Johanna

Lake Johanna is a 213-acre, eutrophic lake located in Arden Hills, 7.5 miles northwest of St. Paul. The contributing watershed is characterized by residential, commercial, industrial and major roadways. Overall, water quality in Lake Johanna is very good. The most recent data indicates that it is one of the best lakes in the Rice Creek Watershed District in terms of phosphorus concentrations. Ramsey County has maintained a very popular 217-acre park which is bounded by Lake Johanna and County Road E to the south. The park includes ¼ mile of shoreline on the north side of Lake Johanna. Surface water use of this lake is very high. The 1994 creel survey estimated fishing use at 62-angler hours/acre. Ramsey County has established surface water use restrictions that limit the hours, watercraft speed, and nature of surface water use allowed. Lake Johanna is primarily for Walleyes and Tiger Muskellunge. Walleyes were captured at a rate of 2.50 fish/gill net. Walleyes captured during this assessment averaged 19.1 inches in total length, and 93% of Walleye captured during the survey were 15 inches or larger. A total of three Tiger Muskellunge were captured during this assessment. Tiger Muskellunge averaged 29 inches in total length. The largest Tiger Muskellunge sampled was 43 inches. Northern Pike were captured at the second highest rate of abundance ever at 10.2/gill net. Northern Pike in gill nets averaged 22.4 inches, and 16% of pike captured were 26 inches or larger. Lake Johanna is in the North Central Northern Pike Management Zone which has a protected slot of 22-26 inches and a harvest limit of two fish not longer than 26 inches and a ten fish limit under 22inches. Yellow Perch were sampled at the lowest abundance ever observed on Lake Johanna of one per gill net. Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 5.1 to 7.5 inches. For the last 20 years Bluegill trap net abundance has decreased every survey from 223.2 in 2001, to 18.1 fish/trap net in 2021. Average total length of Bluegills in trap nets was 4.4 inches. Black Crappies relative abundance has been consistent in gill nets and increased in trap nets from the previous surveys in 2014 and 2017. Average length of Black Crappie in gill nets was 5.4 inches and 4.8 inches in trap nets. Although gill nets and trap nets are not the best way to assess Largemouth Bass, seven were sampled in trap and gill nets. Other species captured during this survey in low numbers were Bowfin, Golden Shiners, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullheads.

Lake Johanna is a 213 acre, eutrophic lake, located in Arden Hills, northwest of St. Paul. It is in lake class 24 and is managed primarily for Walleyes and Hybrid Muskellunge. Walleye fingerling stocking changed in 2017 from a rate of 2 pounds/littoral-acre every other year to annual stocking of fingerlings at a rate of 0.65 pounds/littoral-acre. This change in stocking will be evaluated by extra gill net assessments to determine if the population can be maintained at this lower level of stocking. Hybrid Muskellunge fingerlings are stocked every other year (even numbered years) at a rate of 4.5 fish/littoral-acre (432 fish). Overall, water quality in Lake Johanna is very good and has one of the lowest levels of phosphorus concentrations in the Rice Creek Watershed District. The 2017 survey was a gill net only survey to assess the Walleye population. Walleye were sampled at a rate of 1.50 fish per gill net which is in the normal range for lake class 24. The average Walleye was 16.5 inches long. Walleyes were aged and found to all be from four different stocking events. It doesn't appear that any natural reproduction is occuring in Lake Johanna. Northern Pike were sampled at the highest levels recorded for Lake Johanna at 15.33 fish per gill net. The average pike was 24.5 inches. Two Tiger Muskellunge were captured in the gill nets during the survey. They measured 36.7 inches and 39.0 inches and both were released alive back into the lake. Lake Johanna is in the North-Central Zone and which allows a harvest of 10 fish, with 2 allowed over 26 inches, and a protected slot between 22 and 26 inches. Black Crappie and Yellow Perch were sampled in low numbers and were also small in size, both having average lenghts under 7 inches. Table 1. Gill net catch rates Walleye (WAE), Hybrid Muskellunge (TME), Northern Pike (NOP), Yellow Perch (YEP), Black Crappie (BLC) 1982 1987 1992 1997 2001 2004 2006 2008 2014 2017 WAE 0 3.50 4.00 3.67 2.00 1.33 1.50 1.50 2.50 1.50 TME 0 0 0 0.67 0 0.17 0.83 0.50 0.83 0.33 NOP 5.50 3.00 0.50 2.83 7.17 3.83 3.83 4.83 7.00 15.33 YEP 32.00 46.50 8.50 92.00 43.33 74.67 80.67 15.33 15.50 4.83 BLC 4.50 21.50 6.00 25.50 2.50 2.17 3.17 5.83 10.50 1.33

Lake Johanna is a 213-acre eutrophic lake located in Arden Hills, 7.5 miles northwest of St. Paul. The contributing watershed is characterized by residential, commercial, industrial and major roadways. Its lake class ID is 24 and is managed primarily for Walleyes and Tiger Muskellunge. Walleye fingerlings are stocked every other year at a rate of 2 pounds/littoral-acre and Tiger Muskellunge fingerlings are stocked every other year at a rate of 4.5 fish/littoral-acre (426 fish). Walleyes were captured at a rate of 2.50 fish/gill net. Walleyes captured during this assessment averaged 14.25 inches in total length and weighed an average of 1.16 pounds, 43% of Walleye captured during the survey were 15 inches or larger. A total of six Tiger Muskellunge were captured during this assessment. Tiger Muskellunge captured in gill nets averaged 26.02 inches in total length and 4.44 pounds. The one captured in a trap net was 43.31 inches. Northern Pike were captured at the second highest rate of abundance ever at 7.00 fish/gill net. Northern Pike sampled in the gill nets averaged 24.13 inches and 3.65 pounds, 56% of pike captured were 26 inches or larger. Although gill nets and trap nets are not the best way to assess Largemouth Bass, three were sampled in trap nets and seven were sampled in gill nets. Yellow Perch were sampled at about the same abundance as the previous survey. Average total length of perch in gill nets was 6.26 inches. Bluegills trap net abundance has decreased from 115.33 fish/trap net in 2008, to 27.22 fish/trap net during this assessment. Average total length of Bluegills in trap nets was 5.10 inches. Black Crappies abundance increased in gill nets and decreased in trap nets from the previous survey in 2008. Average total length of crappie in gill nets was 7.00 inches and in trap nets was 6.92 inches. Other species captured during this survey in low numbers were Bowfin, Golden Shiners, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Suckers and Yellow Bullheads.

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

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

Johanna has a maximum depth of 43 feet and a mean depth of 17 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Johanna is from 2021.

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