Fremont

Fremont Lake is a general development lake located in northeast Sherburne County, near Zimmerman. The lake is shallow, mostly 6-7 feet, with low to moderate water clarity (secchi depth 3.7 feet). Dissolved oxygen was adequate throughout the water column. These conditions are favorable for widespread aquatic plant growth. Curly-leaf pondweed, an exotic that was first found in Fremont Lake in 1957, was found growing at or near the surface on 61 acres, 12.4% of the lake in June of 2008. Canada waterweed, a native submersed plant, was found in 82% of samples in 2002. Fremont lake is susceptible to winterkill. During the winter of 2000-2001, winterkill was observed on many area lakes, including Fremont. Ice-out trap netting indicated that few game species remained. Later in the spring, adult northern pike, bluegill, and black crappie were stocked. An aeration system was subsequently purchased in 2001. Mild winters did not necessitate its use until winter 2007-08, but a partial kill still occurred. It remains to be seen whether the equipment can keep Fremont Lake alive during severe winters. Shallowness (lake volume) will limit the fishery. This was the first full survey since 1993 and winter-kill species dominated the net catches. Northern pike were common and the largest was just over 26 inches. Only two gill nets were set because of the shallow lake depth, but caught pike at a rate of 7/net, which was at the high end of the normal range for similar lakes. Fremont Lake has a history of producing large northern pike (up to 18 pounds). Black bullheads were captured at a rate of 29.4/trap net. This was below the average, but still within the normal range for similar lakes and abundant for Sherburne County lakes. Bullheads were small and 7-8 inches in length. Bullheads would need to grow to 10 inches in order to interest commercial harvest. Carp were present in high numbers at catch rates of almost 10/trap net. Carp ranged in length from 10 to 26 inches and averaged 18 inches. More than 700 young of the year carp were captured during shoreline seining. This was evidence of a recruitment response. Winter kill conditions seem to illicit successful spawning from carp, and this is a definite detriment to the lake. Golden shiner were abundant and spawning during the survey in early June. Fish were caught in trap nets at a rate of 27/net, which was more than 50 times the average rate for similar lakes. In the absence of yellow perch golden shiner become important forage for northern pike. Other sport species captured at low levels of abundance were black crappie and bluegill. These remnant survivors will provide progeny for future populations in Fremont Lake.

The gill net catch rate of northern pike during the 1993 survey on Fremont Lake (16.0/gill net) did not change significantly from the previous assessment (25.5/gill net), and remained above the expected levels for this lake type. The average weight of pike in nets also did not change, and remained near the state average (2.3 lbs) for lakes similar to Fremont. Northern pike caught ranged in size from 17.8-26.9 inches and averaged 22.1 inches in length. The majority of pike caught were 3 and 4 year olds from the 1989 and 1990 year classes. The growth rate for northern pike was fast for 1 and 2 year olds and average for ages 3-6.The gill net catch of yellow perch (20.5/gill net) significantly increased from the previous assessment (1.0/gill net) and rose above expected levels for this lake type. Yellow perch caught ranged in size from 5.2-6.5 inches and averaged 5.9 inches in length. Yellow perch sampled ranged in age from 2 to 7 years old with 3 and 4 year olds making up 79% of the total catch. The growth rate of yellow perch was average for 1 and 2 year olds and slow for ages 3-5. Prior to the 1993 survey, no walleye had been caught in Fremont Lake during our sampling. In the 1993 survey, one walleye was captured (17.8 inches long) in the gill nets. No stocking of Fremont Lake has occurred and it is believed that this fish may have entered the lake during high water in the spring. The catch rate of bluegill in trap nets (14.0/trap net) appeared to have declined from the previous assessment (55.1/trap net), but remained within expected levels for this lake class. Bluegill caught ranged in size from 4.5-8.3 and averaged 5.7 inches. Bluegill sampled ranged in age from 2 to 7 years old with 2 year old fish making up the majority of the catch. The growth rate of bluegill was average. The catch rate in trap nets of black crappie (16.9/trap net) appeared to increase from the 1988 assessment (9.7/trap net) and remained within expected levels for this lake type. Black crappie caught ranged in size from 5.1-11.7 inches and averaged 7.9 inches in length. Black crappie sampled ranged in age from 2 to 6 years old with 2 and 3 year olds made up 72% of the total catch. The growth rate of black crappie was fast for 1 to 3 year olds and average for ages 4-6. The catch rate in trap net of black (355.9/trap net) and yellow bullhead (18.6/trap net) was high for this lake class. The catch rates of both species appeared to have increased from the last assessment and rose above expected levels. The average size bullhead caught small, with the majority of fish sampled falling below 6.0 inches in length. No largemouth bass were sampled during the 1993 survey in gill or trap nets. Natural reproduction of largemouth was observed in fall seining as 6 juvenile bass were sampled that averaged 2.05 inches in length.

Northern Pike catch increased by 425% to 25.5/gill net since 1982. Females dominated the catch by a 5:1 margin. Females also comprised the entire sample of Northern Pike measuring 21.0 inches or longer in length. Ages 2-5 of Northern Pike were sampled and over 90% of them were ages 3 and 4. Growth was good for all ages sampled for both sexes. Bluegill abundance increased from 0.1/trap net in 1982 to 55.1/trap net in 1988. Over 70% of the catch was from the strong 1986 year class. Composite growth was good for the Bluegills sampled. Black Crappie abundance (9.7/trap net) was similar to 1982. Bluegill from the 1986 and 1984 year classes made up 56 and 25 percent of the sample, respectively. Black Crappie had good composite growth. Pumpkinseed and Hybrid Sunfish numbers had dramatic increases, similar to Bluegill, in comparison to 1982 data. This probably reflects higher survival during recent mild winters. Common Carp were first sampled in 1988 and showed average abundance. Black Bullhead numbers remained high. Golden Shiner, Yellow Bullhead, and Brown Bullhead had average abundance. Yellow Perch showed low abundance in gill nets, however, shoreline seining produced both young of the year and older ages.

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

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

Fremont has a maximum depth of 8 feet and a mean depth of 5.2 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Fremont is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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