Sarah

Lake Sarah is a 1,093-acre, class 41 lake, located approximately 4 miles south of the City of Garvin in Murray County. Lake Sarah has a maximum depth of 11.0 feet and a watershed-to-lake ratio of 10-to-1. Lake Sarah is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. Lake Sarah's Walleye population is unique in the Windom fisheries management area. It is sustained through natural reproduction alone, as it has had limited stocking since 1991. Put-back fry were stocked during the initial stages of an egg-take from 2015-2017. Minnesota DNR stocked approximately 100,000 fry (100 fry/acre) in 2015 and 200,000 fry (200 fry/acre) in 2016 and 2017. Put-back stocking was discontinued due to limited return of genetically marked Walleye fry compared to natural reproduction. During the Walleye egg take on Lake Sarah and by taking genetic tissue from every broodstock Walleye used for egg take, we could tell if the Walleye fry stocked are a result of stocking or natural reproduction. So, from 2015-2017, we were able to determine the percentage of contribution the put-back fry was toward the capture of all Age-0 Walleye in the fall (Figure 1). The take home message is that the number of Age-0 Walleye was extremely high and the contribution of put-back fry was low (by comparison) and not needed. Put-back fry has not been stocked since 2017. We determined that the Walleye population will maintain itself naturally. Given we can electrofish Lake Sarah for Age-0 Walleye each Fall, we will be able to monitor the situation and make changes to the put-back fry if the population begins to falter. No stocking of Walleye fry from any egg-take stations statewide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and spring shutdown of close contact work. However, in 2021, the egg-take operations were restarted with enhanced safety protocols for close contact work. Starting 2022, there was a return to more normal operations that were done from 2015 to 2019. A genetics study found that Lake Sarah's Walleye are unique to the Cannon River in east-central Minnesota, which was used as an egg take source decades ago by the Waterville Office. The study suggested that this Lower Mississippi Strain (LMS) of Walleye has persisted in some southern waters despite extensive stocking of a northern "Mississippi strain" Walleye and the fact that the LMS Walleye egg take and subsequent stocking ended decades ago. In other words, the only way these unique genetics persist in some of these southern waters is through natural reproduction through the decades. The study also suggested that the LMS strain of Walleye in Lake Sarah can naturally reproduce, thereby creating a self-sustaining population. It is the goal to create other southern Minnesota lakes with similar self-sustaining populations and thereby potentially creating additional LMS egg take lakes and establish genetic conservation. Annual fall night electrofishing is done on Lake Sarah to monitor natural reproduction. Two-hours of night electrofishing was conducted on 08 October 2025 to assess natural reproduction. Below is a table with historical catch data. The catch of age-0 (YOY) Walleye in 2025 was 473.5 per hour, which is greater than the interquartile range developed for Lake Sarah (75.3 to 289.8 age-0 per hour). This catch follows a consecutive trend of high catch rates since 2020 and a record catch in 2023 (Figure 1). Total length of Walleye sampled ranged from 6.7 to 9.9 inches and averaged 8.2 inches (Table 1). Walleye reproduction will be monitored annually to assess natural reproduction and determine if there are negative consequences with the LMS Walleye egg take operations. To date, there have been no adverse impacts realized on the Lake Sarah Walleye population as a result of the annual egg-take operation. However, in the event that we do see any adverse impacts, egg-take operations may need to be altered or be paused. Table 1. Historic catch rates for young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye during fall night electrofishing on Lake Sarah. Date Total N Mean Length Catch Rate (n/hour) 10/8/2025 947 8.2 473.5 10/14/2024 229 7.2 114.01 10/9/2023 2,689 9.3 1,344.5 10/10/2022 850 6.4 425.0 10/14/2021 880 8.4 440.0 10/7/2020 937 8.2 468.5 10/7/2019 180 8.5 163.6 10/16/2018 81 9.2 81.0 10/10/2017 216 7.7 288.0 9/27/2016 253 8.2 337.3 10/6/2015 32 9.0 28.6 10/15/2014 350 7.8 244.2 10/7/2013 293 8.1 290.4 10/11/2012 193 8.4 186.7 10/20/2011 312 8.2 301.5 9/21/2010 162 8.2 149.5 9/28/2006 56 9.5 74.7 10/10/2005 145 9.1 96.7 9/28/2004 77 7.7 77.0 10/8/2003 12 9.1 16.0 9/18/2001 174 7.2 139.2 9/24/2000 90 7.1 60.0 9/16/1999 101 6.9 93.2 9/24/1998 105 8.1 105.0 10/14/1997 61 7.1 40.7 9/29/1996 183 6.4 183.0 10/9/1995 50 7.6 33.3 10/13/1994 296 7.9 197.3 10/14/1993 86 7.4 57.3

Lake Sarah is a 1,093-acre, class 41 lake, located approximately 4 miles south of the City of Garvin in Murray County. Lake Sarah has a maximum depth of 11.0 feet and a watershed-to-lake ratio of 10-to-1. Lake Sarah is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. Lake Sarah's Walleye population is unique in the Windom fisheries management area. It is sustained through natural reproduction alone, as it has had limited stocking since 1991. Put-back fry were stocked during the initial stages of starting an egg-take from 2015-2017. Minnesota DNR stocked approximately 100,000 fry (100 fry/acre) in 2015 and 200,000 fry (200 fry/acre) in 2016 and 2017. Put-back stocking was discontinued due to limited return compared to natural reproduction. The take home message is the number of Age-0 Walleye was extremely high and the contribution of put-back fry was low (by comparison) and not needed. Put-back fry have not been stocked since 2017. We determined that the Walleye population will maintain itself naturally. Given we electrofish Lake Sarah for Age-0 Walleye each Fall, we will be able to monitor the situation and make changes to the put-back fry if the population begins to falter. No stocking of Walleye fry from egg-take stations was done statewide in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and spring shutdown of close contact work. However, in 2021, the egg-take operations were restarted with enhanced safety protocols for close contact work. Starting 2022, there was a return to more normal operations that were done from 2015 to 2019. A genetics study found that Lake Sarah's Walleye are unique to the Cannon River in east-central Minnesota, which was used as an egg take source decades ago by the Waterville Office. The study suggested that this Lower Mississippi strain (LMS) of Walleye has persisted in some southern waters despite extensive stocking of a northern "Mississippi strain" Walleye and the fact that the LMS Walleye egg take, and subsequent stocking, ended decades ago. In other words, the only way these unique genetics persisted in some of these southern waters is through natural reproduction through the decades. The study also suggested that the LMS strain of Walleye in Lake Sarah can naturally reproduce, thereby creating a self-sustaining population. It is the goal to create other southern Minnesota lakes with similar self-sustaining populations and thereby potentially creating additional egg take lakes and establish genetic conservation. Annual fall night electrofishing is done on the lake to monitor natural reproduction. Two-hours of night electrofishing was conducted on 14 October 2024 to assess natural reproduction. Below is a table with historical catch data. The catch of age-0 (YOY) Walleye in 2024 was 114.01 per hour, which is within the interquartile range developed for Lake Sarah (75.28 to 289.8 age-0 per hour). This catch follows a consecutive trend of high catch rates since 2020 and a record catch in 2023 (Figure 1). Mean length of Walleye sampled was 7.2 inches (Table 1). The mean length in 2024 was just below the 25% quartile for mean length (7.29 inches) indicating small age-0 Walleye in 2024. Year class suppression has been documented in populations that have consecutive big year classes, and it may have happened in 2024. A poor year class has proven to be less than 30 YOY per hour for Lake Sarah and when fish don't reach 5 inches or greater by fall, therefore, the potential for strong year classes is still very good in Lake Sarah. Walleye reproduction will be monitored annually to assess natural reproduction and determine if egg take operations are causing a change in reproduction potential of the Lake Sarah population. To date, there have been no adverse impacts realized to the Lake Sarah Walleye population as a result of the annual egg-take operation. However, if we do see any adverse impacts, egg-take operations may need to cease. Table 1. Historic catch rates for young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye during fall night electrofishing on Lake Sarah. Date Total N Mean Length Catch Rate (n/hour) 10/14/2024 229 7.2 114.01 10/9/2023 2,689 9.3 1,344.5 10/10/2022 850 6.4 425.0 10/14/2021 880 8.4 440.0 10/7/2020 937 8.2 468.5 10/7/2019 180 8.5 163.6 10/16/2018 81 9.2 81.0 10/10/2017 216 7.7 288.0 9/27/2016 253 8.2 337.3 10/6/2015 32 9.0 28.6 10/15/2014 350 7.8 244.2 10/7/2013 293 8.1 290.4 10/11/2012 193 8.4 186.7 10/20/2011 312 8.2 301.5 9/21/2010 162 8.2 149.5 9/28/2006 56 9.5 74.7 10/10/2005 145 9.1 96.7 9/28/2004 77 7.7 77.0 10/8/2003 12 9.1 16.0 9/18/2001 174 7.2 139.2 9/24/2000 90 7.1 60.0 9/16/1999 101 6.9 93.2 9/24/1998 105 8.1 105.0 10/14/1997 61 7.1 40.7 9/29/1996 183 6.4 183.0 10/9/1995 50 7.6 33.3 10/13/1994 296 7.9 197.3 10/14/1993 86 7.4 57.3

Lake Sarah is a 1,209-acre, class 41 lake, located approximately 4 miles south of the City of Garvin in Murray County. Lake Sarah has a maximum depth of 11.0 ft. Lake Sarah is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. The Walleye population is sustained through natural reproduction and has only been stocked several times since 1991 during the initial phase of egg-take operations in 2015, 2016, and 2017 with very low density (253,676 fry or less each year). A genetics study found that Lake Sarah's Walleye are unique to the Cannon River in east-central Minnesota, which was used as an egg source decades ago. The study suggested that this "Lower Mississippi Strain" (LMS) of Walleye has persisted in some southern waters despite extensive stocking of "Mississippi strain" Walleye. To expand LMS Walleye populations primarily in southwest MN, an egg take operation was started on Lake Sarah in 2015 and has been conducted annually except in 2020 (COVID). Walleye fry produced from this operation are stocked into lakes primarily in Southern and Western MN to try to replicate Lake Sarah's self-sustaining Walleye population. Due to the unique genetics and better performance in southern MN waters, lakes are stocked with these fry to create potentially other LMS egg takes in the future. To date, we have 2 other Walleye egg take location for LMS Walleye eggs. Additionally, Lake Sarah is included in a study examining the effects of Zebra Mussels on Walleye populations across the State of Minnesota. As a part of this study, we moved our standard week of sampling for the long term on Lake Sarah to a later date per the criteria of the study. A standard survey was conducted the week of September 9, 2024, to monitor managed species using gill nets and trap nets. WALLEYE The 2024 Walleye catch rate was 46.7 per gill net, an increase from the 2021 catch rate of 38.0 per gill net, and well above the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (between 3.2 and 15.3 per gill net). Eight year-classes of Walleye were sampled including Walleye from 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 with the 2023-year class comprising 84 percent of the sample. The presence of consecutive year-classes suggests that natural reproduction and recruitment occur annually, producing a very stable Walleye population. Often times in other natural Walleye fisheries, there strong year classes of Walleye produced every other year. The 2023-year class (age-1) was very abundant during their first year as they were captured at a rate of 1,344.5 per hour of electrofishing in 2023. This is after successive high catch rates of 468.5, 440.0, and 425.0 per hour in 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively. High abundance can have a negative effect on growth. However, growth continues to be fast in Lake Sarah with mean back-calculated lengths at age-1 = 10 inches, age-2 = 15 inches, age-3 = 19 inches, and age-4 = 21 inches. Not surprising, the population of Walleye was skewed toward younger smaller fish. However, the number of Walleye over 25 inches in the gill nets and trap nets increased from 3% in 2021 to 6% in 2024 showing no decrease and potentially good survival of large Walleye in Lake Sarah. Lengths of Walleye ranged from just under 7 inches to almost 29 inches and averaged 14.6 inches in gill nets and 15.1 inches in trap nets. Condition of Walleye was normal suggesting that prey is adequate in Lake Sarah. Angling for Walleye should be extremely good for young fish rangin from 13 to 15 inches during the summer of 2025 and should remain good for Walleye 15 to 20 inches until the next MN DNR survey in 2027 when additional data will help inform management decision over the next 3 years. YELLOW PERCH Yellow Perch catch rates have increased from 7.8 per gill net in 2014 to 156.0 per gill net in 2021. Prior to 2014 the catch rate was typically less than the long-term average of 42.2 per gill net, indicating the influence of the 2021 catch rate toward calculation of the long-term catch rate average. In 2024, the catch rate returned to lower levels with a catch of 12.3 per gill net. The 2024 catch rate was within the expected catch rate range for similar lakes (from 3.0 to 22.5 per gill net). Yellow Perch are an important prey fish in Lake Sarah, especially for the stable and abundant Walleye population that. Given that Walleye are very abundant, it is probable that Yellow Perch have seen a decline because of predation by Walleye on younger fish and mortality of older fish due to natural old age (Yellow Perch don't live much past 5 years in southwest Minnesota). Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 7.5 to just over 11 inches and averaged 9 inches in gill nets with only 1 Yellow Perch in all the trap nets. Yellow Perch in Lake Sarah were in good overall body condition during the survey indicating prey is readily available. Yellow Perch relative abundance in Lake Sarah should be enough to provide some angling, but they will be mostly utilized as prey for Walleye. BLACK CRAPPIE Black Crappie catch rates have been highly variable ranging from 0.4 per trap net in 2018 to 54.6 per trap net in 2010. In 2024, the Black Crappie catch rate was 4 per trap net, less than the long-term average of 13.9 per trap net but within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (from 1.0 to 12.3 per trap net). Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from just under 3 inches to 13.5 inches and averaged 6.9 inches in trap nets and 7.4 inches in gill nets. Although Black Crappie are not stocked in Lake Sarah, a fishable population is present with some larger fish over 12 inches that may provide an angling opportunity. Spring spawning is the best time to target Black Crappie when water temperatures approach 60 degrees. Finding some wind protected areas with some structure in the water such as downed trees or some aquatic vegetation. BLACK BULLHEAD AND OTHER SPECIES Black Bullhead relative abundance increased from 15 per gill net in 2021 to 425 per gill net in 2024. The 2024 catch rate is the greatest catch rate of Black Bullhead ever observed for Lake Sarah. Black Bullhead lengths ranged from 5 to 14.5 inches and averaged 7.2 inches in the gill net sample and 6.7 inches in the trap net sample. The increase of Black Bullhead may be a good thing for the Walleye population, as Walleye in southwest MN can grow large when Black Bullhead are plentiful, especially Black Bullhead less than 8 inches. Other species sampled included Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead of which only Bigmouth Buffalo were caught at levels above what was expected. Bigmouth Buffalo are commercially harvested in Lake Sarah, and the young fish 7-12 inches should contribute to the commercial catch over the next 20 years as they growth rather slowly and live longer than most gamefish.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Green Sunfish, and White Crappie in Sarah. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sarah has a maximum depth of 10 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sarah is from 2024.

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