Maple

Maple (DOW# 77-0181-00; Lake Class 31) is a 367-acre lake located near Gutches Grove, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) concrete boat ramp is located on the north end of the lake. Maple has 3.64 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Bluegill, and secondarily for Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike. Spring trap netting was performed to provide data on the Bluegill size structure and evaluate the effects of a 10 fish bag limit on sunfish which was implemented on March 1st, 2016. Spring trap netting is the preferred method for evaluating panfish populations and has been conducted on Maple 7 times since 2003. Future evaluations relating to the 10 sunfish bag limit will incorporate spring trap netting to provide proper comparisons. Spring trap netting in 2025 captured 533 Bluegill, of which 297 were measured. Spring sample sizes have historically ranged from 184 to 726 fish. Spring trap net catches are variable and heavily influenced by conditions and changes in catch rate are not typically indicative of a population change. Bluegill in 2025 ranged in length from 3.8 to 8.5 inches and averaged 6.95 inches. Fish exceeding 7 inches comprised 60 percent of the sample and fish over 8 inches made up 3.4 percent. Both of these quality metrics were slightly below 2024, when fish over 7 and 8 inches comprised 68 and 7.7 percent of the sample, respectively. These values are still an improvement from 2022 (36 percent; 1 percent) and 2019 (31 percent; 3.6 percent). Fish exceeding 9 inches have been absent in surveys since 2013. Bluegill size structure goals aim for at least 50% of the sample to exceed 7 inches, 10% to exceed 8 inches, 2% over 9 inches and the presence of fish 10 inches or longer. The 2024 and 2025 surveys have revealed progress towards goals for fish between 7 and 8 inches, however maximum size continues to fall below 9 inches. Other metrics used in evaluating the effects of a reduced bag limit include mean length, catch rate of fish over 8 inches, and mean length of the top 10 percent of the sample. Four combined pre-regulation surveys produced a mean length of 6.57 inches, catch rate of fish over 8 inches of 2.14/trap net, and mean length of top 10 percent of 8.06 inches. When combining 2024 and 2025 surveys, mean length was 7.1 inches, catch rate of fish over 8 inches was 1.61/trap net, and the average length of the top 10 percent was 8.05 inches. These metrics portray limited quality improvement following the implementation of the 10 fish bag limit. No Bluegill were aged from the 2024 sampling. Otoliths were extracted in the 2019 spring trap net assessment with most fish displaying moderate growth up to 7.5 inches and then slowing considerably with few reaching 8 inches at age 9. Otoliths were also collected from angled fish during the winter of 2021-22. These fish ranged in age from 5 to 7 and averaged 7.25 inches at Age 7, displaying slow growth in comparison to Area means. These age and growth characteristics may help to explain why management goals of providing more 8 to 10 inch Bluegill have been difficult to achieve. Black Crappie are abundant in Maple, but catches are variable in spring trap nets. Spring trap net surveys in Maple prior to 2025 have ranged from 36 to 658 and averaged 315 fish. A total of 361 Black Crappie were captured in 2025 ranging in length from 3.7 inches to 11.3 inches. Fish exceeding 12 inches were captured in 2022 but have not been present in most spring assessments. The mean length of the 227 Black Crappie measured in 2025 was 8.5 inches, which is within the historical range for this metric (5.4 inches to 9.6 inches) and similar to 2024 (8.3 inches). Fish over 10 inches in 2025 comprised 13% of the sample, which falls within the historical range (3.1% to 40.7%) and is similar to 2024 (13.3%). Otoliths were extracted from Black Crappie in 2022 with a mean length of 9.1 inches at Age 5 observed. Growth slowed appreciably once the fish reached 10 inches. The most prominent year class in the sample was Age 11 with these fish averaging 10.7 inches long. The oldest fish sampled was 13 years old. Two Walleye were captured (10.4 inches and 25 inches). Six Northern Pike were also captured with lengths ranging from 21.5 inches to 30.8 inches and averaging 24.7 inches.

Spring Trap netting was performed to provide data on the Bluegill size structure and evaluate effects of a 10 fish bag limit on sunfish which was implemented on March 1, 2016. Spring trap netting is the preferred method for evaluating panfish populations and has been conducted on the lake six previous times since 2003. Future evaluations relating to the 10 sunfish bag limit will incorporate spring trap netting to provide proper comparisons. Spring Daytime electrofishing was also conducted to evaluate the Largemouth Bass population. Spring trap netting in 2024 captured 287 Bluegill while previous spring sample sizes ranged from 184-726 fish, sometimes with fewer lifts. The total number of fish captured and catch rates are not reliable indicators of abundance changes when spring trap nets are used as spring conditions can be quite variable. Bluegill in 2024 ranged from 5.1- 8.5 inches and mean length was 7.17 inches. Fish over 7 inches comprised 68% of the catch and fish greater than 8 inches made up 7.7% of the sample. Quality metrics such as the percentage exceeding 7 and 8 inches improved measurably as 36% of Bluegills were over 7 inches in 2022 and only 1% were longer than 8 inches. The trap net assessment completed in 2019 exhibited a similar size structure to 2022 with 31% exceeding 7 inches and 3.6% over 8 inches. Maximum length was 8.78 inches and mean length was 6.3 inches in 2022. Bluegill over 9 inches have been absent since 2013. The 2024 results show progress towards reaching management goals for mean length and the proportions of fish over 7 and 8 inches, however with a maximum size of 8.5 inches and the continued absence of 9 inch fish some of the important objectives indicating improvements in quality are not being met. No Bluegill were aged from the 2024 sampling. Otoliths were extracted in the 2019 spring trap net assessment with most fish displaying moderate growth up to 7.5 inches and then slowing considerably with few reaching 8 inches despite attaining Age 9. Otoliths were also collected from angled fish during the winter of 2021-22. These fish ranged in age from 5 to 7 and averaged 7.25 inches at Age 7, displaying slow growth in comparison to Area means. These age and growth characteristics may indicate a primary reason why management goals of providing more 8 to 10 inch Bluegill have been difficult to achieve. Black Crappie continue to be abundant in Maple Lake but spring trap net catches can vary considerably due to sampling conditions and Maple Lake's catches have demonstrated this variability. Spring trap net catches in prior surveys ranged from 36 to 562 fish with a mean of 266 fish. A record total of 658 crappies were captured in 2024 ranging in size from 5.2 to 11.5 inches. Crappies over 12 inches were sampled in 2022 but they have not been present in most spring efforts. In 2024 mean length was 8.56 inches and fish over 10 inches made up 14% of the catch. In 2022 mean length was 9.7 inches and crappie longer than 10 inches comprised over 41% of the sample which was substantially higher than any previous spring trap net effort. Otoliths were extracted from Black Crappie in 2022 for aging purposes. Age 5 fish averaged just over 9.1 inches long. Growth slowed appreciably once the fish reached 10 inches. The most prominent year class in the sample was Age 11 with these fish averaging 10.7 inches long. The oldest fish sampled was 1Age 13 suggesting many of the 11-year-olds in 2022 may no longer be present. A total of 29 Pumpkinseeds were captured and 27 were measured ranging in length from 5.5 to 7.5 inches. Five Walleye were also netted and ranged from 12.7 to 26.6 inches. Seven Northern Pike were observed with 3 individuals measuring over 30 inches, the largest was 32.9 inches. Daytime electrofishing in 2024 captured just 9 Largemouth Bass ranging in size from 9.6 to 18.7 inches long. The catch rate came to 13 bass per hour. A similar daytime effort was undertaken in 2015 and also produced a low catch rate of 19/hour. Maple Lake appears to harbor a bass population well below the typical level of other area lakes, however quality size fish comprise a desirable proportion of the population

Spring Trap netting was performed May 25-27 to provide data on the Bluegill size structure and evaluate effects of a 10 fish bag limit on sunfish which was implemented on March 1, 2016. Spring trap netting is the preferred method for evaluating panfish populations and has been conducted on the lake six previous times since 2003. Future evaluations relating to the 10 sunfish bag limit will incorporate spring trap netting to provide proper comparisons. Spring trap netting in 2022 captured 184 Bluegill. Spring sample sizes in the past ranged from 292-726 fish, sometimes with fewer lifts. The total number of fish captured and catch rates are not reliable indicators of abundance changes when spring trap nets are used. Spring conditions can be quite variable and the lower catch in 2022 is not likely to represent a true decline in the population. Bluegill in 2022 ranged from 3.9- 8.58 inches and mean length was 6.63 inches. Fish over 7 inches comprised 36% of the catch and fish greater than 8 inches made up 1% of the sample. The trap net assessment completed in 2019 exhibited a similar size structure with 31% exceeding 7 inches, 3.6% over 8 inches and none over 9 inches. Maximum length was 8.78 inches and mean length was 6.3 inches. Bluegill over 9 inches have been absent since 2013. Bluegill size structure goals aim for at least 50% of the sample to exceed 7 inches, 10% to exceed 8 inches, 2% over 9 inches and the presence of fish 10 inches or longer. The 2022 results along with other post-regulation trap net assessments fail to show any progress towards reaching these management goals for size structure. 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 top 10% of fish. When combining the four pre-regulation spring trap net surveys mean size was 6.57 inches, mean catch rate of fish over 8 inches was 2.14 net, and mean length of the top 10% was 8.06 inches. The catch rate of Bluegill over 8 inches in 2022 was 0.2/net. In 2022, mean length was 6.63 inches and the mean length of the top 10% was 7.67 inches. These metrics also demonstrate that no improvement in size structure has occurred following the implementation of specialized regulations. Most Bluegill display moderate growth up to 7.5 inches and then growth slows considerably with few reaching 8 inches despite attaining Age 9. Black Crappie spring trap net catches can vary considerably due to sampling conditions and Maple Lake's catches have demonstrated this variability. Spring trap net catches in the lake have ranged from 36 to 562 fish with a mean of 266 fish. As with Bluegills a low overall catch of crappies does not necessarily reflect a lower population. A total of 205 crappies were captured in 2022 ranging in size from 5.9 to 12 inches, no crappies 12 inches or longer had been sampled since 2009. Mean length in 2022 was 9.7 inches and crappie longer than 10 inches comprised over 41% of the sample which was substantially higher than any previous spring trap net effort. Crappies reach 9 inches at Age 5 but growth slows appreciably once the fish reach 10 inches. The most prominent year class in the sample was Age 11 with these fish averaging 10.7 inches long. The oldest fish sampled was 13 years old. Sixteen Pumpkinseeds were captured but not measured. Five Walleye were also netted and ranged from 10.4 to 27.5 inches. A single Northern Pike measuring 33.1 inches was sampled.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Rock Bass in Maple. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Maple has a maximum depth of 23 feet and a mean depth of 16.6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Maple is from 2024.

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