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Flat Lake is a 54-acre private lake in Otter Tail County and is located approximately two miles east of Edwards, MN. The immediate watershed is composed of hardwood woodlots interspersed with agricultural land. The maximum depth of Flat Lake is 25 feet, however; 74% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. Because of the number of dead oak trees in the water it is assumed the water levels were above normal during the assessment. The secchi disk reading during the 2004 lake assessment was 9.2 feet, which indicates excellent water clarity. Periodic plankton/algae blooms throughout the summer months can influence secchi dish readings. Flat Lake is included in class 28 of the MNDNR lake classification scheme. Flat Lake is an undeveloped private lake. The private access is located along the north shoreline of the lake. The shoal water substrates consist of sand and gravel with an occasional boulder. Muck was prevalent in the bay areas.Stands of hardstem bulrush, cattails, and sedge grasses are scattered along the shorelines of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas of all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and fish community that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of aquatic habitat. Flat Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Largemouth bass, bluegills, and other sunfish species are the dominant species in the fish community. The largemouth bass test-net catch rate exceeded the upper limit of the normal range for class 28 lakes. Largemouth bass ranged in length from 5.4 to 14.8 inches. Age data indicates a largemouth bass population that is dominated by young fish. Largemouth bass attain a mean length of 11.6 inches at age-IV. A spring electrofishing assessment would be the ideal method to sample the largemouth bass population. The bluegill test-net catch rate was within the normal range for class 28 lakes. Bluegill ranged in size from 3.4 to 8.0 inches with the mean length of 6.5 inches. Bluegill attain a mean length of 7.2 inches at age-VI, which is over an inch faster than the area mean length at age-VI. Other sunfish species sampled during the 2004 assessment included: pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. All three bullhead species were sampled during the 2004 assessment, however; only the black bullhead test-net catch rate exceeded the normal range for class 28 lakes. The yellow bullhead test-net catch rate was within the normal range, while the brown bullhead test-net catch rate was below the normal range. Only two northern pike were sampled during the assessment. The lengths of the two pike sampled were 22.9 inches and 24.6 inches. The yellow perch test-net catch rate was within the normal range for class 28 lakes. Yellow perch ranged in length from 6.2 to 8.1 inches. It appears that Flat Lake, like many of our other area's small lakes, may have experienced a partial or entire winterkill during the 1996-97 winter. The age data indicates there are no fish older than the 1998 year class (5 years old). Because Flat Lake may be susceptible to winterkill during severe winters it may require occasional stockings, however; because it is a private lake with no public access, the MN DNR does not actively manage the lake. It does appear that when there is a lack of winterkill the species present are able to sustain their levels without stocking. This is an indication of the excellent water quality and fish habitat that is available. To maintain the fishing that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the water quality and fish habitat.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill in Unnamed. 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 Unnamed. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Unnamed has a maximum depth of 25 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Unnamed is from 2004. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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