Silver

A 2018-2019 winter oxygen test indicated potential for winterkill at Silver Lake - Arlington, and dead fish (100's to 1,000's of Common Carp, 6 Black Crappie, and 6 Walleye) were verified. The lake was too turbid to observe dead fish on the bottom. Trap nets were set on April 8, 2019, to document fish species presence and fish abundances at Silver Lake, following the winterkill. Trap net catches were as follows: Trap nets caught high numbers (1,815) of Black Bullhead (3.4 to 13.3 inches long), low numbers (8) of Black Crappie (3.4 to 9.4 inches long - only 2 over 5" in length), and high numbers (782) of Common Carp (4.8 to 18.5 inches long). Walleye were not sampled. Net catches indicated a lake dominated by Black Bullhead and Common Carp. The 2019 winterkill was likely not severe. Silver Lake is primarily managed for Walleye, as a boom and bust type fishery. Netting likely indicated that there was currently little fishing opportunity available at Silver Lake, except for a small number of 9 inch Black Crappie and a few larger Bullhead, although one day netting assessment results can miss fish species and underestimate fish abundances. Future Walleye stocking will resume on an every other year basis or following winterkill.

Silver Lake is a shallow, turbid basin with very little submersed aquatic vegetation. Silver Lake can be characterizedas having low winter dissolved oxygen concentrations and potential for frequent winterkill. Fish populations arelimited by low dissolved oxygen concentrations. A pump and baffle type aerator system is in place and operated by theSilver Lake Sportsmen Club. The effectiveness of the aerator system in preventing or reducing winterkill is unknown.A fisheries assessment was conducted in 1994 and fish species of particular interest included black bullhead, blackcrappie and walleye. Black bullhead were abundant with trapnet catches nearly three times the lake class average, but still within the normalrange. Black bullhead sampled ranged in length from 6.9 to 9.5 inches with an average length of 7.8 inches. A black crappie trapnet catch of 16.6 per net was more than three times the lake class average, but still within thenormal range. Several age classes of black crappie were present, but age two fish accounted for most of the catch. Growth was good and average length of age two black crappie was 10.0 inches. Black crappie ranged in length from 3.7 to11.6 inches with an average length of 9.7 inches. The present size structure of black crappie should be very desirableto anglers.Thirty-three walleye were captured in trapnets for a catch rate of 2.8 per net. This is in the normal range for thislake class. All walleye sampled were age three, with an average length of 16.3 inches. Though age three walleyecorrespond to a year when walleye fingerlings were stocked, it is uncertain to what extent they contributed. Naturalreproduction could account for all or none of the age three walleye sampled. Walleye fingerling were also stocked in1992, but no fish of that age class were sampled.Only one yellow perch was sampled in trapnets during the survey for a catch rate of 0.1 per net. This catch is belownormal for this lake class. However, no gillnets were used and perch numbers may be higher than indicated by trapnetcatches. Local reports during the winter ice-fishing season indicate that some large yellow perch are being caught byanglers. Fishing pressure is believed to be light to non-existent on Silver Lake most years. However, observations this winter(94-95) season indicate there is at least moderate angling pressure and fair luck for black crappie, walleye and yellowperch.

Silver Lake in Sibley County has a surface area of about 680 acres. This lake is very shallow and highly turbid. The water clarity in mid-summer is generally less than 2 feet. Because the lake is so shallow, it tends to have frequent winterkill due to low oxygen. A pump and baffle aeration system has been installed to help prevent winterkill from occuring. The frequency of winterkill, with the aeration system in operation, will be monitored to determine whether fish management is the best alternative for this lake. In 1993 personnel from the Hutchinson Area Fisheries Headquarters used trapnets and seines to assess the current fish population in Silver Lake. Fish species sampled in this survey included black crappie, walleye, black bullhead, yellow perch, white sucker and green sunfish. Black crappie were the most abundant gamefish sampled in trapnets. The catch rate of 93 per trapnet was well above average for lakes of this type. The average size (8.5 inches) of black crappie was also better than average. Black crappie ranged in length from 7.3 to 11.5 inches, with an average weight of 0.4 pounds. Black crappie were last stocked in 1991 and it appears that the fish sampled in this survey are the result of natural reproduction. With adequate reproduction this species should be able to maintain their population without additional stocking. Walleye were the only other gamefish that was sampled in any significant number. The trapnet catch rate of 3.9 per net was also well above average for lakes similar to Silver Lake. The walleye population is maintain solely by the stocking of fingerling and fry. Little, if any, natural reproduction of walleye occurs in this lake. The average length of walleye sampled in this survey was 12.5 inches and ranged from 9 to 17 inches. Black bullhead are very abundant in Silver Lake. Trapnet catches averaged 227 black bullhead per net which is above the average of about 60 per net. Black bullhead averaged 6.3 inches in length and ranged from 3 to 11 inches. The average weight of black bullhead was low at slightly over a tenth of a pound per fish.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Green Sunfish, Black Crappie, White Crappie, and Walleye in Silver. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Silver has a maximum depth of 8 feet and a mean depth of 5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Silver is from 1994. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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