Forest

Forest Lake is a 2,251 acre lake comprised of three distinct basins and assigned to lake class 24. There are three public boat accesses available on the lake resulting in high recreational use. Zebra Mussels were discovered in 2015. The primary management species in the lake are Walleye and Muskellunge both of which are maintained through stocking. Walleyes fingerlings are stocked annually on a variable schedule of either 995 or 1531 pounds. Muskellunge are currently stocked with a target quota of 766 fingerlings per year. The lake was sampled with gill nets and trap nets in July 2025 primarily to assess the Walleye population and provide fish composition information to be used in an Index of Biotic Integrity survey. The previous survey was conducted only with gill nets in 2023. Walleye were sampled at a rate of 7.9 fish per gill net. Fish size was larger than average for the lake class but similar to previous surveys with a mean length of 19 inches. Lengths ranged from 7.5 to 27 inches and were well distributed within that range. Ages ranged from 1 to 15 years with 7 year olds being the most abundant having twice as many sampled as any other year class. Growth appears to be adequate with age and size distributions offering quality angling opportunities. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 11.8 fish per gill net. This was substantially higher than the previous survey catch rate of 4.5 fish per gill net and was the highest rate sampled in the history of the lake. Fish size did not diminish with a mean length of 25.6 inches. Fish lengths ranged from 10 to 36 inches with 11% of the catch exceeding 30 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 13.6 fish per gill net. This was a substantial increase over the previous survey's rate of 6.3 fish per gill net and is a more typical catch for both the lake and the lake class. Size remained small with a mean length of 6.2 inches and a maximum length of 8 inches. Although summer trap nets were used to sample both Bluegill and Black Crappie populations for an Index of Biotic Integrity survey, spring panfish trap net surveys are best for describing Minnesota's panfish populations. Similarly, one 43.5 inch Muskellunge was sampled in trap nets but their population is better evaluated by separate spring surveys. Other species sampled during this survey were: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Bullhead.

Forest Lake is a 2,251 acre lake comprised of three distinct basins and assigned to lake class 24. There are three public boat accesses available on the lake resulting in high recreational use. Zebra Mussels were discovered in 2015. The primary management species in the lake are Walleye and Muskellunge both of which are maintained through stocking. Walleyes fingerlings are stocked every year on a variable schedule of either 995 lbs. or 1531 lbs. in order to assess density dependent effects on recruitment to the fishery. Muskellunge are currently stocked with a target quota of 766 fingerlings per year. The lake was sampled with gill nets in July 2023. The previous survey was conducted in 2021. Walleye were sampled at a rate of 9.8 fish per gillnet, the highest catch ever recorded. This is above the 75th percentile for the lake class. Fish size was typical relative to previous surveys with a mean length of 18.6 inches which is larger than average for the lake class. Lengths ranged from 12.7 to 26.7 inches with the bulk of the fish between 16 and 24 inches and well distributed through that range. Ages of fish were mostly between 3 and 6 years of with a handful of fish ranging up to 11 years old. Growth appears to be adequate with age and size distributions offering quality angling opportunities. The management goals for size and abundance are being met. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 4.5 fish per gill net. This was substantially lower than the previous two surveys catch rates but slightly higher than average for the lake class and more in line with catch rates historically sampled from the lake. Average size was the largest in sampling history with a mean length of 25.3 inches. This exceed the 75th percentile for the lake class. Fish lengths ranged from 17 to 34.7 inches with several of those fish exceeding 30 inches in length. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate much lower than any other survey in recent history with a catch rate of only 6.3 fish per gill net. This rate is lower than average for the lake class but still within the interquartile range. Size was similar to previous surveys with a mean length of 6.3 inches and ranging from 5.6 to 8 inches. No Muskellunge were sampled during this survey but they are sampled during a separate spring effort with other gears. Other species sampled were: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Forest Lake (lake class 24) is comprised of three basins and each basin is sampled in proportion to its size (in surface acres.) Data for all basins is combined to facilitate an analysis of the lake fish populations as a whole. Surface acreage is 2,251 acres; with 1,531 acres being littoral (68%) and has a maximum depth of 37.0 feet. The lake has fair water quality with a maximum secchi dish reading during this survey of 6.0 feet (July 5th, 2021). The long term average water clarity is approximately 6.0 feet and there is no trend, up or down, in water quality data. There are three public boat accesses available on the lake resulting in high recreational use. Zebra mussels were discovered in 2015 and the impacts on the fishery and water clarity will be closely followed through DNR fisheries standard lake surveys which occur every two years. The primary management species in the lake are Walleye and Muskellunge both of which are maintained through stocking. Forest Lake is in the North Central Northern Pike Management Zone which has a protected slot of 22-26 inches and a harvest limit of two fish not longer than 26 inches and a ten fish limit under 22inches. In 2021, Walleyes were sampled above the median level for abundance with a gill net catch of 4.75 fish/set. The average size of Walleye sampled in 2021 was 16.7 inches. Aging of Walleye using otoliths (inner ear bones) revealed eight different year classes, with the 2016, 2017 and 2018 year class being the most abundant. Although a primary management species for Forest Lake no Muskellunge were sampled during this assessment. To properly sample the Muskellunge population they are targeted every 8 years during a separate spring sampling effort with other gears. Targeted spring surveys to assess the Muskellunge population were conducted in 2015 and 2016 with the next Muskellunge targeted surveys being in 2026 and 2027. Electrofishing is the most appropriate gear type to sample Largemouth Bass and was utilized during this survey. Largemouth Bass were sampled at night on May 25th, 2021. The Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rate was 62.25/hour of on time, an increase from 2015 night electrofishing catch rate of 14.0/hour of on time. Previously, daytime Largemouth Bass electrofishing had been conducted. A daytime electrofishing survey in 2014 had a catch rate of 34.46/hour of on time. The 2021 night electrofishing catch rate is indicative of a moderate to high abundance of Largemouth Bass when compared to other lakes in the East Metro Fisheries management area. Lengths of electrofished Largemouth Bass ranged from 4.1 to 16.5 inches with a mean of 10.8 inches. Northern Pike were sampled above the median level for abundance at a rate of 8.0 per gill net. The average size of Northern Pike sampled was 27.8 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled above the median level for abundance in gill nets. The average size of perch sampled was 6.5 inches. Bluegill abundance was slightly above average in trap nets 36.5 fish/net, and the average size Bluegill sampled in trap nets was 5.4 inches. Black Crappies were sampled in average abundance in gill nets at 5.6 fish/net and marginally below average in trap nets at 0.88/set in 2021. The average size of Black Crappies sampled in 2021 was 7.2 inches, with fish up to 11.0 inches. Other fish sampled in low abundances were Pumpkinseed, Green and Hybrid Sunfish, Bowfin, Common Carp and Golden shiner.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Rock Bass in Forest. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Forest has a maximum depth of 37 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Forest is from 2025.

Yes — Forest has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.