Bloody

Bloody Lake is a shallow basin (maximum depth of 9 feet) that is 248 acres and is located in Murray County. Bloody Lake is connected to Lake Shetek by a channel large enough for watercraft to pass through, thus its fishery is influenced heavily by management activities and the existing fish community on Lake Shetek. Bloody Lake is managed primarily for Walleye, and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Bloody Lake experienced a major fish kill during the winter of 2022-2023. Prior to the fish kill, stocking had not occurred since 2010 with fish maintained successfully via migration from Lake Shetek. After the winterkill, Bloody Lake was restocked with 248,000 Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) Walleye fry from the Lake Sarah egg take operation. Lake Shetek was restocked with 1.7 million LMS Walleye fry as well. Black Crappie were reared in ponds at Lake Shetek State Park with age-0 fish produced in the ponds drained into Lake Shetek. Yellow Perch were not restocked because they were observed in good numbers (5.5 per gill net) during a netting survey in May. Two Northern Pike were also caught in nets during the Lake Shetek survey and a private rearing pond connected to Bloody Lake (Malone's Pond) was stocked and operated to boost the population in Bloody and Shetek Lakes. Bloody Lake was surveyed using one gill net and three trap nets the week of August 10, 2023 to determine the recovery of Bloody Lake after the winterkill and restocking efforts. Eleven species of fish were captured during sampling (see GN and TN results). Four species (Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, and Orangespotted Sunfish) were not sampled in 2023 but were present before the winterkill event in 2022-2023. One species, White Sucker, was captured in 2023 but not prior to the winterkill. When looking at the management species, Walleye (2 per GN, 7 per TN), Black Crappie (6 per GN, 11 per TN), Northern Pike (2 per GN, 6.33 per TN), and Yellow Perch (9 per GN, 5.67 per TN) all showed large reductions in adult fish present. In fact, only age-0 Walleye, age-0 Black Crappie, and age-0 Northern Pike were sampled with no adult members of each of those species. Similar to Lake Shetek winterkill, Yellow Perch adults seemed to fair best of all management species. Encouragingly, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike restocking and/or natural recruitment seem adequate to quickly repopulate the lake. Harvest oriented angling will be tough with many small fish caught over the next year or two, however, when these fish reach harvestable size the angling success could be very good. While Bloody Lake did experience a major fish kill during the winter of 2022-2023, there is much to be encouraged about. Walleye, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike restocking or natural recruitment all seem adequate to quickly repopulation the lake. In addition, Lake Shetek is poised to have a very strong year-class of stocked age-0 Walleye that should move in and out of Bloody Lake as well. Also, Yellow Perch adults faired very well in Bloody and Shetek Lakes and should add some angling attention over the next year or two as the rest of the fish community continues to recover and grow to larger harvestable sizes. Walleye should reach harvestable size (13-14 inches) by the winter of 2024-2025. Black Crappie should reach harvestable size (9 inches) by the spring of 2025. Northern Pike should reach the southern zone minimum length limit of 24 inches (2 Northern Pike 24 inches or greater daily bag limit) by spring of 2025. Another lake survey will be conducted on Lake Shetek during August 2024 with the ability to evaluate the fish community of Bloody Lake as well.

Bloody Lake is a shallow basin (maximum depth of 9 feet) that is 248 acres and is located in Murray County. Bloody Lake is connected to Lake Shetek by a channel large enough for watercraft to pass through, thus its fishery is influenced heavily by management activities on Lake Shetek. Bloody Lake is managed primarily for Walleye, and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Fish stocking has not occurred at Bloody Lake since 2010, therefore it appears fish migration from Lake Shetek is sufficient for maintaining a fishable Walleye population. Bloody Lake likely receives Northern Pike fingerlings annually, as a Northern Pike rearing pond that drains into Bloody Lake is operated in cooperation with a private landowner. Yellow Perch and Black Crappie have not been stocked in recent history because they have maintained their populations through natural reproduction or migration from Shetek. Bloody Lake was surveyed the week of July 11, 2022 to monitor fish populations using one gill net and nine trap nets. Bloody Lake experienced a significant fish kill during the winter of 2022-2023 so the description of the fish community in 2022 may not accurately reflect what could be observed in 2023 or beyond. Additional netting will be conducted to determine the impact of the fish kill. The 2022 Walleye catch rate was 25.0 per gill net, exceeding the long term average of 11.0 per gill net and exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.0 to 7.3 per gill net). The 2022 catch rate of 25.0 per gill net is the highest Walleye catch rate ever observed on Bloody Lake. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 9.7 inches to 22.0 inches and averaged 14.0 inches. Walleye growth was fast compared to Walleye growth in similar lakes across Minnesota. Mean length at age-1 was 11.6 inches, at age-2 was 14.6 inches, and at age-3 was 16.6 inches. Age-1 Walleye accounted for nearly 60 percent of sampled Walleye, which corresponds to a high numbers of age-1 Walleye in Lake Shetek, which was stocked in 2021. Yellow Perch abundance has been highly variable with catch rates ranging from 5.0 per gill net in 2010 to 83.0 per gill net in 1996. In 2022, the Yellow Perch catch rate was 34.0 per gill net, higher than the long term average of 31.2 per gill net, and higher than the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (3.0 to 26.5 per gill net). Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 5.0 to 10.9 inches and averaged 8.2 inches. The 2022 Black Crappie catch rate was 4.8 per trap net, which is similar to the 2016 catch rate of 4.2 per trap net and is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.4 to 15.1 per trap net). Multiple year classes were present, with lengths ranging from 5.3 to 11.3 inches and averaging 9.7 inches. The population is likely sustained through natural reproduction and migration from Shetek. Northern Pike have historically occurred in low abundance in Bloody Lake. In 2022, five Northern Pike were sampled in trap nets (0.6 per trap net). Northern Pike ranged in length from 17.6 to 24.9 inches and averaged 21.1 inches. The annual contribution of fingerlings from the Northern Pike rearing pond that drains into Bloody Lake is not known because there is not a catch basin below the pond to quantify the young of the year Northern Pike. The Northern Pike rearing pond will likely continue to be operated to supplement Northern Pike populations in Bloody Lake and Lake Shetek. The Bluegill catch rate in 2022 was 3.0 per trap net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.88 to 29.5 per trap net). Although abundance was low, size structure of the Bluegills was large, with Bluegills ranging in length from 3.6 to 10.1 inches and averaging 7.9 inches. The potential to catch a Bluegill larger than 9.0 inches exists in Bloody Lake. Black Bullhead catch rates in the gill net (6.0 per gill net) and trap nets (0.2 per trap net)remained below long term averages and their expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (9.6 to 91.4 per gill net and 2.2 to 60.5 per trap net). Channel Catfish abundance was unchanged from the 2016 catch rate of 8.0 per gill net. Channel Catfish lengths ranged from 14.6 to 24.9 inches and averaged 20.7 inches. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Quillback, White Crappie, and Yellow Bullhead.

Bloody Lake is shallow basin (maximum depth of 9 feet) that is 248 acres and is located in Murray County. Historically, Bloody Lake has been prone to partial winterkills; however, low oxygen was last observed in Feb. 2010. An aeration system was installed in 1993, with the intent to reduce the frequency and/or severity of winterkill. Bloody Lake is connected to Lake Shetek by a narrow channel, thus its fishery is influenced heavily by management activities on Lake Shetek. Bloody Lake is managed primarily for Walleye, and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Bloody Lake was surveyed the week of July 5, 2016 to monitor fish populations using one gill net and nine trap nets. The 2016 Walleye catch rate was 9.0 per gill net, which exceeds the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 11.0 to 23.9 inches and averaged 14.5 inches, with most being between 11.0 and 14.0 inches. In previous surveys, Walleye growth has been fast, as total length at age-3 averaged 15.3 inches; however, in 2016, average total length at age-3 was 12.2 inches, which is slow growth compared to similar lakes. The slow growth could be attributed to an abundant year class and/or limited prey availability. Sixty percent of the Walleye were age-3, corresponding to a strong year class in Lake Shetek. In 2016, the Yellow Perch catch rate was 6.0 per gill net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes, but below the average since 1996 (30.5 per gill net). Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 8.4 to 8.7 inches, indicating the presence of one year class and limited natural reproduction. Black Crappie were sampled at a rate of 22.0 per gill net, which is higher than expected catch rates in similar lakes. Multiple year classes were present, with lengths ranging from 5.0 to 10.3 inches and averaging 8.4 inches, suggesting that the population is sustained through natural reproduction. Crappie fishing should be good in the spring when they are up shallow spawning. Try targeting downed trees in the water for best angling. Northern Pike catch rates have not exceeded 0.6 per trap net and 0.0 per gill net since 1996. The 2016 catch rates were the highest observed catch rates at 1.2 per trap net and 2.0 per gill net. Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 17.3 to 27.8 inches and averaged 23.7 inches. The operation of the Northern Pike rearing pond likely contributed to this slight increase in catch rates. Black Bullhead catch rates in gill nets (29.0) and trap nets (0.7) remained below long term averages. Black bullheads ranged in length from 8.6 to 11.1 inches and averaged 10.1 inches. Channel Catfish abundance increased drastically from 1.5 per gill net in 2010 to 8.0 per gill net in 2016, which is similar to what was observed on Lake Shetek. Channel Catfish ranged from 11.7 to 25.7 inches and averaged 19.2 inches. Common Carp were sampled at a rate of 0.6 per trap net, which is below expected catch rates in similar lakes. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Bluegill, Orangespotted Sunfish, Quillback, White Crappie, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Walleye, and Yellow Perch in Bloody. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Bloody has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Bloody has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.