Wolf

Wolf, also known as Big Wolf, is a small-sized lake (262 acres) located south of the City of Dassel in Meeker County. A state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Wolf has almost three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of eleven feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Wolf is a class 43 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Winsted Lakes in McLeod County. Wolf's 2016 lake management plan listed Northern Pike as primary management species, while Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were listed as secondary management species. Wolf has experienced partial winterkills in the past, with the latest event occurring in 2014. Fish populations can fluctuate greatly depending on the frequency and severity of winterkill events. Fish can typically immigrate into Wolf Lake from Jennie Lake during spring and other high flow events, thus repopulating Wolf following occurrences of winterkill. Management species are occasionally stocked following winterkill, depending on how severe the kill was and species availability. Wolf's water clarity is often good during the winter and the lake is popular with spear fishermen seeking Northern Pike. The aquatic plant, Curlyleaf pondweed, can be abundant at Wolf Lake in May and June - often forming surface mats out to eight feet in depth. Netting was completed in 2023 to monitor the fish populations. Moderate numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 23 inches in length. Approximately 6% of pike netted were 26 inches or longer. Northern pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats and population abundance and size structuring. Three zones were established for northern pike with their own bag and length limit restrictions. In the north-central zone, anglers can keep up to 10 northern pike, but no more than two pike larger than 26 inches; and all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. This zone regulation is meant to reduce small pike abundance by shifting population size structure back to more medium to large pike. Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were netted in 2023. Approximately 12% of the gill net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled in summer gill nets was just under 11 inches. High numbers of Yellow Perch were netted and most were small. Average length was 6.5 inches, and the longest perch sampled was 7.9 inches. Perch play an important role as forage in this lake. Low numbers of Bluegill were netted, but that species typically does not sample well in gill nets. Average length was 5.3 inches and maximum length was 7.7 inches. Low numbers of Largemouth Bass were gill netted, but they also do not typically sample well in the gill nets. The maximum length for Largemouth Bass was 18 inches. Black Bullhead were sampled in moderate numbers and they were the most abundant fish sampled at Wolf Lake in 2023. Many (60%) of the Black Bullhead were over 10 inches in length, with maximum length being 15 inches. Additional fishes sampled in the gill nets included Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Walleye. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Wolf Lake has the AIS Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Wolf, also known as Big Wolf, is a small-sized lake (262 acres) located south of the City of Dassel in Meeker County. A state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Wolf has almost three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of eleven feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Wolf is a class 43 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Swan and Winsted Lakes in McLeod County. Wolf's 2016 lake management plan listed Northern Pike as primary management species, while Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass were listed as secondary management species. Wolf has experienced partial winterkills in the past, with the latest event occurring in 2014. Fish populations can fluctuate greatly depending on the frequency and severity of winterkill events. Fish can typically immigrate into Wolf Lake from Jennie Lake during spring and other high flow events, thus repopulating Wolf following occurrences of winterkill. Management species are occasionally stocked following winterkill, depending on how severe the kill was and species availability. Wolf's water clarity is often good during the winter and the lake is popular with spear fishermen seeking Northern Pike. The aquatic plant, Curlyleaf pondweed, can be abundant at Wolf Lake in May and June - often forming surface mats out to eight feet in depth. Netting was completed in 2023 to monitor the fish populations. Moderate numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 23 inches in length. Approximately 6% of pike netted were 26 inches or longer. Northern pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats and population abundance and size structuring. Three zones were established for northern pike with their own bag and length limit restrictions. In the north-central zone, anglers can keep up to 10 northern pike, but no more than two pike larger than 26 inches; and all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. This zone regulation is meant to reduce small pike abundance by shifting population size structure back to more medium to large pike. Moderate numbers of Black Crappie were netted in 2023. Approximately 12% of the gill net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled in summer gill nets was just under 11 inches. High numbers of Yellow Perch were netted and most were small. Average length was 6.5 inches, and the longest perch sampled was 7.9 inches. Perch play an important role as forage in this lake. Low numbers of Bluegill were netted, but that species typically does not sample well in gill nets. Average length was 5.3 inches and maximum length was 7.7 inches. Low numbers of Largemouth Bass were gill netted, but they also do not typically sample well in the gill nets. The maximum length for Largemouth Bass was 18 inches. Black Bullhead were sampled in moderate numbers and they were the most abundant fish sampled at Wolf Lake in 2023. Many (60%) of the Black Bullhead were over 10 inches in length, with maximum length being 15 inches. Additional fishes sampled in the gill nets included Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Walleye. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Wolf Lake has the AIS Eurasian watermilfoil. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

During the winter of 2013-2014, a suspected winterkill on Big Wolf Lake was confirmed by observations of dead northern pike, bluegill, and yellow perch under the ice. The following spring, a winterkill assessment was conducted. During this assessment, only black bullhead, northern pike, and common carp were sampled in trap nets. The evaluation was that the winterkill was likely moderate to severe. Walleye were stocked following the winterkill. It was thought that other primary and secondary species would re-stock themselves through upstream and downstream migration. A standard fisheries survey (summer gill netting and trap netting) was conducted at Big Wolf Lake during the week of 7/13/2015. Water clarity was very low with a secchi disc reading of 1.2 ft. The cause of the poor water clarity was thought to be the result of an algae bloom. Dissolved oxygen, measured in parts per million (ppm), was adequate near the surface (13.6 ppm), but very poor throughout the bottom four feet (0.6 ppm). Eurasian watermilfoil was discovered in Big Wolf Lake in 2005. Northern pike gill net catches averaged 35.5/net, which was more than four times the expected rate. The high number of northern pike could have been the result of surviving the 2014 winterkill or could have been the result of migration. The average size of pike sampled in gill nets was 20.3 inches. The smallest was 12.1 inches and the largest was 32.9 inches. Although average size of fish was on the smaller side, northern pike numbers are at record highs. While Big Wolf Lake is prone to winterkill, boom/bust fisheries management has provided some exceptional northern pike angling and spearing opportunities in the future. Yellow perch gill net catches averaged 49/net, which nearly doubled the expected rate for Big Wolf Lake. The average size of yellow perch, sampled in gill nets, was 5.6 inches. The minimum length was of 5.2 inches and a maximum length was 7.3 inches. All aging structures collected from yellow perch were thought to be from age-1 fish, suggesting a large year class was able to flourish following the winterkill of 2014. While yellow perch in Big Wolf Lake may not be of an acceptable size to anglers, they are an important forage species for predators. Walleye fry (262,340) were stocked into Big Wolf Lake following the winterkill in 2014. No walleye were sampled during the 2015 standard survey. Walleye tend to do poorly in systems with pike numbers greater than 8/net, and in the case of Big Wolf Lake, northern pike were recorded at four times that number. Though the lake was stocked with walleye, the high numbers of northern pike may limit the abundance of walleyes in Big Wolf Lake. No black crappies were sampled in gill nets or trap nets, during the 2015 netting survey. It is likely that the winterkill negatively impacted the crappie population and it appears that crappies were unable to restock themselves through migration. Future management action may involve the stocking of black crappies into Big Wolf Lake following winterkill. Bluegill trap net catches averaged 2.3/net, which was near expected levels for Big Wolf Lake. The average size of bluegill netted was 3.6 inches, with a maximum length being 4.3 inches. These fish will likely not contribute to a catchable fishery for another 2-3 years. Largemouth bass were sampled with boat electrofishing during spring of 2015. Four largemouth bass were sampled (3.4/hour). The average size of bass was 5 inches, with a maximum length of 5.3 inches. Similar to bluegill, the largemouth bass may not contribute to a catchable fishery for another 2-3 years. Big Wolf Lake will continue to be managed as a boom/bust fishery with an emphasis on species such as northern pike, walleye, black crappie, and yellow perch. Black bullhead trap net catches averaged 26.9/net, which was near expected levels. The average size of bullheads was 5.8 inches with a maximum length of 12 inches. It appears that a few bullheads survived the winterkill in 2014, and subsequently reproduced to create the current population. The number of bullheads in the lake may be kept in check by the high numbers of pike present. Common carp were sampled with gill nets (0.5/net) and trap nets (5.7/net) during the 2015 standard survey on Big Wolf Lake. The gill nets sampled one young-of-year carp (3.9 inches), while the trap nets sampled small (3.0 - 4.6 inch) fish. No adult carp were sampled. A few carp may have survived the winterkill or may have migrated into the lake to produce the young carp that were sampled.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch in Wolf. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Wolf has a maximum depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wolf is from 2023.

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