Mink

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Mink Lake was conducted on August 5th, 2025, by Area Fisheries staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 1 station, and a 15-foot seine was used at 4 stations. Five stations were not seined due to deep water and dense lilies. Nearshore sampling captured 5 species of fish including 0 species that are intolerant of disturbance and 0 that are tolerant of disturbance, though one tolerant species was captured in gill nets (i.e., Common Carp). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Mink Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Mink Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - St. Cloud watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Mink Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Mink Lake is 301 acre lake located three miles northwest of the City of Maple Lake in Wright County. Mink and Somers lakes are connected by a navigable channel and were reclaimed in 1994 due to an overabundance of Common Carp. Since that time, an aeration system has been deployed as needed, but Mink Lake still experienced a partial winterkill in 2001. A suite of special regulations are currently in place and include daily possession limits of five sunfish and five crappie, a 17 inch minimum size limit on Walleye with a three fish possession limit, a 12 - 20 inch protected slot on Largemouth Bass with one over 20 inches allowed in possession, and a 24 - 36 inch protected slot on Northern Pike with one over 36 inches allowed in possession. Possession of live minnows is also prohibited. The last survey was conducted in 2016. Mink Lake has a small watershed and primary land uses include row crops, pasture, and open water. Water clarity is poor and MPCA data show a 10-year average Secchi depth of three feet. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish down to 12 feet. Cattail and white waterlily were the primary emergent species, and covered less than 12% of the lake. Curly-leaf pondweed did not appear to be as widespread as had been observed in previous years. Largemouth Bass were captured by daytime electrofishing in early June in low numbers. Lengths ranged from 7 to 19 inches with an average length of 12 inches. Forty percent of bass were 15 inches or longer. The Walleye population in Mink Lake is sustained through fingerling stocking during odd numbered years. The Walleye catch in 2021 was similar to 2016 and within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Mink. Walleye size was large; lengths ranged from 19 to 27 inches with an average length of 22 inches. Only 12 Walleye were captured in the survey, representing five age classes. High pike numbers likely hinder fingerling survival. Northern Pike numbers in 2021 decreased from 2016 but remained within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Mink. Northern Pike size remained large. Lengths in 2021 ranged from 18 to 38 inches with an average length of 26 inches; 68% of the catch were longer than 24 inches and 19% were longer than 30 inches. Anglers can help improve the fishery by harvesting smaller pike (<24") and hopefully increasing Walleye survival. The Bluegill catch in 2021 was higher than 2016 and above the range of expected values for similar lakes. Lengths in 2021 ranged from 3 to 9 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Less than 1% of Bluegill sampled were 8 inches or longer. Black Crappie numbers were above the expected range of values for similar lakes, but the average size was small. Lengths ranged from 4 to 13 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Only 3 percent of crappie sampled were 10 inches or longer. The Yellow Perch catch in 2021 was within the expected range of values and similar to 2016 and 2011. Perch ranged in length from 5 to 9 inches with an average length of 7 inches. Yellow Perch catch rates have fluctuated widely, likely influenced by Northern Pike abundance. Common Carp were first found in 2001 and were small and numerous. Since then, their numbers have been very low (only one in 2021) and no small carp have been captured. Pumpkinseed was the only other species captured in 2021.

Mink Lake is 301 acre lake located three miles northwest of the City of Maple Lake in Wright County. Mink and Somers lakes are connected by a navigable channel and were reclaimed in 1994 due to an overabundance of Common Carp. Since that time, an aeration system has been deployed as needed, but Mink Lake still experienced a partial winterkill in 2001. A suite of special regulations are currently in place and include daily possession limits of five sunfish and five crappie, a 17 inch minimum size limit on Walleye with a three fish possession limit, a 12 - 20 inch protected slot on Largemouth Bass with one over 20 inches allowed in possession, and a 24 - 36 inch protected slot on Northern Pike with one over 36 inches allowed in possession. Possession of live minnows is also prohibited. The last survey was conducted in 2016. Mink Lake has a small watershed and primary land uses include row crops, pasture, and open water. Water clarity is poor and MPCA data show a 10-year average Secchi depth of three feet. Dissolved oxygen was adequate to support fish down to 12 feet. Cattail and white waterlily were the primary emergent species, and covered less than 12% of the lake. Curly-leaf pondweed did not appear to be as widespread as had been observed in previous years. Largemouth Bass were captured by daytime electrofishing in early June in low numbers. Lengths ranged from 7 to 19 inches with an average length of 12 inches. Forty percent of bass were 15 inches or longer. The Walleye population in Mink Lake is sustained through fingerling stocking during odd numbered years. The Walleye catch in 2021 was similar to 2016 and within the expected range of values for lakes similar to Mink. Walleye size was large; lengths ranged from 19 to 27 inches with an average length of 22 inches. Only 12 Walleye were captured in the survey, representing five age classes. High pike numbers likely hinder fingerling survival. Northern Pike numbers in 2021 decreased from 2016 but remained within the range of expected values for lakes similar to Mink. Northern Pike size remained large. Lengths in 2021 ranged from 18 to 38 inches with an average length of 26 inches; 68% of the catch were longer than 24 inches and 19% were longer than 30 inches. Anglers can help improve the fishery by harvesting smaller pike (<24") and hopefully increasing Walleye survival. The Bluegill catch in 2021 was higher than 2016 and above the range of expected values for similar lakes. Lengths in 2021 ranged from 3 to 9 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Less than 1% of Bluegill sampled were 8 inches or longer. Black Crappie numbers were above the expected range of values for similar lakes, but the average size was small. Lengths ranged from 4 to 13 inches with an average length of 6 inches. Only 3 percent of crappie sampled were 10 inches or longer. The Yellow Perch catch in 2021 was within the expected range of values and similar to 2016 and 2011. Perch ranged in length from 5 to 9 inches with an average length of 7 inches. Yellow Perch catch rates have fluctuated widely, likely influenced by Northern Pike abundance. Common Carp were first found in 2001 and were small and numerous. Since then, their numbers have been very low (only one in 2021) and no small carp have been captured. Pumpkinseed was the only other species captured in 2021.

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

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

Mink has a maximum depth of 39 feet and a mean depth of 6.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Mink is from 2021.

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