Fish

Fish Lake is a 175-acre lake located 2 miles southwest of the Town of Odin in Martin County. The lake is shallow, having a maximum depth of 5.0 ft., and typically has highly turbid water (Secchi depth = 1.1 ft.). Fish Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and secondarily for Walleye, Yellow Perch and Black Crappie. A standard survey was conducted the week of July 6, 2021, to monitor fish populations using gill nets and trap nets. Northern Pike were not sampled in gill nets, but were captured at a rate of 0.6 per trap net, which is the long term average catch rate since 1984. Historically, Northern Pike have occurred in low abundance despite stocking efforts. Northern Pike lengths ranged from 21.7 to 28.9 inches and averaged 26.0 inches. 435 Northern Pike fingerlings (11 to 18 inches) were stocked in the fall of 2021 to supplement the existing population. The Walleye catch rate in 2021 was 6.5 per gill net, slightly above the long-term average of 4.9 per gill net and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Six year classes of Walleye were sampled, with ages ranging from 1 to 8 years old. Natural reproduction is highly unlikely in Fish Lake, so this Walleye population is maintained through fingerling, yearling, and adult stockings. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 10.3 inches to 22.9 inches and averaged 17.1 inches. Historically, Yellow Perch catch rates have varied from 0.3 in 1984 to 16.0 in 1995 and have averaged 4.1 per gill net. The 2021 catch rate of Yellow Perch was 3.0 per gill net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 inches). Lengths of Yellow Perch sampled in both gears ranged from 7.2 to 8.9 inches and averaged 8.1 inches. The Black Crappie catch rate in 2021 was 4.1 per trap net, which is the second lowest catch rate observed in surveys since 1984, and is well below the long-term average of 23.1 per trap net. Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 4.7 to 17.1 inches and averaged 6.5 inches. While abundance was low, there are some big Black Crappie in Fish Lake. The Channel Catfish catch rate was 20.0 per gill net, similar to the 2015 catch rate of 17.5 per gill net, which was the first time that they had been sampled in Fish Lake. Lengths of Channel Catfish ranged from 14.3 to 20.3 inches and averaged 16.2 inches. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, White Crappie, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

An assessment of lakeshore habitat on Fish Lake was conducted on 7/5/2017. The assessment consisted of 27 survey sites evenly spaced 150 meters around the lake. The average lake wide habitat score was 64.3(+/- 3.4), indicating overall lakeshore habitat quality was low (50-65). Sites with low habitat quality are typically developed and have a lower than expected amount of natural habitat. Vegetation has been removed from at least a portion of the shore frontage either in a small percent of all the canopy layers or from a large percent of at least one canopy layer (ex. shrub layer has been removed but trees and natural ground cover remain high). Approximately 92 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 61.5(+/- 3.0), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 100.0(+/- 0.0). This habitat survey was designed to provide a means to quantify and compare lakeshore habitat between lakes. The Fish Lake shoreline habitat score is lower than the statewide lake score average of 73.6.

An assessment of lakeshore habitat on Fish Lake was conducted on 7/5/2017. The assessment consisted of 27 survey sites evenly spaced 150 meters around the lake. The average lake wide habitat score was 64.3(+/- 3.4), indicating overall lakeshore habitat quality was low (50-65). Sites with low habitat quality are typically developed and have a lower than expected amount of natural habitat. Vegetation has been removed from at least a portion of the shore frontage either in a small percent of all the canopy layers or from a large percent of at least one canopy layer (ex. shrub layer has been removed but trees and natural ground cover remain high). Approximately 92 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 61.5(+/- 3.0), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 100.0(+/- 0.0). This habitat survey was designed to provide a means to quantify and compare lakeshore habitat between lakes. The Fish Lake shoreline habitat score is lower than the statewide lake score average of 73.6.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Green Sunfish in Fish. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Fish has a maximum depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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