Pearl

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pearl Lake was conducted on July 21, 2025, by Sauk Rapids fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sampling stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 12 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 26 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter and Least Darter) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner and Least Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey suggests that Pearl Lake is in good health as indicated by the FIBI score that exceeds the threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The FIBI score increased substantially from the most recent survey in 2022. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Sauk River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Pearl Lake is a 733-acre lake located one mile east of the City of Marty in southeastern Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 17 feet and 70% of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. In addition to Walleye and Northern Pike, Pearl Lake provides anglers with the opportunity to catch Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. A standard lake survey was conducted in 2023 to monitor changes in the fishery from the last survey completed in 2020. Walleye have been managed through a combination of yearling and fingerling stocking since the 1940s. The catch in 2023 was three times higher than that of 2020 but identical to 2017 (when catches reached a 25 year high) and exceeded the range of expected values for lakes similar to Pearl. Walleye ranged in length from 13 to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 17 inches and 2 pounds. Nineteen percent of the Walleye collected were longer than 20 inches. Eleven year classes of Walleye were captured, with age-2 fish comprising 54% of the aged sample. The catch rate of Northern Pike began to increase in 1992 before peaking in 2013. The catch in 2023 was higher than 2020 and above the range of expected values for the lake class. The average size also increased to 22 inches and two pounds. Northern Pike caught in 2023 ranged in length from 10 to 33 inches with 20% being longer than 24 inches and 5% being longer than 30 inches. Anglers should note that the 24- to 36-inch protected slot on Northern Pike in Pearl Lake will be discontinued starting with the 2024 fishing opener. This regulation had been in place since 2009 but failed to appreciably increase the size structure or average size of pike in the lake. Northern Pike regulations for anglers on the lake will now revert back to the statewide limits for the North-Central zone which includes a possession limit of 10 fish (not more than 2 over 26 inches, all from 22-26 inches must be immediately released). Largemouth Bass were sampled by nighttime electrofishing during spring 2023. The catch rate of 82/hour was significantly higher than 2016 (8/hour) but similar to the Sauk Rapids Area average of 74/hour. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 8 to 18 inches with an average length of 13 inches. Angler's can expect to catch a number of medium size bass (12 - 15 inches) as 70% of the catch were in this size range. The Bluegill catch in 2023 was much less than the 2020 survey and the long-term average. Ninety-seven Bluegill were sampled during the survey and ranged in length from three to nine inches with an average length of five inches. Nine-year classes were observed, with age 4 and older fish making up 77% of the aged sample. Growth of Bluegill is above average and reach over six inches in four years. Anglers can expect to catch a number of Bluegill over a variety of sizes. The practice of catch and release is likely a reason that we see Bluegills over eight inches. Besides Bluegill, anglers can also expect good fishing for Black Crappies. The 2023 gill net catch of Black Crappie was similar to 2020 and remained within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Pearl. Black Crappies ranged in length from five to twelve inches with an average length of ten inches. Anglers can expect good fishing for harvestable size crappies as 63% of the crappies collected were 10 inches or larger. Low lake levels from several years of below average precipitation likely contributed to light panfish catches observed in trap nets. Yellow Perch abundance has been less than one fish per net since the 1987 survey. Only one Yellow Perch was sampled during this survey although Yellow Perch are occasionally captured while sampling for other species; however, most of them are too small to meet angler satisfaction. Other species sampled included: Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. All additional species were sampled in low abundance except for Yellow Bullhead, which exceeded the expected range of values for similar lakes.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Pearl Lake was conducted on June 21-23, 2022, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Fourteen sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine,. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Fathead Minnow and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, and Iowa Darter), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates that the fish community in Pearl Lake is adversely impacted by stressors as indicated by an FIBI score below the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Sauk River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency as well as to the Long Term Monitoring program; Pearl Lake is a Long Term Monitoring Sentinel Lake. As such, several FIBI surveys have been completed on Pearl Lake, and it was identified as vulnerable to impairment during the previous watershed assessment.

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

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

Pearl has a maximum depth of 17 feet and a mean depth of 9.8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pearl is from 2023.

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