East Chain

East Chain Lake is a 485-acre lake with two distinct basins (north and south) that has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake is adjacent to the City of East Chain in Martin County. East Chain Lake is susceptible to low dissolved oxygen levels in the winter due to shallow water and at times abundant aquatic vegetation leading to frequent winterkills. Winterkills have been documented during the winters of 2000-2001, 2008-2009, and 2013-2014. East Chain Lake is part of system of wetland complexes in both downstream and upstream directions. Many times, East Chain Lake has fish immigrating into the lake from downstream. East Chain Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike with Yellow Perch as the secondary management species. A targeted survey was conducted the week of May 20, 2025, earlier than historical standard surveys, to better assess primary management species and to avoid dense vegetation later in the summer. Twelve trap nets were used to assess the fish community in East Chain Lake. Northern Pike catch rates have varied from 0.5 per trap net in 1992 to 3.3 per trap net in 2001 and have averaged 1.6 per trap net since 1992. In 2025, Northern Pike were captured at a rate of 1.0 per trap net, which is the lowest catch rates observed since the 1992 survey. Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 13.0 to 28.8 inches and averaged 23.8 inches. Mean relative weight was 96, indicating that Northern Pike are foraging successfully and are maintaining their plumpness. Consideration should be given to stocking Northern Pike if there are some available. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2025 was 0.7 per trap net, near the long-term average of 0.8 per trap net and near the lower end of the expected catch rates for similar lakes (0.3 to 3.8 per trap net). Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 4.8 to 10.7 inches and averaged 7.8 inches. The Yellow Perch trap net catch rate has been less than 2.0 per trap net for three successive surveys so pre-spawn adult Yellow Perch is scheduled to be stocked in the spring of 2026 to boost the reproducing population. Black Crappie catch rates have varied from 0.2 per trap net in 2013 to 8.4 per trap net in 2025, averaging 3.6 per trap net since 1992. The 2025 catch rate is the highest ever recorded in East Chain Lake. Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 4.2 to 15.3 inches and averaged 9.0 inches. Black Crappie are not stocked in East Chain Lake suggesting that the population is sustained through natural reproduction. In 2025, the Black Bullhead catch rate was 9.3 per trap net, which was below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (11.5 to 132.6 per tap net). Lengths of Black Bullhead ranged from 5.2 to 14.4 inches and averaged 8.6 inches. Other species sampled included Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Quillback, Tadpole Madtom, White Crappie, Yellow Bullhead and White Sucker.

East Chain Lake is a 485-acre lake with two distinct basins (north and south) that has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake is adjacent to the City of East Chain in Martin County. East Chain Lake is susceptible to low dissolved oxygen levels in the winter due to shallow water and in some years abundant aquatic vegetation leading to frequent winterkills. Winterkills have been documented during the winters of 2000-2001, 2008-2009, and 2013-2014. East Chain Lake is part of system of wetland complexes in both downstream and upstream directions. Many times East Chain Lake has fish immigrating into the lake from downstream. East Chain Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike with Yellow Perch as the secondary management species. A targeted survey was conducted the week of May 29, 2019, earlier than historical standard surveys, to better assess primary management species and to avoid dense vegetation later in the summer. Eight trap nets were used to assess the fish community in East Chain Lake. Northern Pike catch rates have varied from 0.5 per trap net in 1992 to 3.3 per trap net in 2001 and have averaged 1.8 per trap net since 1992. In 2019, Northern Pike were captured at a rate of 1.4 per trap net, which is the same catch rate that was recorded in the last survey in 2013. Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 22.0 to 35.4 inches and averaged 28.7 inches. East Chain Lake is within the "southern zone" of the new Northern Pike zone regulations. A limit of 2 pike longer than 24 inches can be harvested. Northern Pike under 24 inches must be released. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2019 was 0.4 per trap net, below the long term average of 0.8 per trap net and near the lower end of expected catch rates for similar lakes. Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 5.9 to 9.1 inches and averaged 7.2 inches. The Yellow Perch trap net catch rate has been less than 2.0 per trap net for two successive surveys so pre-spawn adult Yellow Perch should be stocked to boost the population. Black Crappie catch rates have varied from 0.2 per trap net in 2013 to 5.3 per trap net in 2019, averaging 2.6 per trap net since 1992. The 2019 catch rate is the highest ever recorded in East Chain Lake. Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 6.6 to 12.1 inches and averaged 9.7 inches. Black Crappie are not stocked in East Chain Lake suggesting that the population is sustained through natural reproduction. Prior to 2019, the highest catch rate on East Chain Lake was 26.8 per trap net in 1992. In 2019, the Black Bullhead catch rate was 168.9 per trap net, exceeding the long-term average of 49.2 per trap net, and exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (11.5 to 132.6 per tap net). Lengths of Black Bullhead ranged from 4.0 to 9.3 inches and averaged 7.2 inches. Other species sampled included Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Orangespotted Sunfish, Quillback, and White Sucker.

East Chain Lake is a 485 acre lake with two district basins (north and south) that has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake is adjacent to the city of East Chain in Martin County. Only 3 fish population assessments or surveys have been completed prior to 2013 with an initial assessment in 1992 followed by follow-up surveys in 1997 and 2001. East Chain Lake is susceptible to low dissolved oxygen levels in the winter due to shallow water and abundant aquatic vegetation leading to frequent fish winterkills. It seems that fish kills occur approximately once every 8 to 9 years at varying levels of severity. Recently, winterkills in the winters of 2000-2001 and 2008-2009 were not severe and resulted in minor partial fish kills. A fish population assessment was conducted from 8-11 of July 2013 with 12 trap nets and no gill nets due to shallow water and abundant aquatic vegetation. Northern pike The catch rate of northern pike in East Chain was 1.4 fish per trap net in 2013 which was below the long-term catch rate of 1.8 and less than the previous two surveys. Northern pike in the sample ranged in length from 8.4 to 29.5 inches with an average length of 23.6 inches and an average weight of 2.5 pounds. The overall health of the fish in the sample was good. The size structure the fish in the trap net sample indicates a population that is composed of larger fish. Habitat abundance and quality are favorable to northern pike spawning in the lake and the sample indicated decent natural reproduction in East Chain in 2013. Northern pike are hardy fish and can survive low oxygen levels, this is true in East Chain Lake as the population appears relatively stable from year-to-year. Currently, the good size structure metrics and good health of northern pike in East Chain Lake along with evidence of natural reproduction indicates that the population is doing well. Fishing for northern pike in East Chain Lake should be the main attraction for anglers over the next year or two and large fish could be caught from the lake. Yellow perch No yellow perch were collected in the trap net sample in 2013. In previous years the trap net catch rate ranged from 0.4 fish per trap net to 2.5 fish per trap net with a long-term average of 1 fish per trap net. There may be yellow perch present in East Chain Lake, but trap nets may have missed them in July given the conditions in the lake at the time. Yellow perch will be stocked in the spring of 2014 in East Chain Lake. This will help to boost the population and provide a more abundant forage base for northern pike and an additional fishing opportunity for anglers. Crappie The black crappie catch rate in 2013 was low with only 2 fish caught in the entire trap net sample. The expected catch rate range for East Chain Lake is between 1.2 and 20.5. The long-term catch rate is 2 fish per trap net. Black crappie has never been a dominant species in East Chain Lake, except during the 1997 survey when the catch rate was 5.2 fish per trap net. While the catch rate has been below 2.0 fish per net for several surveys in the past, the white crappie catch rate has been more encouraging. Historically, white crappie have been more abundant than black crappie. It may be more appropriate to view black and white crappie as one species in East Chain Lake as they do hybridize quite frequently. When they are combined the crappie population looks more stable. The white crappie catch rate in 2013 was just below 0.7 fish per trap net. The expected catch rate range for East Chain Lake is between 0.2 and 6.0 indicating the white crappie catch rate is within the expected range. The long-term catch rate is nearly 4 fish per trap net so the current catch rate is below the average, but the size of the fish in the sample was very good. White crappie in the sample ranged in length from 9.0 to 11.0 inches with an average length of 10 inches. The overall health of the fish in the sample was excellent and indicated that the fish were foraging successfully. When viewed together with black crappie, the catch rate is nearly 1 fish per trap net and closer to or within the expected range for each species. Crappie abundance is cyclic in nature, and the populations appear to be in a down cycle, but the fish that are present are large and healthy. Crappie anglers may have a hard time finding the schools of fish in East Chain Lake, but when they do, they will be happy with the size of the fish. Other species Other species present in 2013 in the trap net sample were bigmouth buffalo (n=1; 0.1 per net), black bullhead (n=44; 3.7 per net), common carp (n=83; 6.9 per net), freshwater drum (n=11; 0.9 per net), golden shiner (n=3; 0.3 per net), orangespotted sunfish (n=1; 0.1 per net), walleye (n=5; 0.4 per net), and white sucker (n=1; 0.1 per net). Bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, walleye, and white sucker all had catch rates less than their expected catch range. Freshwater drum and golden shiner had catch rates within their expected catch range. Common carp was the only species with a catch rate that exceeded its expected catch range. Orangespotted sunfish do not have an established expected catch range so a determination could not be made. Sizes of the fish were good and they appeared healthy. Walleye anglers may find some decent sized fish in East Chain Lake over the next year or two. Prepared by Nate Hodgins

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, and White Crappie in East Chain. 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 East Chain. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

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

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in East Chain is from 2025.

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