Little Carnelian

There is no public access on Little Carnelian Lake so fishing opportunity is limited. Therefore, no stocking is conducted by DNR. The lack of public access also limits angling to riparian owners and their guests.Bluegill are the most abundant species. The 1997 netting shows a dramatic increase in the bluegill population, but domination by small fish - average size was 5 inches. Pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, and green sunfish are also abundant but small. Neascus (black spot) is present in about 10-20% of the sunfish. Black crappie are present in low to moderate numbers, but larger size than the sunfish - lengths ranged from 6.5 to 13 inches with an 8 inch average and 25% being over 8 inches long. Northern pike numbers have increased from recent surveys, and size is acceptable - lengths ranged from 14 to 31 inches with a 22 inch avergae. Yellow perch are present in low numbers and are small. Largemouth bass are also present, but their population status is unknown because they were not adequately sampled by the gear used during this survey.

NOP WERE HIGH IN ABUNDANCE. GILLNET CATCHES WERE 2.5 TIMES ABOVE THE LOCAL MEDIAN LEVELS. FIVE YEAR CLASSES OF NOP WERE SAMPLED AND THEY EXHIBITED SLOW GROWTH. BLG WERE HIGH IN ABUNDANCE. GILLNET AND TRAPNET CATCHES WERE ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN LEVELS. BLG PSD WAS 52. BLG GROWTH WAS SLOW FOR LOCAL AREA. BLB WERE SAMPLED IN LOW NUMBERS. GILLNET AND TRAPNET CATCHES WERE WELL BELOW LOCAL MEDIAN ABUNDANCE. LMB WERE SAMPLED ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN ABUNDANCE. TWO YEAR CLASSES OF LMB WERE SAMPLED AND GROWTH WAS AVERAGE FOR LOCAL AREA. BLC WERE SAMPLED IN LOW NUMBERS. BOTH GILLNET AND TRAPNET CATCHES WERE BELOW LOCAL MEDIAN ABUNDANCE. GILLNET CATCHES OF YEB, HSF, AND PMK WERE ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN ABUNDANCE, WHILE YEP WERE SAMPLED BELOW. SHORELINE SEINING CONFIRMED YOY PRODUCTION BY NOP, PMK, BLG, LMB, AND YEP.

NORTHERN PIKE AND BLUEGILLS ARE THE PREDOMINATE GAMEFISH, PRESENT AT NUMBERS NEAR THEIR LOCAL MEDIAN CATCH RATES. BLACK AND YELLOW BULLHEADS ARE PRESENT, RESPECTIVELY BELOW AND ABOVE THEIR LMCR'S AND RANGE IN SIZE FROM 7.5-13 INCHES. IN ADDITION TO THESE, PUMPKINSEEDS, HYBRID SUNFISH, AND LOW NUMBERS OF GOLDEN SHINERS AND WHITE SUCKERS ARE PRESENT. BLUEGILLS ARE PRESENT AT SOMEWHAT BELOW LOCAL MEDIAN LEVELS BUT ARE DOMINATED BY SMALLER SIZE CLASSES. NORTHERN PIKE EXHIBIT AVERAGE GROWTH RATES. IT IS TOO EARLY TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF THE WATER LEVELS CONTROLS ON NORTHERN REPRO- DUCTION, ALTHOUGH THEIR ABUNDANCE IS ABOUT ONE THIRD THE LEVEL OBSERVED IN 1982.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, and Green Sunfish in Little Carnelian. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Little Carnelian. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Little Carnelian has a maximum depth of 68 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Carnelian is from 1997. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Little Carnelian has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.