Currant

Currant Lake is a 394-acre, class 43 lake that has a maximum depth of 9.5 ft. and is located southwest of Balaton in Murray County. Currant Lake is situated in a mostly agricultural landscape which results in poor water quality due to runoff of nutrients. Currant Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch and Black Crappie. Currant Lake was stocked with Lower Mississippi strain Walleye fry in the spring of 2017, due to surplus production of this strain. Prior to 2017 LMS stocking, the Lower Mississippi strain was last stocked decades ago, but has persisted in several area lakes despite extensive stocking of other strains of Walleye. A daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on October 8, 2025 to determine if the fry stocking was successful. Young-of-the year Walleye were captured at a rate of 212.0 per hour electrofishing, which indicates that the fry stocking was successful. In stocked years, the goal is to attain 30.0 per hour electrofishing. Lengths of Walleye ranged from 5.1 to 7.9 inches and averaged 6.5 inches. If they survive the winter, the 2025 year class should be a strong year class in the Currant Lake Walleye population.

Currant Lake is a 394-acre, class 43 lake that has a maximum depth of 9.5 ft. and is located southwest of the City of Balaton in Murray County. Currant Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Black Crappie and Yellow Perch. Currant Lake was surveyed during the week of June 9, 2025 to monitor fish populations using three gill nets and nine trap nets. Walleye catch rates in Currant Lake have varied from 0.0 per gill net in 1984 and 2005 to 32.3 per gill net in 2017. Prior to 2017, Walleye catch rates in gill nets averaged 2.5 per gill net. Catch rates in 2017 and 2021 increased significantly to 32.3 and 33.3 per gill net, respectively. In 2025, the Walleye catch rate decreased to levels more characteristic of Current Lake to 7.0 per gill net, just below the long-term average of 8.4 per gill net and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Lengths of Walleye ranged from 6.9 to 27.4 inches and averaged 18.8 inches, with 67 percent of Walleye sampled being greater than 20.0 inches. Six year classes of Walleye were sampled including age-1, age-2, age-3, and-4, age-5 and age-8. All Walleye sampled corresponded to stocking events except the 2020 and the 2022-year class, which were likely from natural reproduction. Growth of Walleye in Currant Lake decreased since 2021 as mean length at age 1 and age 2 in 2025 was 7.3 and 11.7 inches, respectively, compared to mean lengths at age 1 and age 4 in 2021 of 10.4 and 18.6 inches respectively. Mean relative weight of Walleye was 93, indicating that prey is available; however, we noted that Walleyes appeared to be skinny at the time of the survey, and catch of prey species was low. Although the catch rate had declined from the two previous surveys, it met the management goal of 7.0 per gill net. Overall, very few fish of all species were caught in this survey, presenting the possibility that fish movement was limited during this time frame. The Yellow Perch catch rate decreased from 73.7 per gill net in 2021 to 13.0 per gill net in 2025, which is slightly above the long-term average of 12.4 per gill net, and is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Despite the decrease in catch rate, 70 percent of Yellow Perch were 9.0 inches or greater in length. Yellow Perch Lengths ranged from 4.7 to 11.8 inches and averaged 9.1 inches. Mean Relative weight of Yellow Perch was 117, suggesting that forage is readily available for Yellow Perch. Adult brood fish are present in Currant Lake, thus stocking is not needed as the management goal of at least 2.0 per gill net was met. Historically Black Crappie abundance ranged from 1.7 per trap net in 1984 to 58.4 per trap net in 1997. The most recent catch rate in 2021 was 14.9 per trap net. No Black Crappie were sampled during the 2025 survey. Pre-spawn adult Black Crappie will be stocked in the spring of 2026 to jumpstart the population. The Bigmouth Buffalo catch rate decreased from 70.3 per gill net in 2021 to 0.7 per gill net in 2025. Other species sampled included Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Brown Bullhead, and Yellow Bullhead.

Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff conducted an assessment of lakeshore habitat on Currant Lake on May 30, 2023, following the Score the Shore survey protocols. The assessment consisted of 32 survey sites evenly spaced 200 meters around the lake. Assessments were made in three habitat zones: Shoreline Zone (the shore-water interface to the top of the natural bank), Shoreland Zone (land-ward from shoreline to development structure or 100 feet), and Aquatic Zone (lake-ward 50 feet of shoreline). The average lakewide habitat score was 76.4 (+/- 2.7) out of 100 possible. A score of 76.4 indicates the lakewide shoreline condition is Moderate (70-80). Approximately 87 percent of the sites were developed with a mean score of 73.3 (+/- 2.5) indicating shoreline habitat quality of developed sites is Moderate (70-80), while undeveloped sites had a mean score of 98.3 (+/- 1.7) with Excellent (92+) habitat quality.

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

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

Currant has a maximum depth of 9.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Currant is from 2025.

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