Auto

Auto Lake, also known as Arrowhead, is a 97 acre lake located 10 miles north of Virginia. It is accessed by a concrete ramp off Peppard Rd. The lake has two distinct basins connected by a narrow channel. The west basin is approximately 16 acres in size and has a maximum depth of six feet. Aquatic plants dominate the west basin often forming mats on the surface making travel by boat difficult. The east basin has a maximum depth of 28 feet and other than a few areas, aquatic plants are relatively sparse. On July 26, 2021 the lake was thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 75 F and a bottom temperature of 58 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish to a depth of 20 feet where the temperature was 66 F. Auto Lake is located primarily on School Trust Fund Land. There is no development on the east basin other than the Laurentian Environmental Learning Center. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly rubble, gravel, and sand, with muck in the bays. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 6.3 fish/net which was the lowest catch rate on record for the lake. Yield was 10.4 lbs/net which was below the average of all past surveys on the lake. Fish species sampled were walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, and yellow perch. Trap nets caught fish at an overall rate of 12.7 fish/net which was right at the average for the lake. Yield was 3.2 lbs/net which was below the lakes historic average of 5.8 lbs/net. Fish species sampled in trap nets were bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Seventeen walleye were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 2.8 fish/net, which was above average compared to other similar lakes, but slightly below the historic average for Auto Lake. Walleye lengths ranged from 18 to nearly 25 inches with an average of just over 20 inches. This average length was the highest on record for the lake. The average weight was impressive at nearly 3 pounds per fish. Walleye growth was excellent with a typical four year old fish measuring 17 inches. Ages ranged from 5 to 18 years with no overly strong year class. When stocked years were compared against non-stocked years, 11 of the 17 fish sampled (65%) came from a year class where fingerling stocking occurred. On the night of June 1st, four electrofishing stations were sampled with each station being fished for 20 minutes. Ninety-eight largemouth bass were captured in 1.33 hours of on-time for a total catch rate of 73.5 fish/hour. This was above average when compared to other largemouth lakes in the area and better than the previous spring sample (38.9 fish/hour in 2014). Lengths ranged from 3 to just over 19 inches with an average of 11 inches. Growth rates were average when compared to other lakes in the area with the average largemouth reaching 10.5 inches at four years old. The bluegill trapnet catch was 6.6 fish/net which was below average compared to other similar lakes and slightly below the average for Auto Lake. Sizes ranged from 4 to just over 9 inches with an average of 6.5 inches. Ages ranged from 3 to 15 years with strong representation (over 39% of the total catch) coming from the 2015 year class. Growth rates were slow with the average fish taking 7 years to reach 6.5 inches.

Auto, locally known as Arrowhead Lake, is a 97-acre lake located 10 miles north of Virginia, MN. Auto consists of two basins connected by a narrow channel. The west basin is approximately 16 acres in size and has a maximum depth of six feet. By mid-summer, aquatic plants form thick mats on the lake surface making travel by boat difficult. The east basin has a maximum depth of 28 feet and other than a few areas, aquatic plants are relatively sparse. Substrates in the east basin consist of rock, gravel and sand. For a small lake, there are a number of points, bars and bays present. There is a concrete plank boat ramp located on the east basin. Currently, there is very little human development on Auto Lake because the shoreline is located on School Trust Fund Land, set aside by the state and managed by the DNR for the long-term financial benefit of Minnesota's schools. The Laurentian Environmental Learning Center is located on east basin. The Auto Lake fishery is managed primarily for its bass and bluegill fishery. Walleye is a secondary species initially introduced by stocking. Walleye fingerling stocking continues on an every other year basis. The 2014 fisheries survey consisted of gill nets, trap nets and electrofishing. Catches indicated that walleye, bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch were important species in the fish community. Abundance of walleye in 2014 (4.3/net) was equal to the historic average for Auto Lake. This abundance level was high when compared to other lakes in the same classification. In general, the number of walleye caught during DNR surveys on Auto has been consistent. Walleye caught during this survey averaged 19.2 inches and ranged from 15.8 to 25.8 inches. No walleye less than 15 inches in length were observed during any portion of the survey. Fish aging indicated that year-classes hatched during years when stocking occurred were no more abundant than those hatched during unstocked years. Nearshore sampling indicated that bluegill abundance (6.6/net) was less than the lake's historic average and the lake class average. The 2014 catch was the lowest since 1985. The average bluegill size was small. Fifty-three largemouth bass were sampled during night electrofishing for a catch per hour of 38.9. The 2014 catch rate greatly exceeded the two previous sampling events in 1998 (6.2/hour) and 2006 (18.7/hour). Largemouth bass ranged from 6.0 to 17.1 inches in length with an average of 9.4 inches. Most (91%) of the bass caught were less than 12 inches in length. Only three bass (6%) exceeded 15 inches. Although bass up to ten years of age were caught, most bass were either two or three year olds. Other species present during the 2014 survey included yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and pumpkinseed. Perch abundance varies considerably in Auto Lake but in 2014 abundance was high. Nearly all of the perch sampled however, were less than eight inches in length. Northern pike and white sucker abundance has generally been low in Auto Lake and 2014 was no exception.

Auto Lake or Auto Club Lake is known locally as Arrowhead Lake and will be referred to as such in the remainder of this discussion. Arrowhead Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 10, which consists of 76 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small and have clear and very soft (unmineralized) water. Arrowhead Lake is typical of lakes in this lake class except that it has a higher proportion of shallow area due to the shallow western bay. Arrowhead Lake ranks as mesotrophic according to Carlson's Trophic State Index. Arrowhead Lake was thermally stratified on 8/8/2006 with a surface temperature of 74 F and a bottom temperature of 54 F. Adequate oxygen for fish (more than 2 ppm) was retained to a depth of 19 feet, where the temperature was 70 F. There are no inlets or outlets on Arrowhead Lake. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 10 feet and are sparse except for the shallow western bay. The most common aquatic plants are blue flag and water shield. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly sand, with some muck, boulder, and rubble. Arrowhead Lake was stocked from 1934 through 1969 with walleye, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill sunfish, and muskie. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked biennially since 1979. Summary data from a 1939 investigation showed that largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and a few walleye were present in the lake. Three fisheries lake surveys (1953, 1978, 1998) and four fish population assessments (1982, 1985, 1990, 2006) have been conducted on Arrowhead Lake. All of these investigations used 4-6 gillnets and 6-8 trapnets. Fish populations in 2006 were dominated by bluegill sunfish, largemouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch. Other fish species were present in low numbers. Bluegill numbers in 2006 (34.1/trapnet) were somewhat higher than normal (in the third quartile) for this lake class and were higher than the median bluegill catch of 15.5/trapnet in all investigations on this lake. Bluegill sizes in 2006 averaged 6.5 inches (0.22 lb), which was somewhat larger than normal (in the third quartile) for this lake class and was similar to the average size of 6.7 inches in all investigations on this lake. The largest bluegill in 2006 was 8.0 inches. All of the bluegill were ages 3-5. Bluegill growth was variable, depending on the year-class, but generally was somewhat slower than normal (in the second quartile) by area standards. Largemouth bass numbers in 2006 (4.8/trapnet) were higher than normal (in the fourth quartile) for this lake class and were higher than the median largemouth catch of 1.7/trapnet in all investigations on this lake. The electrofishing catch of largemouth in 2006 of 22.3/hour on-time was higher than in the only previous electrofishing, in 1998, of 6.2/hour on-time. Largemouth sizes in 2006 averaged 6.6 inches (0.15 lb) in the trapnets, which was smaller than normal (in the first quartile) for this lake class and was smaller than the average size of 7.7 inches in all investigations on this lake. The largest largemouth in 2006 (16.6 inches) was caught while electrofishing. Most largemouth were age one. Largemouth growth was somewhat faster than normal (in the third or fourth quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. Walleye fingerling stocking began in 1979 and except for a few walleye observed in 1939, no walleye were captured in fisheries investigations until 1982. Walleye numbers in 2006 (9.8/gillnet) were higher than normal (in the fourth quartile) for this lake class, and were the highest found in any investigation on this lake. Walleye sizes in 2006 averaged 16.0 inches (1.5 lb), which was normal (at the median value) for this lake class and was similar to the average size of 16.6 inches in all investigations on this lake. The largest walleye captured in 2006 was 22.3 inches. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked biennially, in odd-numbered years, since 1983. In 2006, as many walleye were captured from non-stocked years as from fingerling-stocked years. Walleye growth was faster than normal (in the third or fourth quartile, depending on the age) by area standards. Perch catches in Arrowhead Lake have been quite variable over time, ranging from 70.1/gillnet in 1953 to 2.5/gillnet in 1978. Perch numbers in 2006 (6.8/gillnet) were somewhat higher than normal (in the third quartile) for this lake class, but were lower than the median perch catch of 10.7/gillnet in all investigations on this lake. Perch sizes in 2006 averaged 6.9 inches (0.14 lb), which was normal (at the median value) for this lake class and was similar to the average size of 7.2 inches in all investigations on this lake. The largest perch in 2006 was 9.1 inches. All of the perch were ages 2-5. Perch growth was normal (near the median) by area standards. Some of the game fish examined in 2006 were infected with neascus, and a few of the perch were also infected with yellow grub. Neascus (black spot) and yellow grub are common parasites that are native to the area. They cannot infect humans, are often removed by filleting fish, and are killed at temperatures used to cook fish.

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

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

Auto has a maximum depth of 29 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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