Camp

Camp Lake is a 108 acre lake located southwest of Maple Lake in Wright County. There is a public access located on the northwest side of the lake. The lake has poor water quality and water clarity in August 2018 was three feet. Adequate dissolved oxygen was found to a depth of 12 feet during the week of the survey. Camp Lake has a small watershed that is predominantly agricultural. Emergent and floating leaf vegetation covered 11% of the lake and 86% of the shoreline during the summer survey dominated by cattail, white waterlily and yellow waterlily. Camp Lake is managed for Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. A lake survey was conducted in 2018 to update fisheries information last collected in 2012. Walleye exist in low numbers due to private stocking that took place in 2013 and 2014. Walleye stocking was discontinued by DNR in 1979 due to low return in test sampling. Fifteen Walleye were sampled in 2018 and ranged in length from 20 to 24 inches and averaged 22 inches and 3.7 pounds. The catch of Northern Pike was lower than 2012, but within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Camp Lake. The average size of Northern Pike was above average and pike up to 40 inches were captured. The average length and weight was 27.4 inches and 5.1 pounds. Ninety percent of the Northern Pike sampled were longer than 24 inches and thirty percent were longer than 30 inches. Largemouth Bass were sampled during daytime electrofishing in mid-May. A total of 175 Largemouth Bass were captured in 0.8 hours of sampling effort. The catch in 2018 (216.4/hour) was more than five times greater than the area daytime average, but within the historical range for Camp Lake. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6 to 19 inches with an average length of 12 inches. Bluegill abundance was the highest on record for Camp Lake and above the expected range. Bluegill sampled ranged in length from 3 to 9 with an average length just over five inches. The gill net and trap net catches of Black Crappie in 2018 were higher than 2012 above average for the lake. Black Crappie sampled ranged in length from 6 to 14 inches with an average length of eight inches. Other species sampled during the surveys included: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed and Yellow Bullhead.

Camp Lake is located in Wright County, southwest of Maple Lake. The lake has a surface area of 123 acres and a maximum depth of 52 feet. The watershed is small and primarily agriculture, pasture, and wetland/lake. A public access with limited parking is located on the north end of the lake. Water quality was poor and algae limited water clarity to three feet. A total of 15 aquatic plant species were identified, including the invasive species Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed. Submergent plants grew to a depth of 10 feet. The last survey was in 2002. Northern pike numbers were lower than in 2002, but within the expected range for similar lakes. Average length and weight were 24 inches and three pounds; the largest caught was 31 inches. Fifty-three percent of northern pike were longer than 24 inches. Most northern pike were three to five years old and growth was fast, reaching 25 inches in four years. Yellow perch are a favorite food for northern pike and were caught in higher numbers than previous surveys. Average length of yellow perch was 8 inches and the largest individual was over ten inches. It is unusual to find abundant yellow perch with good size structure in a lake where northern pike are relatively numerous and this likely accounts for fast northern pike growth. Largemouth bass were surveyed annually from 1996 to 2006 by night electrofishing in the fall as part of a research study. Daytime electrofishing was conducted in May 2012 and largemouth bass were more numerous than the average for other Montrose area lakes and the average for the research study. Average length in 2012 was 13 inches and the largest bass was 19 inches. Overall, largemouth bass in 2012 were larger and more numerous than during the 11 years of the research study. Anglers can help sustain the quality bass fishery by keeping smaller bass for a meal and releasing larger ones (>15 inches). Black crappie catches have always been low in Camp Lake; the 2012 catch was no exception, but within the expected range for similar lakes. Average length was six inches and the largest individual was nine inches. Growth was fast, reaching six inches in the second year of growth The bluegill catch rate was within the expected range for similar lakes, but higher than in 2002. Mean length (five inches) and weight (0.1 lbs) were lower than previous surveys. The largest individual was eight inches. Growth was fast; bluegill reached five inches at age two and 91% of the fish aged were two years old. Other species captured included: common carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, and yellow bullhead.

Camp Lake is located in Wright County near the town of Maple Lake. It has a surface area of 108 acres and a maximum depth of 52 feet. A public access is located on the north end of the lake. Camp Lake is part of a statewide study of largemouth bass length limits and has been surveyed for bass by electrofishing every fall since 1996. The lake is primarily managed for largemouth bass and northern pike. The last full lake survey was in 1992 and a resurvey was conducted in summer 2002 to update information on the fishery. Largemouth bass are abundant in the lake. During fall electrofishing 132 bass were captured in 64 minutes, a catch rate well above average for the Montrose management area. Most adults were between 12 and 15 inches long; the largest bass was 19.5 inches and weighed 4.4 pounds. Northern pike numbers have increased since the last survey and their catch rate was above the normal range for this lake type. The average length (23 inches) and weight (3 pounds) were also desirable. Yellow perch are a favorite prey of northern pike and perch numbers have decreased, probably as a result of an increasing pike population. Perch size was in the expected range; average length was 7.1 inches and the largest perch was 10.2 inches.Black crappie numbers and size were below the expected range for lakes similar to Camp. The catch rate was low in both 1992 and 2002, but the average weight was higher in 1992. Mean length in 2002 was 7.3 inches and the largest individual was 9.7 inches. Black crappie growth was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes. Fewer bluegill were caught than in 1992, but the catch rate was still within the expected range in 2002. The average length for bluegill was 5.7 inches and the largest fish was 7.6 inches.Camp Lake is not well suited for walleye and none have been stocked in the last twenty years. However, one walleye (24.8 inches) was caught in 2002. Other species captured during the survey included yellow bullhead, carp, golden shiner, green, hybrid and pumpkinseed sunfish.

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

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

Camp has a maximum depth of 52 feet and a mean depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Camp is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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