Rays

Rays (Charles) Lake is a 156.3-acre lake located in Le Sueur County north of the town of Elysian. A public access is located on the south side of the lake off 1st Street North, which goes north from Elysian. Rays Lake has a maximum depth of 32.0 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil is present in Rays Lake. Boaters should be sure to remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, trailers, and equipment and drain all water from livewell, transoms, and bilges when leaving the lake to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil to other lakes. Rays Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily managed for Northern Pike. Fish are only stocked in Rays Lake in the event of a winterkill. The last stocking event on record took place in 1980. Gill nets and boat electrofishing were completed during the regularly scheduled survey in 2020 but trap nets were postponed until 2021 due to COVID protocols. The 2021 targeted survey was completed the week of 26 July 2021 using 9 trap nets. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methods (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e., lake survey gillnets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Results from this targeted survey should not be compared to results from standard surveys. A total of 311 Bluegills were sampled for a catch rate of 34.6/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. Bluegills ranged from 3.2 to 8.2 inches with an average of 5.5 inches. Size structure was poor with few fish over 7 inches. A total of 346 Black Crappie were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 38.4/net. Black Crappie ranged from 0.75 to 11.3 inches and averaged 7.0 inches. Black Crappie size structure was poor but fish over 10 inches were sampled. Other game fish sampled in low numbers in 2021 include Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. 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. - Tyler Fellows, Fisheries Specialist

Rays Lake is a 156-acre lake, with a maximum depth of 32', located near Elysian in Le Sueur County. Rays Lake is in the Cannon River watershed. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100-foot long sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lakeshore. Each station was then sampled by backpack electrofishing, and if conditions allowed with a 15' or 50' 1/8th inch seine. The survey took place the week of 7 July 2021 with all 10 stations sampled by backpack electrofishing. The 50 foot seine was used at 7 stations and the 15 foot seine was used at an additional 3 stations. This nearshore survey was used along with the gill net survey conducted in 2020 and trap net survey conducted in 2021 to calculate a Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health by the types of fish species present and comparing it to what is expected for this type of lake. Rays Lake was evaluated using Tool 7 and scored 48 which was above the threshold for impairment of 36.

Rays (Charles) Lake is a 156-acre lake located in Le Sueur County north of the town of Elysian. A public access is located on the south side of the lake off 1st Street North, which goes north from Elysian. Rays Lake has a maximum depth of 32.0 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil is present in Rays Lake. Boaters should be sure to remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, trailers, and equipment and drain all water from livewells, transoms, and bilges when leaving the lake to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil to other lakes. Rays Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily managed for Northern Pike. Fish are only stocked in Rays Lake in the event of a winterkill. The last stocking event on record took place in 1980. A targeted survey was conducted the week of July 13, 2020 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic social distancing protocols, only gill nets were used for this survey. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying six gill nets, as well as recording water quality parameters. Results from this survey can be compared to historical standard surveys since standardized methods were used. Gill nets do not typically sample Bluegill effectively and for that reason 2020 gill net survey data is left out of this section. The 2014 Bluegill trap net catch rate was 24.7 fish/net, which falls below the lake average of 63.0 fish/net. The length of Bluegill collected in trap nets ranged in length from 2.6 to 8.0 inches and averaged 5.7 inches. After a record low abundance in 2014 (4.0 fish/gill net), Black Crappie catch rates increased to 23.3 fish/gillnet, above the long term lake average of 20.9 fish/gill net. Along with the high abundance of Black Crappie typically comes small size. In 2020, 22% of all Black Crappie measured 8.0 inches or longer. Black Crappie lengths averaged 7.0 inches and the largest individual was 11.9 inches. Largemouth Bass were not effectively collected in the sampling gears used in this survey. As a result, only six bass were sampled (1.0 fish/net). Largemouth Bass averaged 11.9 inches and ranged from 10.6 to 12.9 inches in length. Anecdotal reports from shore anglers indicate quality Largemouth Bass angling in Rays Lake, with some larger individuals being caught. Given abundant aquatic vegetation and prey fish available, Rays Lake has the potential to be a high quality Largemouth Bass lake. The 2020 Northern Pike catch rate of 4.0 fish/gill net fell slightly below the long-term lake average of 4.7 fish/gill net. Northern Pike lengths ranged from 18.9 to 27.1 inches and averaged 22.4 inches. Nearly 30 percent of Northern Pike sampled were over the 24 inch minimum size regulation. Seventy percent of the aged Northern Pike were age-3 or younger. Northern Pike are not stocked into Rays Lake, so the population is sustained through natural reproduction. In the event of a severe winterkill, Northern Pike and other game species would be stocked to initiate the population. Rays 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. Walleye abundance in Rays Lake has remained low throughout the survey history. The catch rate in 2020 was 0.2 fish/gill net (1 total Walleye). The Walleye sampled during this survey was large, measuring 19.4 inches. Walleye sustain relatively slow growth in Rays Lake compared to other lakes in southern Minnesota. The Walleye was age-6. As Walleye are not stocked in Rays Lake, it is believed they migrate from Lake Frances in high water years. A total of 16 Black Bullheads were sampling in 2020. Lengths of Black Bullheads ranged from 9.1 to 12.0 inches and averaged 11.8 inches. Other fish species collected in low abundance included Common Carp, Bowfin, Freshwater Drum, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead, and Golden Shiner. Water quality parameter measurements included secchi depth, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen readings. At the time of this survey secchi depth was 3.0 feet, which is typical of Lake Class 38. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen readings throughout the water column ranged from 80.2 degrees Fahrenheit and 7.4 ppm at the surface to 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit and 0.0 ppm at 28.0 feet. 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. Rays Lake has an infested waters designation as Eurasian Watermilfoil has become established. It is important for all who use this waterbody to remember Clean In and Clean Out. CLEAN all visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species from watercraft, trailers, and water-related equipment before leaving and entering any water access or shoreland. DRAIN water-related equipment (boat, ballast tanks, portable bait containers, motor) and drain bilge, livewell and baitwell by removing drain plugs before leaving a water access or shoreline property. Keep drain plugs out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft. DISPOSE of unwanted bait, including minnows, leeches, and worms, in the trash. It is illegal to release bait into a waterbody or release aquatic animals from one waterbody to another. If you want to keep your bait, you must refill the bait container with bottled or tap water. 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. -Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Hybrid Sunfish in Rays. 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 Rays. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

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

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

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