Greenleaf

Greenleaf is a small lake (238 acres) located south of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Greenleaf has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lakeshore is mostly undeveloped, which creates a scenic atmosphere. Anglers can also access Sioux Lake to the north for additional angling opportunities. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Greenleaf is a class 34 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Spring and Willie in Meeker County. Curlyleaf pondweed can be abundant in the shallows in May and June at Greenleaf. A fishing pier is present at the public access. The Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area surrounds the public boat access and offers hiking trails and picnic tables. Walleye were sampled in moderate numbers in 2022 (6 per gill net), with fish averaging 17 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was almost 28 inches. Approximately 72% of the catch was 16 inches and longer. Walleye were age-1 to age-13 with eight year classes being present. Naturally reproduced Walleye contributed substantially to the 2022 catch, with approximately 44% of the catch being from a non-stocked year. Walleye fry are routinely stocked at Greenleaf Lake. High numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 24 inches in length. Approximately 27% 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 where Greenleaf Lake is found, 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 2022. Fair numbers of 9 inch and longer crappie were sampled in both gill nets and trap nets, with the longest Black Crappie being just over 11 inches. Moderate numbers of Yellow Perch were netted and most were small, but they provide important forage for the lake's predator species. High numbers of Bluegill were captured in the trap nets and most were on the small side, but fair numbers of 6 and 7 fish were present with the longest fish being just over 8 inches. Although gill nets and trap nets are typically not used to evaluate Largemouth Bass populations, both gears indicated that at least fair number of this species were present. The longest Largemouth Bass sampled was just over 20 inches. Greenleaf has a reputation of producing large-sized bass. Other fishes that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Bowfin (dogfish), Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Tadpole Madtom and Yellow Bullhead. 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. 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.

Greenleaf is a small lake (238 acres) located south of the City of Litchfield in Meeker County. A state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Greenleaf has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lakeshore is mostly undeveloped, which creates a scenic atmosphere. Anglers can also access Sioux Lake to the north for additional angling opportunities. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Greenleaf is a class 34 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Spring and Willie in Meeker County. Curlyleaf pondweed can be abundant in the shallows in May and June at Greenleaf. A fishing pier is present at the public access. The Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area surrounds the public boat access and offers hiking trails and picnic tables. Walleye were sampled in moderate numbers in 2022 (6 per gill net), with fish averaging 17 inches in length. The longest Walleye sampled was almost 28 inches. Approximately 72% of the catch was 16 inches and longer. Walleye were age-1 to age-13 with eight year classes being present. Naturally reproduced Walleye contributed substantially to the 2022 catch, with approximately 44% of the catch being from a non-stocked year. Walleye fry are routinely stocked at Greenleaf Lake. High numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 24 inches in length. Approximately 27% 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 where Greenleaf Lake is found, 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 2022. Fair numbers of 9 inch and longer crappie were sampled in both gill nets and trap nets, with the longest Black Crappie being just over 11 inches. Moderate numbers of Yellow Perch were netted and most were small, but they provide important forage for the lake's predator species. High numbers of Bluegill were captured in the trap nets and most were on the small side, but fair numbers of 6 and 7 fish were present with the longest fish being just over 8 inches. Although gill nets and trap nets are typically not used to evaluate Largemouth Bass populations, both gears indicated that at least fair number of this species were present. The longest Largemouth Bass sampled was just over 20 inches. Greenleaf has a reputation of producing large-sized bass. Other fishes that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Bowfin (dogfish), Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Tadpole Madtom and Yellow Bullhead. 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. 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.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Greenleaf Lake was conducted on June 21 and 22, 2022 by Hutchinson Area fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample five stations and a 15-foot seine was used for two stations. Site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured eight species of fish. No species that are intolerant of disturbance were sampled and one species (i.e. Green Sunfish) that is tolerant of disturbance was sampled. The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates Greenleaf Lake is just over the impairment threshold of 36 for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes with a FIBI score of 39. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the South Fork of the Crow River Watershed intensive monitoring in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

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

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

Greenleaf has a maximum depth of 18 feet and a mean depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Greenleaf is from 2022.

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