Erie

Erie is a small lake (189 acres) located south of the Town of Darwin. A small sized state-owned access, with a single cement boat ramp, is present on the south shore. Erie has three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-four feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Erie is a class 24 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Francis and Little Swan Lakes in Meeker County. Erie is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Ice-out trap netting was primarily conducted to monitor Erie's Northern Pike population. Other bycatch, except for Walleye, was not entered into the database, but field notes were recorded. Northern Pike were present in low numbers, but average length was outstanding (26 inches). Maximum pike length was a respectable 33 inches. Approximately 50 percent of the pike catch was above the north-central pike zone's 22 to 26 inch protected slot limit regulation. Only one Walleye was encountered, but the water was still too cold, and this species had not yet begun their spawning run. The Walleye was just under 25 inches in length. Bycatch included many small - Bluegill, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Golden Shiner and Hybrid Sunfish. Much lower numbers of Bowfin (dogfish), Largemouth Bass and Common Carp were also netted, and released. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, 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. Erie 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 DNR office. Additional information on all these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Erie is a small-sized lake (189 acres) located south of the town of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Erie has approximately three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-four feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Erie is a class 24 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Manuella and Francis Lakes in Meeker County. Erie's 2020 lake management plan listed Walleye and Largemouth Bass as the primary management species. Good numbers of Bluegill and Black Crappie were sampled. The average Bluegill sampled was modest (6.1 inches). The longest Bluegill sampled was 8.4 inches. Approximately 26% of the trap net catch was 7 inches or longer, but only 1% of the catch exceeded 8 inches in length. Black Crappie had a better size structure with fish averaging an impressive 9.1 inches in length. Approximately 72% of the trap net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled was 11.2 inches. Anglers should find plenty of panfish biting at Erie Lake but may need to sort through some small ones to get a meal of keepers. 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. Erie 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 these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

Erie is a small-sized lake (189 acres) located south of the town of Darwin in Meeker County. A state-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the south shore. Erie has approximately three miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of thirty-four feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Erie is a class 24 lake and other similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Manuella and Francis Lakes in Meeker County. Erie's 2020 lake management plan listed Walleye and Largemouth Bass as the primary management species. Good numbers of Bluegill and Black Crappie were sampled. The average Bluegill sampled was modest (6.1 inches). The longest Bluegill sampled was 8.4 inches. Approximately 26% of the trap net catch was 7 inches or longer, but only 1% of the catch exceeded 8 inches in length. Black Crappie had a better size structure with fish averaging an impressive 9.1 inches in length. Approximately 72% of the trap net catch was 9 inches or longer. The longest Black Crappie sampled was 11.2 inches. Anglers should find plenty of panfish biting at Erie Lake but may need to sort through some small ones to get a meal of keepers. 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. Erie 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 these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

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

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

Erie has a maximum depth of 34 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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