Island

Island Lake is a 227 acre lake located 14 miles south of Hibbing, MN in the St. Louis River watershed. Island Lake has clear, moderately hard water with low phosphorus fertility. The variety of substrate types and aquatic vegetation provides good habitat for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and panfish. While most of the shoreline is in private ownership, the island was acquired by the DNR as an Aquatic Management Area that allows public use for picnicking, hiking and other day uses. A standard lake survey was conducted in August 2015 to update information on the fish population and evaluate walleye fingerling stocking. Northern Pike numbers were within the expected range and similar to the long-term average for the lake. Size structure was moderate; sampled pike averaged 21.0 inches and 2.2 pounds, although one pike over 36 inches was captured. Age 3-4 pike made up the majority of the sample, with only one fish exceeding age 5. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 24.0 inches at age 5. The general lack of fish over 24 inches and five years of age may be a result of harvest by anglers. Anglers can help improve the quality of the Northern Pike population by practicing selective harvest of fish under 22 inches, while releasing medium to large fish. Releasing these fish can help maintain a more balanced fish community and provide anglers the opportunity to catch more large fish in the future. The spring night electrofishing assessment showed a moderately abundant Largemouth Bass population. Size structure was modest; sampled bass averaged 12.8 inches and 1.2 pounds. Age analysis suggested consistent recruitment with many year classes represented. Growth was relatively slow with Largemouth Bass averaging 12.8 inches at age 6. Black Crappie were the most common fish in the gill nets with numbers well above the expected range. Size structure was considered poor since a majority of the sample was age 1 to 3 fish measuring less than 8 inches. Angling opportunities for crappie should improve in the next few years as these young fish grow to more favorable sizes. Growth of Island Lake crappie is relatively slow with crappie averaging 9.6 inches at age 6. Walleye numbers in Island Lake have generally been low, and fingerling stocking appears to contribute little to the fishery. Gill-nets sampled only one Walleye in 2015, despite fingerling stocking in two of the previous five years. Fingerling stocking will likely be discontinued, since lake conditions seem to favor other species such as Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Other species sampled in test nets included Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Perch and Golden Shiner.

Island Lake is a 227-acre lake that is located about 15 miles south of Hibbing, MN and the public access is off State Highway #73. Most of the shoreline is privately owned and 47 homes or cabins were counted along the shoreline during this survey. About 60% of the shoal water substrate was firm and contained sand intermixed with some gravel, rubble (3-10inch) or boulder (>10 inch) sized rocks. Some of the firm shoals were overlain with a thin layer of detritus or muck and provided abundant spawning substrate for nest building species such as bluegill or largemouth bass. The remainder, about 40%, of the shoals, mostly in bays and other wind-sheltered areas contained a thicker layer of muck. The island was recently purchased by the DNR as an Aquatic Management Area that allows the public use for picnicking, hiking, and other day uses. A plant inventory was also included as part of this survey where all plants were identified and abundance rated. There were a large variety of aquatic plants growing along the shore or in the shoal waters out to a depth of 12 feet. Broad and narrow leaf sedges, grasses, and yellow and white waterlilies were the most abundant emergent plants along or near the shoreline while the most abundant submerged plants included muskgrass (Chara sp.), bushy pondweed, flat-stem pondweed, and water celery. A temperature and dissolved oxygen profile was conducted, which revealed that the lake was thermally stratified and dissolved oxygen levels were only adequate (>2.0 ppm) for fish survival down to 16 feet. Water clarity in this lake was measured with a Secchi disk and was visible down to 15 feet. Six gill net and 9 trap net sets were set at previously established locations to sample various populations of fish species. Northern pike made up 82% of the total weight (38 lbs/net) in the gill net catch while bluegills made up 70% of the weight (2.13lbs/net) in trap nets. The northern pike catch rate was 10.7 fish/gill net, which greatly exceeded the expected range and was the highest catch since the first assessment in 1960. Size structure was moderate and consisted of mostly medium sized 21-24 inch fish. Aging indicated that most of the fish in the catch were 3 to 5 years old and their growth was near the statewide average. Black crappie were frequently caught in both gill and trap nets and the catch rates, 5.8 fish/gill net and 5.7 fish/trap net, were above the expected ranges. Size structure was made up of small 6-9 inch fish, which were predominately 3 year old fish. Growth rates were average. Bluegill were also frequently caught in trap nets and the catch rate of 12.9 fish/net was within the expected range. Size structure was poor as the mean length of a sample of over 100 fish was 5.3 inches and only one bluegill exceeded 8 inches in length. Ageing indicated that many year classes were present as fish ranged in ages from 2 to 8. Growth was normal for ages 1,5-8, but less than normal for ages 2-4. Yellow perch were commonly caught in gill nets at a rate of 10.3 fish per net and was within the expected range. The catch consisted of small fish ranging in length from 5.8 to 6.8 inches and was mostly 3-year-old fish. Growth was normal for 1 to 3 year old fish, but below average for 4 year old fish. Although walleye fingerlings have been stocked in 2004 and 2001, only three were captured in the gill nets indicating a low abundance. Scale ageing indicated that two of the walleye were from the 2001 year class. Largemouth bass were sampled using night electrofishing. Sampling was conducted in May when water temperatures warmed to 54 ?F at three previously established stations. A total of 52 largemouth bass were captured that yielded a catch rate of 34.6 fish/hr indicating an abundant population. Mean length of captured largemouth bass was 12.5 inches and size structure was fair with a few fish up to 18 inches sampled. Growth was average for ages 3 through 9, but slightly below average for ages 1 to 2. Other species sampled included pumpkinseed sunfish and golden shiner.

Island Lake is primarily a panfish lake which also supports a population of northern pike. Bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, and northern pike have been stocked, but not since 1975. Walleye also have been stocked, most recently in 1991. Black crappies sampled in gill nets had a catch rate (12.0/set) that exceeded the expected value for this type of lake. The mean length of gill net caught black crappie was 7.8 inches, ranging from 4.1 to 12.8 inches. The trap net catch rate for black crappies was 6.1/set. This also was greater than the expected range. The mean length for trap net sampled crappie was 6.8 inches and ranged from 3.7 to 10.2 inches. Growth rates for black crappie were near the statewide mean for all ages, except for age two, where growth rates were less (<85%) than the statewide average. The bluegill trap net catch rate (14.2/set) was within the expected range. These bluegill ranged in length from 3.2 to 7.6 inches (mean length= 5.0 inches). Overall bluegill growth rates are below the mean growth rates for bluegills in this type of lake. The northern pike gill net catch rate (8.2/set) exceeds the expected range (1.8-5.5/set). The sampled northern pike had a mean weight of 2.1 pounds, a mean length of 21.0 inches, and a range in length from 16.7 to 28.5 inches. Northern pike growth rates in Island Lake are near the statewide mean. Four walleye were sampled in gill nets. Each walleye was from a different year class and no fish was from a stocked year. This indicates that some natural reproduction is occurring in the lake. The mean length for sampled walleye was 22.2 inches, with a range from 19.9 to 25.0 inches. Three largemouth bass were sampled in gill nets, with a catch rate (0.5/set) within the expected range. Typically, gill nets are not considered effective gear for catching bass. However, the 1997 gill net bass statistics are very similar to the 1993 electrofishing data. The mean length of gill net sampled bass was 10.9 inches (ranging from 6.2-15.4 inches). Yellow perch were sampled with gill nets and had a catch rate (2.8/set). Although the catch rate was within the expected range, this was a low abundance of yellow perch and it may be adversely affecting the walleye population. Other species sampled in test nets include: brown bullhead, golden shiner, hybride sunfish, and pumpkinseed. Lakeshore owners on Island Lake can do their part to protect water quality by minimizing fertilizer use on lawns and plants and by maintaining aquatic and terrestrial shoreline vegetation. This will help prevent overabundant aquatic plant growth as well as provide habitat for fish and wildlife.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, and Pumpkinseed 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 65 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Island is from 2015. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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