Signalness

A targeted survey of fish species in Signalness Lake, which is located in Glacial Lakes State Park, was conducted on July 8-9, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) program staff. The primary purpose of this survey was to monitor nongame fish species reintroduction efforts that took place in 2020, 2021, and 2023. These efforts, led by MNDNR Parks and Trails staff and volunteers, involved translocation of five historically present species (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) from nearby Union Lake into Signalness Lake. Nearshore sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample three stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at six stations. One station was not seined due to dense vegetation. Nearshore sampling captured nine species of fish, including three of the reintroduced species (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, and Pugnose Shiner), which are intolerant of disturbance. Sampling also captured one species that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA program staff. Eight trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured seven species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass. Although only three of the five reintroduced species were detected during the 2025 targeted survey, monitoring conducted by translocation partners documented all five species in 2024. Steep shorelines with abundant coarse woody habitat and vegetated areas with soft sediments may have reduced nearshore sampling effectiveness at the equally spaced, predetermined sites in 2025. Even so, the presence of multiple individuals of three reintroduced species across several sites, combined with the 2024 observations, suggests that these species may now be reestablished in Signalness Lake, especially given that none were detected during comparable sampling in 2020 following the initial reintroduction efforts.

Signalness (Mountain) Lake is a small, shallow basin located within Glacial Lakes State Park. Because this basin is located within state park boundaries, a vehicle permit is required to enter the park and access this lake. A fishing license is not required to fish Signalness Lake if you are a Minnesota resident. Public access is located on the west side of the lake but boating is restricted to electric motors only. Canoe and other watercraft rental is available. A fishing pier and small swimming beach are also located on the southwest shoreline of the lake. Both are popular spots for park visitors during summer months. An aeration system is operated in the winter to prevent winterkill, the last of which occurred in 2009. Walleye fingerlings and yearlings have been stocked to produce a ‘bonus' fishery for park visitors but few have been sampled in the past. However, the 2021 survey showed a significant improvement (5.5/gill net) in Walleye abundance and should provide a good opportunity to catch Walleye in Signalness Lake. Walleye ranged in length from 16.5 to 26.1 inches but most were large, averaging 22.4 inches. Anglers should have no trouble catching Bluegill, but catching quality size fish may be difficult. Bluegill are extremely abundant (116.1/trap net) but the size structure appears to be stunted. The majority of fish (73%) sampled were under 5 inches. A few large Bluegill can still be found, with the largest sampled being 8.9 inches. While most Bluegill are young, size structure is not likely to improve in the coming years with slow growth and early maturation. Few Black Crappie were sampled (3.0/gill net), but this was higher than all previous surveys. Most crappies were young, with an average length of 7.3 inches. The largest crappie sampled was 11.9 inches. Similar to recent surveys, Northern Pike continue to be abundant (14.0/gill net). However, size structure is poor (46% below 22 inches) with a maximum length of only 26.5 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small Northern Pike. New Northern Pike regulations were implemented in 2018 to increase size structure. Signalness Lake is in the North-Central Zone, where all pike from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Anglers can keep 10 pike, but not more than two can be longer than 26 inches. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches, or two larger than 26 inches. For more information see: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pike/index.html. A moderate number of Largemouth Bass were sampled (25/hour), a slight increase from the 2015 survey. Bass were at sizes that would be of interest to anglers. Average and maximum lengths were 14.9 and 19.2 inches, respectively. Too few Yellow Perch were sampled to make any meaningful conclusions. Other species sampled were Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Signalness Lake was conducted over several days between August 3-17, 2020 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations, but four stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations, a 15-foot seine was used at four stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured five species of fish including Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch. This survey was completed to monitor nongame fish species reintroduction efforts initiated in May 2020. These reintroduction efforts, led by MNDNR Parks and Trails staff and an independent fish contractor, involved translocation of five species (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) from nearby Union Lake into Signalness Lake, which is located in Glacial Lakes State Park. This was the first of three years where translocations from Union Lake to Signalness Lake are planned to reestablish these populations that were historically present. Although none of the reintroduced species were sampled during this targeted survey, several factors may have influenced this outcome. This was the first year of reintroduction efforts; therefore, the five species have not yet had sufficient time to become established. In addition, the combination of steep shorelines that contained abundant coarse woody habitat and vegetated shorelines that contained soft sediments limited sampling effectiveness overall. Alternative sampling methods should be considered during future surveys if the objective is to confirm whether these species have become established. For example, nighttime sampling did result in detection of Blacknose Shiners in Signalness Lake following the 2020 reintroduction efforts.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Hybrid Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass in Signalness. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Signalness has a maximum depth of 14 feet and a mean depth of 8.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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