Molly Stark

Molly Stark Lake is a 153-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located almost entirely within Glendalough State Park approximately three miles northeast of Battle Lake, MN. There is a non-navigable inlet along the southeast shoreline that connects Molly Stark to West Battle Lake. A non-navigable outlet along the northeast shoreline flows into Annie Battle Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of hardwood woodlots and grasslands. The maximum depth is 48 feet; however, 43% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. Shoreline length is 1.8 miles. The secchi disk reading during the 2015 lake survey was 9.6 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 8.5 to 17.0 feet. The majority of the shoreline is located within the state park; therefore, development is very limited. A DNR owned public access is located in the park along the southwest shoreline. A picnic area, shelter, and swimming beach are located along the north shoreline. Three private residences are located along the southeast shoreline. The dominant shoreline substrate is sand. The most prevalent emergent aquatic plant is hardstem bulrush, which is found in scattered beds mainly along the east and northwest shorelines. These emergent plants provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical in maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms from wave erosion and help absorb excess nutrients. Emergent plants also provide critical spawning habitat for several fish species including Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for many species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants cannot be removed without a DNR permit. Molly Stark Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species. A moderate-density Northern Pike population exists. Northern Pike ranged in length from 11.7 to 35.4 inches with an average length and weight of 16.4 inches and 1.1 pounds. Pike attain an average length of 18.4 inches at four years of age. Data collected from a spring electrofishing assessment indicated that Molly Stark Lake has a balanced Largemouth Bass population. Age data indicate that Largemouth Bass reproduction is consistently good. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6.6 to 19.3 inches with an average length and weight of 11.2 inches and 0.9 pounds. Bass attain an average length of 11.7 inches at four years of age. Bluegill abundance has historically fluctuated. There are several strong year classes which should provide good Bluegill angling for several years. Twenty-one percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.8 inches at six years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing in Molly Stark Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

Located 3 miles northeast of Battle Lake, MN, Molly Stark Lake is a 152-acre lake with a maximum depth of 48 feet. A survey targeting near shore fish species was conducted by IBI Program Staff on Molly Stark Lake on 30 July 2015 to assess populations of non-game species and small sport fish. Ten 100-foot sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake shore, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot 1/8th-inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. During this assessment, eight sites were sampled with a 50-foot seine and two sites with a 15-foot seine. Backpack electrofishing was done on foot along the shoreline at all 10 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish including many species intolerant of disturbance such as Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Logperch, Mimic Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass. Other species sampled during the nearshore effort included Bigmouth Shiner, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Stickleback, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Spottail Shiner, and Yellow Perch. Nearshore catches are used along with gillnet and trapnet catch data from a survey on 24 - 27 August 2015, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of the health of Molly Stark Lake. The fish IBI score for Molly Stark Lake was exceptionally high compared to similar lakes; of note were the high numbers of intolerant, small benthic, and vegetation-dwelling species sampled, the high proportion of small benthic dwelling individuals in the nearshore catch, the high proportion of biomass of insectivorous species and the low proportion of biomass of omnivorous species in the trap net catch. A review of potential stressors found watershed (53% disturbed land cover) characteristics at a level surpassing those thought to impact the fish community, and riparian (2015 Score the Shore survey score: 88/100; approximately 1 docks per kilometer of shoreline) characteristics at levels thought to have minimal impact on the fish community. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Molly Stark Lake is located in the Otter Tail River Watershed.

Molly Stark Lake is a 153-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located almost entirely within Glendalough State Park approximately three miles northeast of Battle Lake, MN. There is a non-navigable inlet along the southeast shoreline that connects Molly Stark to West Battle Lake. A non-navigable outlet along the northeast shoreline flows into Annie Battle Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of hardwood woodlots and grasslands. The maximum depth is 48 feet; however, 43% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. Shoreline length is 1.8 miles. The secchi disk reading during the 2010 lake survey was 8.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 11.0 to 17.0 feet. The majority of the shoreline is located within the state park; therefore, development is very limited. A DNR owned public access is located in the park along the southwest shoreline. A picnic area, shelter, and swimming beach are located along the north shoreline. Three private residences are located along the southeast shoreline. The dominant shoreline substrate is sand. The most prevalent emergent aquatic plant is hardstem bulrush, which is found in scattered beds mainly along the east and northwest shorelines. These emergent plants provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical in maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms from wave erosion and help absorb excess nutrients. Emergent plants also provide critical spawning habitat for several fish species including northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for many species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants cannot be removed without a DNR permit. Molly Stark Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern pike, largemouth bass, and bluegill are the dominant gamefish species. Tullibees are a popular target of ice fishermen. A moderate-density northern pike population exists. Northern pike ranged in length from 11.4 to 29.8 inches with an average length and weight of 17.2 inches and 1.1 pounds. Northern pike growth rates are slow, which may correspond with the low abundance of yellow perch, a preferred forage specie. Data collected from a spring electrofishing assessment indicated that Molly Stark Lake has a balanced largemouth bass population. Largemouth bass reproduction appears to be consistently good. Largemouth bass ranged in length from 7.4 to 17.4 inches with an average length and weight of 11.0 inches and 0.8 pounds. Bluegill abundance has historically fluctuated. There are several strong year classes which should provide good bluegill angling for several years. Twenty percent of the bluegills in the trap net sample were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Walleye abundance is low; however, the average size is good. Walleyes ranged in length from 16.5 to 23.7 inches with an average length and weight of 19.8 inches and 2.8 pounds. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing in Molly Stark Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, and Hybrid Sunfish in Molly Stark. 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 Molly Stark. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Molly Stark has a maximum depth of 48 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Molly Stark is from 2015. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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