Pine

Pine Lake is a 107 acre lake with a maximum depth of 79 feet located near the town of Albany in Stearns County. A state owned access is located on the west central side of the lake. The watershed is small and the primary land use is agriculture. Cattail spp. cover the majority of the shoreline. Pine Lake has showed a trend of increasing water clarity and in late August of 2018 the Secchi reading was seven feet. Pine Lake was first surveyed in 1960 and resurveyed in 1986, 2000, 2010 and 2018. Walleye exist in low numbers due to private stocking that took place in 2018. Walleye stocking was discontinued by DNR in 1984 due to low return in test sampling. The five Walleye sampled in 2018 ranged in length from 12 to 15 inches. Largemouth Bass were sampled during daytime electrofishing on May 15, 2018. The catch rate was higher than previous surveys and was above average for Sauk Rapids area lakes. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6 to 21 inches and averaged 14 inches. In 2018, Northern Pike abundance was higher than the two previous surveys, but still within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Pine. Northern Pike ranged in length from 16 to 27 inches and averaged 21 inches and two pounds. Eighteen percent of the Northern Pike sampled were over 24 inches. The declining trend in Yellow Perch abundance continued in 2018 where no Yellow Perch were sampled in gill nets. The trap net catch of Black Crappie in 2018 was lower than observed in 2010, but still above the expected range of values for similar lakes. Trap net catches have consistently been good, typically above the expected range. Black Crappie from the 2018 trap nets ranged in length from five to nine inches and averaged seven inches. The Bluegill trap net catch in 2018 was the highest on record and above the expected range. Bluegill ranged in length from three to nine inches and averaged five inches. Other species sampled included Common Carp, Black, Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid and Pumpkinseed Sunfish and White Sucker.

Pine Lake is a 107-acre lake in the Avon Hills area near the town of Albany, Stearns County. Maximum depth was 84 feet and approximately one-third of the lake was less than 15 feet deep. Dissolved oxygen was sufficient to a depth of 18 feet. Water clarity is good to 8.5 feet. Cattails grow around most of the shoreline. The majority of the surrounding watershed is pasture and row crop agriculture. Cattle grazing on the south and east shores causes erosion that contributes to nutrient-enriched conditions. The lake was moderately developed with 18 homes or cabins. Pine Lake was last surveyed in 2000. Day-time electrofishing for largemouth bass was conducted on 12 May, and repeated on 4 June in order to improve the sample. Catches for both days were lower than the average daytime catches for Montrose Area lakes and considerably lower than the night-time electrofishing in 2000. The largemouth bass collected in 2010 ranged in length from 9 to19 inches with an average length of 15 inches. Electrofished bass were not sacrificed for aging, but two bass caught in the gill nets were estimated to be four years old. Black crappie were caught in high numbers in 2010. Trap net catches have consistently been good. Black crappie from the 2010 trap nets ranged from six to 11 inches in length (average of 8.5 inches) and were determined to be 4 to 9 years in age. Black crappie grew to a length of eight inches in five years. In 2010, bluegill catches were lower than catches on similar lakes. Bluegill ranged between 3 and 8 inches and reached six inches in three years. Fifteen northern pike between 15 and 36 inches were collected in 2010. This was low compared to similar lakes, but northern pike averaged 3.4 pounds each. Only three yellow perch, the main food of northern pike, were collected in this survey.

Pine Lake is located in Stearns County, near the town of Albany. It is a relatively small lake of 107 acres, but has a maximum depth of 79 feet. Pine Lake is eutrophic (nutrient-enriched), with low water clarity. The lake is moderately developed with homes and cabins. It is managed primarily for northern pike and largemouth bass. A fisheries survey was conducted on Pine Lake in 2000 to assess populations of game fish.Northern pike numbers were low for a lake like Pine, and lower than in the previous survey (1993). Pike were also relatively slow-growing and small, averaging 1.4 pounds. The largest fish caught in the survey was 23 inches. Yellow perch numbers were also low, which may account for the reduced numbers and size of pike. Walleye are no longer stocked in Pine Lake, due to lack of success in the past. The few walleye caught during the survey may have been the result of limited natural reproduction, or more likely may have entered the lake through South Two River.High numbers of largemouth bass were caught during spring electrofishing. Most were between 10 and 13 inches, but a few were larger than 19 inches. Bass were concentrated along the cattail fringes of the lake, showing the value of emergent vegetation as bass habitat. Bass have been growing quickly, and there should be good bass angling in coming years. Bluegill abundance was average for this type of lake, but fish sampled in 2000 were mostly small by angler standards. Black crappie numbers were also average, but of better size. Numerous 8-inch fish were sampled, with some larger than 9 inches.Other species sampled included yellow bullhead, black bullhead, white sucker, common carp, and bowfin (dogfish). All were collected in numbers typical for lakes similar to Pine.

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

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

Pine has a maximum depth of 79 feet and a mean depth of 30.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pine is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Pine has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.