Fuller

Fuller Lake received a survey using four trap nets fished over two nights to specifically target Bluegill and Black Crappie in early June 2022. The last time a panfish-targeted survey was completed was in 2015. Standard survey trap netting typically involves net placement during the summer months at the same time gill nets are used. Because panfish occupy near-shore habitat during the spring, early-season netting targets panfish in the shallows and sample sizes increase, allowing better data interpretation. We captured a total of 165 Bluegills averaging 7.5 inches in length. There are good numbers (35 percent of the sample) of Bluegills over 8 inches, better than many lakes in the Little Falls Management Area. Maximum length measured was 9.1 inches. It takes about seven years for Bluegills to reach 8 inches in Fuller Lake. For crappies, we caught a total of 75; average size was 8.6 inches and maximum length was 12.7 inches. Sixteen percent of the sample measured 10 inches or greater. Crappie data from 2015 are variable by comparison - average length was 8.9 inches and maximum length was 11.3 inches. It takes about seven years for crappies in Fuller Lake to reach 10 inches. Other species sampled during this targeted survey include 13 Bigmouth Buffalo (15-inch mean length), Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed and White Sucker. Bluegill, Black Crappie and Bigmouth Buffalo comprised over 95 percent of the total catch. Anglers and canoeists or kayakers can enjoy quietness in a natural setting on Fuller Lake because it's small in size and not affected too much by strong winds. A short, upstream navigation from Todd County Road 98 is required. The shoreline has very little residential development, water clarity is very good and there is an abundance of submerged, floating-leaf and emergent vegetation.

A special assessment targeting Black Crappie and Bluegill was conducted on Fuller Lake in early June to evaluate those populations as panfish provide an important fishery in the area. Due to Fuller Lake's small size and priority ranking, spring trap nets are used to evaluate the fisheries. A total of 27 Black Crappie (3.4/trap net) were caught during the assessment. The fish ranged from 3.9 to 12 inches in length with a mean length of 8.2 inches. The population size structure displayed some desirable characteristics as 48% (n=13) of the sample exceeded 9 inches in length and 33% (n=9) of the fish were more than 10 inches. Age groups 2-7 were represented in the 2015 trap nets indicating consistent recruitment. Growth rates of all year classes were in the normal range for the work area. Bluegill were the most abundant species netted in the 2015 spring panfish trap net assessment. A total of 189 fish (23.6/TN) were sampled that ranged from 4.2 to 10 inches in length with a mean length of 7.1 inches for the sample. Modal length was 7.5  8 inches with 64% (n=122) of the fish exceeding seven inches, 12% (n=23) more than eight inches, and 3% (n=5) over nine inches in length. Age groups 3-11 were represented suggesting consistent reproductive success. Bluegills exhibited fast growth when compared to work area averages. Gamefish measured in the 2015 panfish assessment included ten Northern Pike between twelve and twenty-six inches in length and three Largemouth Bass, one eight inches and the two about fourteen inches in length. Other fish species netted included Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, hybrid sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

A special assessment targeting black crappie and bluegill was conducted on Fuller Lake in early June to evaluate those populations as panfish provide an important fishery in the area. Standard summer lake surveys typically do not sample many of the larger panfish that may be present in a lake. Four lake survey trapnets were set and lifted twice for eight net lifts. Some black crappie and bluegill nest sites were visible near a few of the net locations. Gamefish were also measured while other fish species were only identified and counted. A total of 27 black crappie ( 3.4/trapnet) were caught during the assessment. The fish ranged from 3.9 to 12 inches in length with a mean length of 8.2 inches and modal length of 9 - 9.5 inches. The population size structure displayed some desirable characteristics as 48% (n=13) of the sample exceeded 9 inches in length and 33% (n=9) of the fish were more than 10 inches. Ages 2 thru 7 were represented in the 2009 aged sample. All of the age groups displayed normal growth rates when compared to an area mean back-calculated length table. Year class strengths suggest low but steady recruitment. Variability in spring trapnet catches for crappie is common in area lakes. A similar panfish assessment in 2003 caught a larger sample of crappie, 126 fish ( 15.8/trapnet), which measured from 4.6 - 12.5 inches in length. The mean length was similar to that from 2009, 8.3 inches, but modal length was shorter, 8.5 - 9 inches. There did not appear to be as many fish of a desirable size to anglers in the population as only 7% (n=18) of the crappie in the sample exceeded 9 inches in length and 6% (n=7) were more than 10 inches. Although the proportion of larger crappie was much better in the 2009 assessment, the number of quality crappie caught was about the same in both spring assessments. Bluegill were the most abundant species netted in the 2009 spring assessment. There were 175 bluegill (21.9/trapnet) caught between 4.4 and 9.1 inches in length with a mean length of 6.9 inches and modal length of 6.5 - 7 inches. Fish over 7 inches in length comprised a significant portion of the catch (47%; n = 82) with 11% (n=19) more than 8 inches and 1% (n=2) exceeding 9 inches. Ages 3 thru 8 were represented in the aged sample with all of the age groups exhibiting fast growth rates. Year class strengths suggest low exploitation as most of the fish appear to be over 5 years of age. The 2003 spring assessment captured 332 bluegill (41.5/trapnet) between 3.7 and 9.1 inches in length. The mean length of 6.5 inches was slightly shorter than that in 2009, but there was a longer modal length group, 7 - 7.5 inches. The proportion of larger fish in the sample was less in 2003, 37% (n=123) were more than 7 inches in length. Seven percent of the catch (n=22) exceeded 8 inches with 0.8% (n=1) over 9 inches in length. Although larger bluegill made up a bigger proportion of the 2009 catch, there were more quality bluegill in the 2003 assessment. Gamefish measured in the 2009 panfish assessment included six northern pike between 11 and 18 inches in length and two largemouth bass about 15 inches in length. Other fish species netted included bowfin, brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, and yellow bullhead. Spring trapnetting has proven to be an effective method for assessing the bluegill and crappie populations in Fuller Lake. The last summer survey was in 2001 which caught some crappie up to almost 14 inches in the trapnets and bluegill up to 8 inches. However, only 21% of the crappie exceeded 9 inches and only 7% of the bluegill were more than 7 inches in length. Spring trapnets will continue to be used as a tool to evaluate the quality in the panfish populations. An area mean back-calculated length table was used to compare growth rates of the black crappie and bluegill.

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

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

Fuller has a maximum depth of 47 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Fuller is from 2022.

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