North Brown's

North Browns is a 324-acre lake located five miles north of Eden Valley in southern Stearns County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet and a large watershed dominated by agriculture. . The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and has a public access is located on the northeast end of the lake. This survey was conducted to update the fisheries data last collected in 2018. Anglers can expect good fishing for Northern Pike, Walleye, and panfish. Very few emergent and floating-leaf plants were found when last surveyed in 2018, less than one acre and 5.9% of the shoreline. Submergent plants were not surveyed, but coontail and Canada waterweed were dominant species in previous plant surveys. Water clarity was better than the last survey; Secchi depth was 9.0 feet in June and dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish to 19 feet. The Walleye population had been managed through fry stocking since 2003; however, since fry survival has been poor fry stocking was discontinued after 2021. The Walley population is now manged through fingerling stocking. Walleye numbers were the highest on record in 2024, but within the range of expected values for the lakes similar to North Brown's. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 10 to 27 inches with an average length and weight of 18 inches and 2 pounds. Ninety-seven percent of Walleye collected were 10 inches or longer, with 78%being 15 inches or longer and 31% being 20 inches or longer. Walleye ages ranged from two to 13 years old, and growth was faster than the statewide average, but similar to the Sauk Rapids Area average, taking 3 years to reach 16 inches. High Northern Pike numbers likely limit Walleye survival. Northern Pike numbers have always been high with past catches ranging from 5.3 to 19.2/gill net with long-term average of 14.7/gill net. The Northern Pike catch in 2024 was higher than both 2018 and 2013 and exceeded the expected range of values for lakes similar to North Brown's. Northern Pike ranged in length from 13 to 33 inches with an average length and weight of 21 inches and 2 pounds. Ninety-nine percent of Pike sampled were 14 inches or longer, with 14% being 26 inches or longer and 4% being 30 inches or longer. Black Crappie numbers were higher than the last survey in 2018 and nearly double the long-term average. Lengths ranged from 4 to 12 inches with an average length of eight inches. Forty-nine percent of Black Crappie sampled were eight inches or longer and 12% were 10 inches or longer. Bluegill were also sampled in the gillnets and ranged in length from 4 to 9 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Thirteen percent of Bluegill caught were longer than eight inches. The Yellow Perch catch rate was within the expected range of values for lakes like North Brown's and higher than 2018. Lengths ranged from five to eight inches with an average length of six inches . However, catches were much higher in the 1980s and 1990s. As Northern Pike abundance has increased, Yellow Perch abundance has decreased. Channel Catfish are abundant in the Sauk River Chain of Lakes and have colonized connected waters such as North Browns Lake. Channel Catfish were first sampled in North Brown's Lake in 2003 (2 fish) and then peaked in 2013. Since 2013, catfish abundance has decreased down to 3.0/gill net in 2024. Catfish sampled in 2024 ranged in length from 23 to 30 inches with an average length and weight of 26 inches and eight pounds. Channel Catfish abundance has been steadily decreasing while average size has been increasing. Other species sampled included: Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Silver Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in North Brown's Lake was conducted on August 14-15, 2018 by Fisheries Lake IBI program staff. Sampling stations 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 10 stations. A 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations and a 15-foot seine was used to sample one station. Nearshore sampling captured 16 native species of fish including two species that are intolerant of habitat disturbance (Blackchin Shiner and Iowa Darter) as well as one tolerant species (Green Sunfish). Data from this targeted nearshore survey is combined with data from standard gill and trap netting surveys to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biological Integrity (FIBI) that describes the overall health of the lake. 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. 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. The FIBI score for North Brown's Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar shallow 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.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted on North Browns Lake on July 10-12, 2018 by Sauk Rapids Area staff. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining. Near shore sampling captured 16 species of fish, including one species that is intolerant of poor water quality or habitat disturbance (Iowa Darter). The near shore fish survey data were combined with gill net and trap net data from a June 2018 standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. An FIBI uses fish community data as a measurement of lake health. The FIBI score for North Browns Lake was 36.9 which was above the impairment threshold (FIBI > 24) using Tool 5. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. Becker Lake is located in the Sauk River Watershed.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Walleye, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Bluegill in North Brown's. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for North Brown's. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

North Brown's has a maximum depth of 41 feet and a mean depth of 18.2 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in North Brown's is from 2024.

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