Island

Island Lake is a 120 acre lake located three miles west of St. Joseph in Stearns County. The lake has no public access; an informal access exists with limited parking. Northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill are present. Island Lake has a very diverse aquatic plant community, including humped bladderwort, a species of special concern. Oakes pondweed and quillwort are rare species found nowhere else in Stearns County. The lake was surveyed in August 2011. Northern pike abundance was lower than the last survey in 2001 and lower than expected for lakes similar to Island. The average size was 17.5 inches and 1 pound. The largest pike captured was 21 inches. Growth was similar to other lakes statewide. Northern pike grew to 19 inches in 3 years. Largemouth bass were surveyed in May 2011 by daytime electrofishing. The catch rate was good and 44% of bass captured were larger than 15 inches. The average size was 14 inches and 2 pounds; and the largest bass was 20 inches. Growth was slow; largemouth bass reached 12 inches in six years. The number of bluegill was similar to the 2001 survey and within the expected range for lakes similar to Island. Bluegill were small. The average length was 5 inches and the largest bluegill was 7 inches. Bluegill growth was slow compared to statewide averages. Bluegill grew to 6 inches in seven years. Black crappie numbers were not high, but within the expected range for lakes similar to Island. The average length (7 inches) and weight (0.2 lbs) were typical compared to similar lakes. Growth was slow. Crappies reached 8 inches in seven years. No yellow perch were captured in 2011 and past survey catches have been very low. Other species captured included: pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, black and yellow bullhead, and one walleye.

Island Lake is located 3 miles west of St. Joseph in Stearns County. The lake is 120 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 41 feet. Lakeshore development is limited and the watershed is quite small, contributing to very good water quality. Vegetation is abundant and diverse, including several species only found in northern counties. Most landuse in the watershed is grassland/pasture or forest and agriculture is limited. The fishery primarily consists of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. No public access is available.Northern pike were within the expected range compared to similar lakes. The northern pike catch rate in 2001 increased from the last survey in 1988, whereas the average weight of 1.6 pounds stayed the same. Pike growth was slow compared to other populations in the state. Average length was 18.9 inches and the largest individual caught was 32.2 inches. Yellow perch are a favorite prey for pike, but only 1 yellow perch was captured in the survey. Low perch abundance probably hinders northern pike growth.Largemouth bass abundance was average for the Montrose area, but the size structure was better than expected. Average length was 12.8 inches and a large number of bass over 15 inches were captured, including 4 over 20 inches. The largest individual was 21.3 inches long, weighed 6.8 pounds and was estimated to be 18 years old. Bass growth was slow compared to statewide averages.Bluegill abundance and size were in the expected range compared to similar lakes. Bluegill average length was 5.2 inches, the largest individual was 7.3 inches and bluegill growth was slow. More black crappie were caught than in 1988, but their abundance and size were typical for this lake type. Average length was 7.0 inches and the largest crappie caught was 12.8 inches.Island Lake is a high quality resource in a rapidly developing area. Landowners on the lakeshore and in the watershed can protect the water quality by planting and protecting native vegetation to minimize run-off into the lake. Large, slow-growing bass are very susceptible to exploitation by anglers. Anglers can help the fishery by selectively harvesting smaller bass and pike and releasing most larger fish (pike > 24 inches, bass > 14 inches).

Island Lake is a small, lightly developed lake in Stearns County. The fishery is comprised primarily of northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. Gill net catches of Northern Pike, indicate average abundance when compared to the range of typical values for similar lakes. Age class distribution ranged from 2-8 with apparent gaps at years 1 and 4. Growth was considered slow compared to statewide averages. High Bluegill catches coupled with growth rates averaging 61% of the state average indicate a stunted population. Individuals at age 5 are averaging 4 inches in length. Largemouth Bass were captured by trap nets more efficiently than spring or summer seine hauls. Age class distribution shows good representation of fish from the 1986 year class. As with Northern Pike and Bluegill rate of growth for bass was slow, at least through age 4. Spring seining yielded a catch of 5.8 Largemouth Bass/acre seined. Only three of the 15 bass caught were 12.0 inches or longer. Growth of this sample was similar to the summer sampled bass. Other species sampled in the survey were Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Green and hybrid sunfish. All of these species were sampled in low abundance with the exception of Pumpkinseed Sunfish which were within the expected range.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch 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 41 feet and a mean depth of 9.3 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Island is from 2011. 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.