Ramsey

Ramsey Lake is a 275 acre lake located on the south side of the City of Maple Lake in central Wright County. Ramsey Lake has a maximum depth of 82 feet and a 10 year average water clarity of three feet. The Ramsey Lake watershed is 6,037 acres with land use consisting of 38% agriculture, 22% marsh/open water, 14% forest, 13% residential, 11% pasture, and 2% grassland. A standard survey was conducted in 2017 to monitor changes in the fishery from the last survey completed in 2008. Ramsey Lake has a diverse aquatic plant community. While no submerged plant survey was conducted in 2017, the last submerged plant survey conducted in 2008 found 24 species of aquatic plants growing to a depth of nine feet. Coontail, sago pondweed, and Eurasian watermilfoil were the most common. Emergent and floating-leaf plants were mapped in 2017 and found to cover 47% of the shoreline. Species found were cattail spp. (54 acres), white waterlily (4 acres), and bulrush spp. (0.1 acres). Ramsey Lake is considered to be a "good fishing lake" and consistently provides crappie and sunfish angling. If an angler were looking for good bass, Northern Pike and Walleye fishing all together, Ramsey Lake would be the place to go. Largemouth Bass were captured by night electrofishing in May 2017. The catch rate in 2017 exceeded the average catch rate for lakes in the Sauk Rapids Management area and was similar to the rate observed in 2008. Bass up to 19 inches can be found though the average fish runs about 12 inches. The average Northern Pike was 24 inches long and weighed 3.4 pounds. Thirty eight percent of the Northern Pike were longer than 24 inches and 15 percent were longer than 30 inches. This percentage is much better than average and even better than some of our lakes that are regulated for quality Northern Pike. Ramsey Lake has been stocked with Walleye fingerlings every other year for several decades. Walleye numbers decreased significantly since 2008 but remained within the range of expected values for the lake class. The average Walleye was 20 inches long and weighed 3.7 pounds. Growth of Walleye was fast as stocked fish grew to nearly 20 inches in four years. The catch of Yellow Perch increased from the 2008 survey but remained well below the lake's long term average. Yellow Perch are often cyclic in abundance but this population needs to increase in order to balance the fish community. The catch rate of Bluegill was similar to the last survey in 2008 and typical for lakes with similar characteristics. The average length of Bluegill (five inches) was small but fish up to nine inches were sampled. The catch rate of Black Crappie was also similar to 2008 and remained below the range of expected values. Although the average length of Black Crappie was relatively small (under eight inches), fish up to 15 inches were sampled. Other species sampled during the survey included: Bowfin (dogfish), Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

Ramsey Lake is a 275 acre lake located on the south side of the City of Maple Lake in central Wright County. Ramsey Lake has a maximum depth of 82 feet and a 10 year average water clarity of three feet. The Ramsey Lake watershed is 6,037 acres with land use consisting of 38% agriculture, 22% marsh/open water, 14% forest, 13% residential, 11% pasture, and 2% grassland. A standard survey was conducted in 2017 to monitor changes in the fishery from the last survey completed in 2008. Ramsey Lake has a diverse aquatic plant community. While no submerged plant survey was conducted in 2017, the last submerged plant survey conducted in 2008 found 24 species of aquatic plants growing to a depth of nine feet. Coontail, sago pondweed, and Eurasian watermilfoil were the most common. Emergent and floating-leaf plants were mapped in 2017 and found to cover 47% of the shoreline. Species found were cattail spp. (54 acres), white waterlily (4 acres), and bulrush spp. (0.1 acres). Ramsey Lake is considered to be a "good fishing lake" and consistently provides crappie and sunfish angling. If an angler were looking for good bass, Northern Pike and Walleye fishing all together, Ramsey Lake would be the place to go. Largemouth Bass were captured by night electrofishing in May 2017. The catch rate in 2017 exceeded the average catch rate for lakes in the Sauk Rapids Management area and was similar to the rate observed in 2008. Bass up to 19 inches can be found though the average fish runs about 12 inches. The average Northern Pike was 24 inches long and weighed 3.4 pounds. Thirty eight percent of the Northern Pike were longer than 24 inches and 15 percent were longer than 30 inches. This percentage is much better than average and even better than some of our lakes that are regulated for quality Northern Pike. Ramsey Lake has been stocked with Walleye fingerlings every other year for several decades. Walleye numbers decreased significantly since 2008 but remained within the range of expected values for the lake class. The average Walleye was 20 inches long and weighed 3.7 pounds. Growth of Walleye was fast as stocked fish grew to nearly 20 inches in four years. The catch of Yellow Perch increased from the 2008 survey but remained well below the lake's long term average. Yellow Perch are often cyclic in abundance but this population needs to increase in order to balance the fish community. The catch rate of Bluegill was similar to the last survey in 2008 and typical for lakes with similar characteristics. The average length of Bluegill (five inches) was small but fish up to nine inches were sampled. The catch rate of Black Crappie was also similar to 2008 and remained below the range of expected values. Although the average length of Black Crappie was relatively small (under eight inches), fish up to 15 inches were sampled. Other species sampled during the survey included: Bowfin (dogfish), Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead.

A survey of near shore fish species was conducted on Ramsey Lake from July 5th - 14th, 2017 by the Sauk Rapids Area Fisheries office. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the shoreline and each site was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining, except one site where soft sediments prevented the use of a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 24 species of fish, including several species that are intolerant of shoreline disturbance and/or poor water quality (Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner). The near shore fish survey data will be combined with gill net and trap net data from a July 2017 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score based on expectations for similar lakes. The FIBI score for Ramsey Lake is above an impairment threshold developed for similar lakes. This survey is contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. Ramsey Lake is located in the North Fork Crow River Watershed.

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

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

Ramsey has a maximum depth of 80 feet and a mean depth of 21.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ramsey is from 2017. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Yes — Ramsey has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.