Kinbrae

Kinbrae Lake is a 120-acre, class 43 lake, located near the City of Kinbrae in Nobles County. Historically, Kinbrae Lake has been prone to winterkills, with the last major winterkill occurring during the winter of 2022-2023. Since the winterkill, Kinbrae Lake has been stocked with Largemouth Bass (2023), Northern Pike (2024), Walleye (2023), Bluegill (2023), and Yellow Perch (2023) to reestablish gamefish populations. Kinbrae Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, and secondarily for Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Sunfish. A targeted daytime electrofishing survey was conducted June 3, 2024, to determine species present. During 1-hour of electrofishing, 7 species were sampled. Bluegill were most common (n=28) followed by Largemouth Bass (N=25), Northern Pike (N=14), Black Bullhead (N=14), Pumpkinseed Sunfish (N=13), Yellow Perch (N=6), and Walleye (N=2). Habitat favored Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Northern Pike with thick aquatic vegetation and clear water. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 3.7 to 16.4 inches with 2 distinct size ranges of smaller (3.5 to 5.5 inches) and larger (12 to 16 inches) fish indicating some reproduction and quality size adults. Also, Bluegill ranged from 2.1 to 8.0 inches showing excellent growth and reproduction after stocking leading to a budding fishery. Most Bluegill were 6 to 8 inches. Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Perch were all on the smaller side with Northern Pike ranging from 12 to 16 inches, Pumpkinseed Sunfish ranging from 5.4 to 7.4 inches, and Yellow Perch ranging from 4.5 to 5.2 inches. Black Bullhead remained after the winterkill and appeared to be maintaining a population of healthy fish ranging from 3.0 to 9.4 inches. Predator stocking and competition for food with other stocked fish will be the only way to manage for lower numbers of Black Bullhead into the future. Fish management of Kinbrae Lake is dependent on winterkill and habitat conditions of the fish community. Predators (Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike) and sunfish should be added regularly to create a boom-and-bust put-and-take fishery for local anglers. Habitat can be excellent, at times, for Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Northern Pike and can create great angling for those species. Additionally, Yellow Perch or Walleye could be added when habitat is less favorable for the other managed species and vegetation densities are lower or lacking all together. Funding opportunities to increase recreation on Kinbrae Lake will be explored. Potential may exist to add a fishing pier on Kinbrae Lake to encourage usage by shore-based anglers.

Kinbrae Lake is a 120-acre lake located near the City of Kinbrae in Nobles County. Historically, Kinbrae Lake has been prone to winterkills, with the last major winterkill occurring during the winter of 2013-2014. Since the winterkill, Kinbrae Lake has been stocked with Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, in an effort to reestablish gamefish populations. It was also suspected that Kinbrae Lake may have winterkilled during the winter of 2017-2018; however, electrofishing in the spring of 2018 captured many species of game fish. Kinbrae Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, and secondarily for Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and sunfish. A standard survey was conducted the week of May 29, 2018, to monitor fish populations following the harsh winter of 2013-2014. Northern Pike catch rates in Kinbrae Lake have varied from 0.0 per gill net in 1994 to 4.3 per gill net in 2006 and have averaged 2.2 per gill net since 1994. The 2018 catch rate of 3.5 per gill net is within the expected range of catch rate for similar lakes (1.1 to 8.0 per gill net), and is the second highest Pike catch rate recorded at Kinbrae Lake. Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 18.1 to 27.1 inches and averaged 22.5 inches. Kinbrae Lake is within the "southern zone" of the new Northern Pike zone regulations, so two Pike 24 inches or longer can be harvested. Northern Pike under 24 inches must be released. The Yellow Perch catch rate in 2018 was the highest ever recorded at Kinbrae Lake at 81.5 per gill net, greatly exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.7 to 25.0 per gill net). Prior to the 2018 survey, catch rates had ranged from 0.3 per gill net in 1994 to 40.0 per gill net in 2012. Lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 5.2 to 11.7 inches and averaged 8.7 inches. Thirty percent of Yellow Perch sampled were 9 inches or greater in length. Yellow Perch angling should be good in the coming years in Kinbrae Lake, barring any winterkill events. Walleye abundance has historically been low in Kinbrae Lake, with catch rates ranging from 0.0 per gill net in 1994 to 3.0 per gill net in 2012 and averaging 1.5 per gill net since the 1994 survey. In 2018, Walleye were captured at a rate of 1.0 per gill net, below the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Lengths of Walleye were 14.9, 15.2, and 20.2 inches. Since the winterkill in 2013-2014, Kinbrae Lake has been stocked extensively with Walleye fry, fingerlings, and adults. Largemouth Bass predation may be limiting the Walleye population in Kinbrae Lake. Bluegill were captured at a rate of 0.9 per trap net and 5.5 per gill net in 2018. The trap net catch rate was not within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (1.2 to 20.0 per trap net); however the gill net catch rate of 5.5 indicates that their abundance is higher than what the trap net catch rate suggests. Bluegill lengths ranged from 5.5 to 8.5 inches and averaged 6.8 inches. Despite the low trap net catch rate, a fishable population exists, and a sufficient number of adult Bluegill are present to increase the abundance of the Bluegill population through natural reproduction. The Largemouth Bass population was not assessed with electrofishing during this survey; however, five Largemouth Bass were captured in the gill nets (2.5 per gill net), which is higher than the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (0.2 to 1.5 per gill net), indicating that Largemouth Bass abundance is high in Kinbrae Lake. Lengths of Largemouth Bass ranged from 10.8 to 13.8 inches and averaged 11.7 inches. The Black Bullhead catch rate in 2018 was 181.0 per gill net, similar to the catch rate in 2012 of 191.0 per gill net. The catch rate exceeded the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Black Bullhead lengths ranged from 5.3 to 11.4 inches and averaged 8.7 inches. Common Carp have not been sampled in Kinbrae Lake during surveys.

Kinbrae Lake is a 120-acre, class 43 lake, located near the City of Kinbrae in Nobles County. Historically, Kinbrae Lake has been prone to winterkills, with the last major winterkill occurring during the winter of 2013-2014. It was also suspected that Kinbrae Lake may have winterkilled during the winter of 2017-2018; as dissolved oxygen levels decreased to 2.8 ppm in March of 2018. Kinbrae Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, and secondarily for Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Sunfish. A targeted survey using daytime electrofishing was conducted on May 10, 2018 to determine if a winterkill event occurred in Kinbrae Lake. Following the partial winterkill in 2013-2014, Kinbrae Lake was stocked with Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch, in an effort to reestablish gamefish populations. During the electrofishing survey, species sampled included Black Bullhead (84.0 per hour), Bluegill (12.0 per hour), Largemouth Bass (102.0 per hour), Northern Pike (6.0 per hour), Walleye (18.0 per hour), and Yellow Perch (180.0 per hour). This catch indicated that Kinbrae Lake did not winterkill during the winter of 2017 - 2018.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Black Crappie, and Green Sunfish in Kinbrae. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Kinbrae. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Kinbrae has a maximum depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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