Beauty

Beauty Lake (DOW# 77-0035-00; Lake Class 31) is a 238-acre lake located near Long Prairie, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the southeast shore. Beauty Lake has 3.55 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Walleye. The lake was initially surveyed in 1960, and 18 fish sampling surveys or investigations have occurred since then with most recent prior sampling in 2023. A total of 633 Bluegills were captured for a catch rate of 27.5 fish/net. Average length was 5.01 inches and a maximum of 9.06 inches. Bluegill size structure goals aim at least 50% of the sample to exceed 7 inches, 30% to exceed 8 inches, 15 % over 9 inches and the presence of fish 10 inches or longer. In the 2025 survey fourteen percent of fish measured were 7 inches or greater and 10 fish were 8 inches or greater. Although seventy three percent of the Bluegills captured were under 6 inches, observing some Bluegills over 8 inches is a good sign that Beauty Lake can grow large Bluegills. Black Crappie Spring trap net catches can vary considerably due to sample conditions. A total of 17 Black Crappies were caught for a catch rate of 0.73 fish/net. Average length was 7.55 inches and maximum length of 10.59 inches. Seventy-six percent of fish measured were 8 inches or larger.

A standard survey was completed on Beauty Lake the week of July 10 with specific targeted sampling for Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie completed in May. This survey is a replicate of the survey completed in 2017 and while data variability can be considerable, Northern Pike and Walleye populations remain similar to what they were in 2017. Yellow Perch abundance appears to have increased since 2017, while Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Black Crappie remain within the range we'd expect for this lake. Based on results from this survey, anglers can expect a Northern Pike population generally comprised of fish ranging from 13-30 inches with the majority around 20 inches. About a third of the population measures over 24 inches which is decent compared to other Area lakes similar in character. Walleyes have never been very abundant in Beauty Lake, and this continues to be the case. Fingerling stockings from 2001-2015 have failed to produce a fishery. Reasons for this are not conclusive but it is likely due to competition and predation from Northern Pike and an overall presence of habitat favoring bass and panfish rather than Walleye. Largemouth Bass captured while electrofishing ranged from 7-19 inches with nearly two-thirds of the sample measuring over 12 inches. Total average length of the sample was 13.4 inches. Bluegill and Black Crappies captured in trap nets averaged 6.2 and 7.3 inches with Bluegills more abundant than crappies. Aging data for crappies was examined and growth rate was determined to be "moderate" with individual fish taking about seven years to reach 10 inches. Beauty Lake was selected for participation in the statewide Quality Sunfish Initiative which requires anglers to release all sunfish once the harvest limit of five is caught. The objective of the lowered bag limit is to reduce sunfish harvest and allow for more fish to attain larger sizes (8-10 inches). Monitoring efforts are ongoing, and it is too early to determine regulation impacts.

Spring Trap netting was performed May 17-18 to provide pre-regulation data on the Bluegill size structure. A bag limit of 5 sunfish was implemented on March 1, 2021 as Beauty Lake was selected for participation in the statewide Quality Sunfish Initiative. The objective of the lowered bag limit is to reduce sunfish harvest and allow for more fish to attain larger sizes (8-10 inches). Data collected during this survey is considered pre-regulation data due to the short time period since the inception of the reduced bag limit. Spring trap netting is the preferred method for evaluating panfish populations and has been conducted on the lake four previous times since 2001. Several future evaluations relating to the 5 sunfish bag limit are planned over the 10 year evaluation period and will incorporate spring trap netting to provide proper comparisons. Spring trap netting in 2021 captured 418 Bluegill. This sample size was typical for Bluegill in Beauty Lake as previous spring sample sizes have ranged from 267-937 fish. Bluegill in 2021 ranged from 3.4 - 9.1 inches and mean length was 6.55 inches. The 2021 catch exhibited the best size structure observed to date. Fish over 7 inches comprised 40% of the catch and fish greater than 8 inches made up 6% of the sample. Two fish over 9 inches were measured (0.5% of sample). Bluegill 10 inches or greater have never been observed in any sampling efforts. Spring trap netting in 2017 produced a less impressive size structure with 11% of the fish 7 inches or longer, 1% were over 8 inches and none exceeded 9 inches. Mean length was 6.18 inches. Bluegill size structure goals developed for the Quality Sunfish Initiative aim for at least 35% of the sample to exceed 7 inches, 10% to exceed 8 inches, 2% over 9 inches and the persistent presence of fish 10 inches or longer. Whether voluntary or required due to the reduced bag limit, release of larger sunfish, especially fish over 9 inches will be important if the lake is to realize its potential in reaching management goals. Additional criteria that may be used to measure success of the reduced sunfish bag limit include: mean size, catch rate of fish over 8 inches, and mean length of the top 10% of fish. When combining the five pre-regulation spring trap net surveys, mean size is 6.13 inches, mean catch rate of fish over 8 inches is 2.1/net, and mean length of the top 10% is 7.76 inches. Bluegill growth is acceptable with the fish reaching 6.5 inches in length by Age 5. Black Crappie spring trap net catches can vary considerably due to sampling conditions and the Beauty Lake catches have demonstrated this variability. Spring trap net catches in Beauty Lake have ranged from 19 fish in 2017 to 85 fish in 2021. Almost ¾ of the crappies captured in 2021 were in the 9-9.9 inch length group which should be attractive to anglers. The crappie bag limit remains at 10 fish. Spring trap netting captured 50 Pumpkinseed. Maximum length of Pumpkinseeds was 8.5 inches and 30% were 7 inches or longer.

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

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

Beauty has a maximum depth of 27 feet and a mean depth of 16 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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