with a catch of 7.3 fish per net and similar to past investigations. The average length was 12.0 inches with a few fish larger than 17 inches. Average size was similar to past assessments, although growth remained slower than other lakes in the Finland area. Northern pike numbers (2.8 per lift) and average size (16.1 inches) were below average for the lake class. Growth was also slower than other lakes in the Finland area. Yellow perch numbers were below average (4.2 per lift) but their size was larger than average with several fish greater than nine inches. This was the first assessment where bluegill sampled in trap nets. Three, age-3 fish were caught ranging in size from 7.0 to 7.5 inches. Growth was above average. Access to South McDougal is through North McDougal Lake; take the channel from the south side of the west basin of North McDougal Lake to South McDougal Lake. The McDougal Lakes have very dark bog stained water with shallow boulder areas. Caution is advised when boating on these lakes.

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

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

South McDougal has a maximum depth of 7 feet and a mean depth of 4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in South McDougal is from 2021.

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