Glacier Lake

How big is Glacier Lake?

How deep is Glacier Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Glacier Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Glacier Lake?

Glacier Lake is a small, 133 acre lake located in northern Aitkin County about 5 miles east of Libby and within Savanna State Forest. About half of the shoreline is in state ownership, primarily woody wetlands along the west side of the lake. The picturesque nature of the lake has been maintained in part due to the steep topography of the eastern shoreline which has kept structures set back further from the water. A carry-in type public water access is currently (2012) being developed to provide access to the lake while maintaining the tranquil setting.

A 2011 survey of the fish community revealed healthy populations of a variety of popular game fish species. Northern pike were captured in average numbers (5.2/gill net) and ranged from 11.1 to 33.3 inches, with a respectable average size of 21.3 inches and 2.4 pounds. While catching large pike (greater than 24 inches) can be exhilarating, anglers are encouraged to release large fish due to their role in maintaining quality size structure of many species, and to maximize the sporting benefit for multiple anglers by recycling these quality fish.

Abundance of bluegill and black crappie were within the normal range for this type of lake and similar to previous surveys. Bluegill captured in trap nets ranged from 3.0 to 8.3 inches, but only 12% measured over seven inches long. Likewise, the catch of black crappie in standard sampling gear included a variety of sizes, ranging from 4.8 to 11.0 inches, but fish greater than nine inches made up just 15% of the sample.

Spring night electrofishing was conducted on Glacier Lake for the first time in 2011, to survey the abundance and size structure of the largemouth bass population. A total of 40 fish were captured in 1 hour of sampling, suggesting ample opportunities for this popular species. Size ranged from 3.7 to 16.4 inches with an average of 11.4 inches and 1.0 pounds.

Other species sampled in 2011 included bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, walleye, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. Walleye have been caught in low numbers in each survey since 1991. These fish could have migrated to the lake from Big Sandy during unique hydrologic conditions, or be the result of non-DNR management activities. A single yellow perch was caught in a gill net in 2011, which was the first time this species was captured in survey gear.

In addition to the standard survey work, IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) sampling was also conducted in 2011. IBI sampling included backpack electrofishing and seining to more broadly sample the general fish community and develop a fish-based index of overall lake health. Shoreline seining proved to be difficult due to the lake's morphology and presence of large amounts of woody habitat along shore.

What is the average air temp for Glacier Lake?

Are there any state parks near Glacier Lake?