Island

Island Lake is a 527-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake and is within the Kettle River Watershed. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet and 51 percent of the lake is 15 feet or less (267 acres). Island Lake has three small unnamed inlets with intermittent flows, one of which connects to nearby Little Sand Lake. The lake has one outlet, which connects to nearby Sand Lake. Water clarity is moderate, and ranges from 3 to 7 feet. Sand is the most common substrate along with a few areas of gravel, which results in abundant Bluegill and crappie spawning habitat especially along the east and southeast shorelines. Quantitative aquatic vegetation surveys were conducted in 2009 and 2019. Surveys indicated that Island Lake has a diverse, good quality aquatic plant community. However, Curlyleaf Pondweed is present and is a non-native invasive species. A state administered public access is located at the southwest end of the lake off East Frontage Road (County Hwy 51). The access has a concrete ramp and parking for up to 12 rigs. The shoreline is highly developed with homes. Past standard lake surveys on Island Lake have typically occurred in July. Warm summer water temperatures typically result in crappies suspending in open water, which decreases their sampling efficiency. However, crappie were sampled and measured during targeted spring musky surveys in 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009; as well as during a targeted Bluegill survey in 2024. Results of these surveys indicated that Island Lake supports a crappie population moderate in number and size with average lengths typically ranging from 7.5 to 9.5 inches. During the targeted surveys for muskellunge in 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009, the percentage of Black Crappies sampled that were greater than 10 inches were 64%, 18%, 2%, and 4%, respectively. In the 2024 targeted Bluegill survey, a total of 295 Black Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 8.4/net. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 4.5 to 12.4 inches with an average length of 9.4 inches. Thirty percent of crappies sampled were greater than 10 inches. The 2024 survey demonstrated a good crappie population was present; however, aging structures were not taken. Therefore, to include Island Lake in the statewide crappie research project, electrofishing was used in 2025 to sample known crappie areas efficiently. In 2025, a survey targeting Black Crappie was conducted in conjunction with a statewide research project to examine crappie size structure and age distributions. Crappie were caught via boat electrofishing during the daytime on 5/6/2025 and at night on 5/13/2025 when water temperatures were 61 and 65 degrees, respectively. A total of 203 crappie were caught and measured in 2025. Lengths ranged from 1.9 to 12.4 inches and averaged 9.1 inches. Forty-six percent of crappies sampled were greater than 10 inches. In addition, aging structures were collected from 108 crappie. Ages 1, 3 - 10, and 14 were all represented with ages 4 and 5 representing 56% of fish sampled.

Island Lake is a 527-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake, MN, and is within the Kettle River Watershed. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet and 51 percent of the lake is 15 feet or less (267 acres). Island Lake has three small unnamed inlets with intermittent flows, one of which connects to nearby Little Sand Lake. The lake has one outlet, which connects to nearby Sand Lake. Water clarity is moderate, and ranges from 3 to 7 feet. Sand is the most common substrate along with a few areas of gravel, which results in abundant Bluegill spawning habitat especially along the east and southeast shorelines. Quantitative aquatic vegetation surveys occurred in 2009 and 2019. Surveys indicated that Island Lake has a diverse, good quality aquatic plant community. However, Curlyleaf Pondweed is present and is an invasive species. A state administered public access is located at the southwest end of the lake off East Frontage Road (County Hwy 51). The access has a concrete ramp and parking for up to 12 rigs. The shoreline is highly developed with homes. Past surveys on Island occurred in July and have indicated the lake has a moderate to high density Bluegill population, with average size structure, as fish sampled over 8 inches were rare. Recent interest in quality sized Bluegill have led to efforts to obtain additional information on the size structure of this population. A trap netting survey from May 28-31 was the first Bluegill spawning survey on this lake. The survey was completed using 10 trap nets over 3 days prior to Bluegill spawning, with water temperatures that ranged from 62 to 67 degrees. Bluegill were measured in previous spring surveys targeting Muskellunge in 1994, 2004, and 2009 during the month of April; however, fish over 8 inches were rarely sampled and water temperatures were likely too cold to appropriately sample the adult population. A total of 1,483 Bluegill were sampled in 2024 for a catch rate of 42/net. Lengths ranged from 2.9 - 8.9 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. Nearly 16 percent of the Bluegill captured were 8 inches or greater. This percentage is higher than what was observed in previous surveys where less than 5 percent of Bluegill were greater than 8 inches. Prior survey results in April and July were likely influenced by water temperatures being too cold or too hot for mature Bluegill to be shallow. Island Lake appears to support a quality Bluegill population with moderate adult numbers and quality sized individuals present. Other notable species sampled in trap nets were Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, Hybrid Sunfish, Walleye, and Muskellunge. A total of 160 Pumpkinseed sunfish were captured for a catch rate of 4.6/net. Pumpkinseed lengths ranged from 3.5 to 8.6 inches with an average length of 6.7 inches. A total of 295 Black Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 8.4/net. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 4.5 to 12.4 inches with an average length of 9.4 inches.

Island Lake is a 546-acre lake in northern Pine County with a maximum depth of 42 feet. The shoreline is highly developed with homes. Water clarity is moderate. The lake is managed for Walleye and Muskellunge; both are stocked annually as fingerlings. Fishing pressure is usually moderate. Island lake anglers can again expect moderate populations of Northern Pike and Walleye. Numbers and sizes for both species were similar to the 2019 assessment. Captured pike ranged from 13.6 to 31.1 inches and averaged 2.7 pounds. Walleye abundance was slightly higher than similar lakes and the highest recorded for Island Lake since 1999. Netted Walleye ranged from 9.8 to 24.8 inches in length and averaged 1.8 pounds. Based on trap net catches, Bluegill catch rates increased but average size declined. Only 7% of captured Bluegill exceeded 7 inches in length. Similar to other lakes, Black Crappie numbers fluctuate greatly in Island Lake. Currently, the Crappie catch (1 per net) is likely at the bottom of this cycle. The Crappie present are good sized and averaged nearly 9 inches. Yellow Perch remain very abundant and acceptable in size with 44% of the catch greater than 8 inches and 22% exceeding 9 inches. Muskellunge are sampled in separate assessments. Based on recent catch rates, muskies are not as abundant as they were in the 1990's. However, quality sized fish are available with Muskellunge greater than 50 inches present.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass in Island. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Island has a maximum depth of 42 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Island is from 2023.

Yes — Island has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.