Fairy

Spring trap netting targeting Bluegill and Black Crappie was conducted in May of 2024. Bluegill were assessed to estimate size structures and for comparisons to Area lakes with more restrictive bag limits aimed at improving Bluegill size structure. Additionally, a creel survey was ongoing during this survey along with the tagging of Bluegill and Black Crappie by Fisheries Research staff to assess the extent of harvest. All sunfish and crappie were inspected for tags and 2 tagged Bluegill were recorded from this assessment. Four similar spring trap net assessments have been completed prior to this one dating back to 2004. The 2024 trap netting captured 435 Bluegills. Nearly half of the sample (48.5%) was comprised of fish 7 inches or longer, 10.1% exceeded 8 inches and a single individual was over 9 inches. In comparison there were 232 Bluegills caught in 2019 when an improved size structure was quite evident. The 2019 size structure displayed enhanced quality characteristics including: 58.2% of the sample over 7 inches, 23.7% over 8 inches, 5 fish over 9 inches, and a maximum size of 9.84 inches. 2019 was the only survey to capture multiple 9 inch Bluegills. While the 2024 size structure was not as desirable as 2019 it was still significantly better than the three similar assessments completed prior to 2019. No aging structures were collected from Bluegill in 2024. Otoliths were taken in 2019 with aging indicating normal growth rates for this area with Age 7 fish averaging 7.9 inches and Age 9 fish averaging 8.8 inches. Growth was sustained up to nearly 9 inches but appeared to slow thereafter. Black Crappie samples have been variable with small catches (<20 fish) evident in assessments prior to 2019. The Black Crappie catch in 2024 amounted to 75 fish. Maximum size was 11.5 inches and fish over 10 inches accounted for 22.7% of the sample. The largest catch of crappie occurred in 2019 when 109 fish were caught. Crappie over 10 inches comprised 40.7% of the catch and maximum length was 12.2 inches. Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Green Sunfish were also observed in spring trap netting. Pumpkinseed were most prevalent with 126 fish counted. A subsample was measured which found that more than half of the catch was over 7 inches. More than half of the 66 fish Hybrid Sunfish sample also exceeded 7 inches. The largest Hybrid Sunfish measured was 8.74 inches. Only 2 Green Sunfish were caught but the largest was 9.13 inches. The trap nets produced a catch of 25 Northern Pike with the largest fish measuring just 20.3 inches. Average size was 16.6 inches. Only 2 Walleye were observed measuring 17 and 20.6 inches. Five Largemouth Bass ranging from 10.6 to 14.4 inches were also captured.

This standard survey report is the latest for Fairy Lake and is a summary of data collected the week of July 6, 2021. Survey gear used included gill nets and electrofishing with locations and times replicated from the ‘Targeted Survey' last completed in 2015 and found in ‘LakeFinder dated 2015-07-13'. Fairy Lake can be considered mainly a Northern Pike lake, with good Largemouth Bass and Bluegill fishing as well. Black Crappies are also present but are not as abundant as Bluegills. There are very few Walleyes in the lake despite efforts to establish a fishery through stocking. Gill nets sampled a total of 60 pike ranging from 12-34 inches. Close to 20% of the sample was 24 inches or greater, which doesn't sound too impressive but compared to other lakes in the area it's decent. We consistently find a few pike in Fairy Lake exceeding 30 inches. Because large pike are relatively rare, it's important for anglers and spearers to refrain from harvesting them. Pike fisheries where large fish are protected (either voluntarily or through special harvest regulations) can shift to higher numbers of large fish which can be beneficial to the entire fish community. The opposite is true for lakes that have no large pike and many small ones. Largemouth Bass up to 20 inches and Bluegill up to nine inches were sampled during this survey. Fairy Lake supports good Largemouth Bass and Bluegill fisheries mainly because there is still good remaining habitat around the lake's shallow-water areas. It's important for lakeshore property owners to recognize this and help to maintain native vegetation and resist the impulse to convert natural shoreline features into artificially engineered blights of riprap, lawns and retaining walls. One of the more noteworthy findings in this survey was the capture of a Cisco, which is an indication that Fairy Lake still holds sufficient cold-water habitat during the summer to support this species. As an indicator species of good water quality, Cisco are in decline across central Minnesota. It's likely that they're declining in Fairy Lake as well. A lone Cisco could serve as a call-out for better land stewardship along the shoreline and in the immediate watershed. As the climate warms, such cold-water habitat may disappear altogether unless immediate steps are taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Fairy Lake is a medium-sized basin located near Sauk Centre, MN with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water clarity often exceeds 12 feet and nutrient levels are low when compared to other lakes in central Minnesota. Fairy is a popular recreational lake featuring a large, well maintained public beach and boat access area along the east side of the lake. Bluegills are present in good numbers and draw many anglers during winter and the open water season. The 2019 panfish trapnet assessment captured 232 Bluegill and was on the lower end of the range seen in previous assessments (134 to 1,041). Fish captured in 2019 ranged from 4.3 to 9.8 inches and averaged 7.1 inches in total length. Bluegills in the 7-8 inch range were common and fish over 9 inches were present but rare. Fish exceeding seven inches comprised approximately 58% (n=135) of the sample and nearly 24% (n=55) were more than eight inches. Just over 2% of the catch was greater than 9 inches in total length. These percentages were the highest observed when compared to previous surveys. Percent of Bluegills over 7 inches ranged from 9% (2004) to 24% (2015) in previous assessments. Anglers can help maintain quality Bluegill populations by limiting harvest of fish greater than 8 inches in length and even releasing all fish exceeding 9 inches in length. A total of 108 Black Crappies were sampled during the survey. Previous surveys sampled fewer Black Crappies which is not uncommon. Spring crappie catches can be highly variable and susceptible to weather patterns or timing of the survey. Low sample sizes do not necessarily indicate low abundance as crappie are often hard to catch in nets. Crappies captured ranged from 6.8 to 12.2 inches and averaged 9.6 inches. Approximately 41% of Black Crappies sampled exceeded 10 inches in total length. Proper land use practices in the watershed and along the shoreline are encouraged to maintain the lake's water quality. Minimizing vegetation removal and other habitat disruption along the lakeshore will help ensure Fairy Lake continues to provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Smallmouth Bass in Fairy. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Fairy has a maximum depth of 37 feet and a mean depth of 16.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Fairy is from 2021.

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