Upper Sakatah

Upper Sakatah Lake is an 881-acre lake located on the east side of the town of Waterville in Le Sueur County. It has a maximum depth of 12 feet. A boat access is located in Sakatah State Park on the south shore but it can also be accessed via the Cannon River. Upper Sakatah Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. The current management plan calls for stocking 500 Walleye fry/littoral acre (n = 440,500) annually. A 50:50 mix of LMS and MIS strain fry are stocked to accommodate the ongoing research project involving Cannon River Walleye stocks. Upper Sakatah Lake is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program at a frequency of every 6 years. A targeted survey was completed the week of August 3, 2020 using 8 gill nets. Trap nets and spring boat electrofishing targeting Largemouth Bass were not completed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Water quality parameters were also measured. Results of this survey can be compared to historical standard surveys because standardized methods were used. A total of 85 Walleyes were sampled for a catch rate of 10.6/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. In the three surveys prior to 2020 Walleye numbers were on a downward trend with catch rate of 5.0/net in 2004, 3.1/net in 2009, and 1.3/net in 2014. Since 1994, catch rates have varied from 1.3/net to 17.3/net with an average of 8.8/net. Lengths in 2020 ranged from 8.8 to 23.4 inches with an average of 12.8 inches. Approximately 25% of Walleye sampled were greater than 15 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 6 years old with 5 year classes present. Approximately 95% of Walleye sampled were 1 or 2 years old. Growth was rapid with 17 inches exceeded by year 3. The fast growing 2018 and 2019 year classes should provide a welcome quality opportunity for anglers in coming years after experiencing a slump in Walleye numbers over the past 15 years or so. A total of 19 Bluegills ranging from 3.7 to 6.6 inches were sampled with the gill nets for a catch rate of 2.4/net. Bluegills are better sampled with trap nets and caution should be used before drawing conclusions about the Bluegill population in Upper Sakatah Lake using the 2020 survey. A total of 77 Black Crappies were sampled for a catch rate of 9.6/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. This was the highest catch rate from 1994 to 2020 (n = 6). The average during that time was just 3.5/net. Lengths in 2020 ranged from 2.6 to 11.9 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. Approximately 31% of Black Crappies sampled were larger than 8 inches and just 1% were larger than 10 inches. With the exception of one 6 year old fish, all were 1 or 2 years old. Growth was fast with fish reaching around 7 inches between year 2 and 3. Northern Pike were sampled in low numbers in 2020 with a total of 14 caught for a catch rate of 1.8/net, indicating low numbers were present. This was right at the 1994 to 2020 average catch rate of 1.8/net. The previous catch rate of 2.9/net in 2014 represented the high mark for that time. Lengths in 2020 ranged from 19.5 to 34.1 inches with an average of 25.4 inches. Most Northern Pike sampled were larger than 21 inches and approximately 75% of the sample exceeded the legal minimum length limit of 24 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 5 years old with 6 year classes present. Growth was fast with fish surpassing 22 inches around year 2. Upper Sakatah Lake is located in the Southern Northern Pike management zone. In order to harvest a Northern Pike the fish must be over 24.0 inches in length. The daily bag limit in this zone is 2 Northern Pike per day. Yellow Perch were common in 2020 with a catch rate of 17.6/net, indicating high numbers were present. From 1994 to 2020, catch rates have varied from 7.8/net to 26.5/net with an average of 13.5/net. The previous catch rate was 7.8/net in 2014. Lengths ranged from 5.4 to 11.2 inches with an average of 7.3 inches. Only 26% of Yellow Perch sampled exceeded 8 inches and 2% exceeded 10 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 3 years old with 3 year classes present. The 2019 year class accounted for 70% of the sample. Growth was moderate with a length of 7.2 inches reached by year 2. White Bass remained a common member of the Upper Sakatah fish community in 2020. A total of 133 White Bass ranging from 4.7 to 17.3 inches were sampled at a rate of 16.6/net, indicating high numbers were present. From 1994 to 2020, catch rates varied from 3.3/net to 17.2/net with an average of 11.3/net. Although most of the 2020 sample was small and young, there were fish in the 13 to 18 inch range that offer an additional target for anglers. A total of 55 Freshwater Drum were sampled at a rate of 6.9/net. The long term average catch rate was 12.5/net between 1994 and 2020. Lengths ranged from 3.1 to 19.1 inches with an average of 12.1 inches. Freshwater Drum are often caught by anglers while targeting other species. For the open-minded angler, they offer an additional fishing target and are surprisingly good table fare. Just a single Black Bullhead was sampled in 2020 for a catch rate of 0.1/net. Catch rates have fallen dramatically in recent surveys with catch rates of 116.7/net in 2004, 9.1/net in 2009, and 3.0/net in 2014. Typically, Black Bullheads are abundant in lakes like Upper Sakatah but the lack of winterkill events in recent years has prevented Black Bullheads from producing dominant year classes in Upper Sakatah Lake. Common Carp were sampled at a rate of 1.3/net, which was below the long term average of 1.8/net. High Common Carp numbers are detrimental to lake water quality and habitat but they appear mostly stable at moderate to low numbers in Upper Sakatah Lake. Other Species sampled in 2020 include Bigmouth Buffalo, Bowfin (dogfish), Golden Shiner, Largemouth Bass, and White Sucker. Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of 1.8 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 10.4 ppm and 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 8.7 ppm and 76.5 degrees Fahrenheit at 12 feet. No thermocline was detected due to the shallow, windswept nature of the lake. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations. - Sky Wigen, Fisheries Specialist

Introduction Upper Sakatah Lake is an 881 acre lake located in Le Sueur County east of the town of Waterville. A city-owned public access is located within the town of Waterville on the Cannon River, before it flows into the west bay of Upper Sakatah Lake. There is also an access located inside Sakatah Lake State Park off MN-60. Upper Sakatah Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. Upper Sakatah Lake is managed primarily for walleye and secondarily for northern pike. Walleye fry are stocked three out of every four years at a rate of 1,500 fry per littoral acre. Northern pike fry (N = 100,00) are stocked annually into a marsh area, which is connected the lake. Based in lake characteristics and limnological variables, Upper Sakatah Lake is classified in Lake Class 41. Other area lakes with this classification include Cannon Lake (Rice County), Lura Lake (Blue Earth County), and Elysian Lake (Waseca County). Upper Sakatah Lake was surveyed the week of August 4, 2014 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying gill nets and trap nets, as well as recording water quality parameters. Walleye Walleye abundance in Upper Sakatah Lake has been steadily decreasing since it was at peak abundance in 1994 (17.3 fish/gill net). The 2014 walleye catch rate of 1.3 fish/gill net was below the long-term average of 6.6 fish/gill net. Walleye lengths ranged from 9.3 to 21.1 inches and averaged 15.8 inches, indicating a relatively small size structure. Walleye were recently stocked in Upper Sakatah Lake in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Following the base stocking plan of fry stocking three out of every four years, walleye will not be stocked again until 2016. Northern Pike Northern pike catch rates in Upper Sakatah Lake have remained relatively stable since 1981, hovering around the long-term lake average of 1.7 fish/gill net. The 2014 survey yielded a higher catch rate of 2.8 fish/gill net, which is the highest catch rate in recent years. Northern pike lengths ranged from 18.1 to 32.8 inches and averaged 23.2 inches, indicating a moderately low size structure. Northern pike in southern Minnesota have relatively fast growth rates, especially in early life. For example, the average length of two year old northern pike from Upper Sakatah Lake was 21.7 inches. Northern pike fry (N = 100,000) are stocked into a connected marsh every year to sustain the population in Upper Sakatah Lake. Yellow Perch Yellow perch were the most abundant fish species sampled from gill nets in the 2014 survey, with a catch rate of 7.8 fish/net. However, this was below the long-term average for yellow perch catch rates in Upper Sakatah Lake (9.6 fish/net). The 2014 catch rate was a steep drop from that of the previous survey completed in 2009, which was a record high 26.5 fish/net. Yellow perch lengths ranged from 5.3 to 10.7 inches and averaged 7.2 inches, indicating a small size structure of yellow perch. These small yellow perch sizes are typical of the Cannon River chain of lakes. Yellow perch are only stocked after winterkill events and have not been stocked in recent years, so the current population is sustained through natural recruitment. Black Crappie Black crappie abundance has been variable in Upper Sakatah Lake, ranging from 5.0 fish/net in 1999 to 0.4 fish/net in 2004. The 2014 catch rate of 2.0 fish/net was close to the long-term lake average of 2.2 fish/net. Black crappie are not stocked in Upper Sakatah Lake, so abundance is dependent on spawning success from year to year, as well as recruitment from other lakes along the Cannon River chain. The length of black crappie ranged from 4.8 to 6.6 inches and averaged 5.5 inches, which indicates that the black crappie population in Upper Sakatah Lake is small. Bluegill Similarly to black crappie, the bluegill abundance in Upper Sakatah Lake has varied considerably throughout the survey years. The 2014 trap net catch rate dropped considerably from that of 2009 (7.1 fish/net) to only 0.1 fish/net. Six bluegill were also collected in gill nets (0.8 fish/net). Bluegill from both gear types ranged in length from 3.5 to 8.3 inches and averaged 6.2 inches. Given the low abundance and small size structure of bluegill in Upper Sakatah Lake, other lakes in the area are likely better bluegill fishing options. White Bass In surveys conducted from 1999 to 2009, the white bass catch rate averaged 14.7 fish/gill net. In 2014, the catch rate dropped to 3.3 fish/gill net. The length of white bass was impressive, ranging from 8.6 to 15.9 inches and averaging 13.7 inches, indicating a large size structure for white bass. White bass are not stocked in Upper Sakatah Lake, so the current population is sustained through natural reproduction. Other Species Black and yellow bullhead are present in Upper Sakatah Lake in relatively low abundance. The black bullhead gill net catch rate in 2014 was 3.0 fish/net and lengths averaged 13.0 inches, so the size structure is comprised of larger individuals. Yellow bullheads were sampled in gill nets at a rate of 0.6 fish/net and averaged 12.6 inches. Other fish species collected in the 2014 survey included channel catfish (N = 6), freshwater drum (N = 188), bowfin (N = 46), common carp (N = 37), white sucker (N = 3), and pumpkinseed (N = 1). Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

Upper Sakatah Lake in Le Sueur County is a 881 acre lake located east of the city of Waterville. A public access is located in the city of Waterville on the Cannon River, before it flows into Sakatah Bay, the western basin of Upper Sakatah Lake. There is also a public access located inside Sakatah State Park on the southern shoreline of the lake. A state park daily or annual vehicle permit is required for park admittance. The lake is accessible from the bridge between Upper and Lower Sakatah on Leroy Avenue. The Cannon River flows through Upper Sakatah Lake from Tetonka Lake, and downstream into Lower Sakatah Lake. It then continues on through the city of Morristown and further east to Cannon Lake. Sakatah State Park is located on the south shoreline of most of Upper Sakatah Lake. With purchase of a state park permit, a resident may take fish by angling (in open water) without an angling license when shore fishing or wading on state-owned land within a state park. Because Sakatah State Park does not encompass the entire shoreline of Upper or Lower Sakatah State Park, the angling license exemption does not extend to residents angling from a boat or float; those anglers must still purchase an angling license. Upper Sakatah Lake was surveyed the week of August 3rd, 2009 to monitor the fish community and aquatic habitat. Black bullheads are notable for their decline in abundance from 2004. During the 2004 assessment, black bullheads averaged 117 fish per gill net lift. In 2009, black bullheads averaged 9 fish per gill net lift. Bluegills were the most abundant game fish in gill and trap net catches, at 8.1 and 7.1 respectively per lift. Average size of bluegills is very poor, at 4.3 inches for all fish measured. Three percent of fish sampled were larger than 7 inches in length. Black crappies continue to maintain a low level abundance in Sakatah. Black crappies averaged 5.2 inches in length and averaged 3.4 fish per gill net lift. White bass averaged just over 10 fish per gill net lift. White bass are found throughout the Cannon River chain of lakes. Length ranged from 5 to 16 inches, with an average length of 12.6 inches. Yellow perch abundance has increased since the 2004 assessment, from 10 to 27 per gill net lift. Also in that time size has decreased from an average weight of 0.45 pounds per fish to 0.22 pounds per fish. 22 percent of fish sampled in gill nets were larger than 9 inches. Northern pike maintain a low level of abundance at just over two fish per gill net lift. Pike size ranged from 18 to 31 inches, with an average of 25 inches. Upper Sakatah is a popular darkhouse spearing lake because of its shallow water and often clear winter waters; many shanties are found across the lake with many concentrated along the distinct point/bar on the north end of the lake. Walleye, like northern pike, maintain a low level of abundance on Upper Sakatah. Walleye average 3 fish per gill net lift, ranging in size from 7 to 18 inches with an average of 12.6 inches. Upper Sakatah is stocked with walleye fry three out of four years. Two channel catfish were caught during the survey. Channel catfish are found throughout lakes in the Cannon River chain. Both were large individuals, one at 27 inches and the other at 32 inches total length. Largemouth bass were sampled using a boom electrofishing boat in late May. Bass averaged 65 fish per hour of on-time. Average length was 12 inches, with an average weight of 1.4 pounds. Size ranged from four to eighteen inches, with most fish concentrated between 14 and 16 inches. Largemouth bass do well in Upper and Lower Sakatah, in part because of the minimal shoreline development and fair amount of coarse woody debris in the water. Other fish observed in the survey include bigmouth buffalo, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, golden shiner, green sunfish, white sucker, and yellow bullhead. Anglers can help maintain or improve the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for table fare, but encourages release of medium- to large-sized fish. Releasing these fish can help maintain balance in the fish community in Upper Sakatah Lake and provide anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Shoreline areas on the land and into the shallow water provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines cannot support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants, and natural lake bottom soils. Plants in the water and at the water's edge provide habitat, prevent erosion, and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Channel Catfish in Upper Sakatah. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Upper Sakatah has a maximum depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper Sakatah is from 2020.

Yes — Upper Sakatah has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil and flowering rush. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.