Loon Lake

How big is Loon Lake?

How deep is Loon Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Loon Lake?

Are there boat launches on Loon Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Loon Lake?

Loon Lake is a designated stream trout lake located entirely within the boundaries of Savannah Portage State Park in northeastern Aitkin County. Anglers who fish Loon Lake are required to have a valid Minnesota State Park permit and a trout stamp. Park facilities on the lake include the park's main picnic area, swimming beach, canoe rental and boat launch with concrete log ramp. The use of gas-powered outboard motors is prohibited, limiting anglers to paddling, electric trolling motors, or shore fishing. Loon Lake is popular with the local residents and visitors to Savannah Portage State Park and provides a unique angling experience for central Minnesota.

Historically, Loon Lake was a bass-panfish lake until it was reclaimed in 1971. The initial stocking of rainbow trout took place that fall. Brook trout yearlings were then introduced in 1985, and stocked nearly annually through 2010. Splake, a sterile hybrid between male brook trout and female lake trout, were introduced in 1999 and stocked thru 2009. With changes in hatchery production, beginning in 2011, Loon Lake has been stocked each spring with 2,000 rainbow trout yearlings and 200 brown trout yearlings. An additional 500 yearling or adult rainbow trout may be stocked later in the year when hatchery surplus is available. It is believed that the brown trout will be able to take advantage of the available prey (white suckers) and grow to larger sizes to provide a quality element to the fishery.

Catches of both rainbow and brown trout increased in the 2015 trap net assessment. This survey sampled 75 rainbow trout ranging in size from 8.9 to 14.6 inches with an average length of 11.6 inches. The presence of larger fish indicate some fish are surviving past their first winter, and that rainbow trout are indeed growing in Loon Lake, unlike brook trout previously. Forty-nine brown trout were also sampled measuring from 10 to 17.2 inches with an average length of 14.4 inches. It is too soon to tell how large brown trout might grow in Loon Lake, but the limited data suggests that fish continue to survive past their first winter and are continuing to grow. Future surveys will provide more information on the potential of the brown trout fishery.

White sucker abundance increased again to 3.1 per net after a short term decline observed in 2012 (0.75 per net). White suckers, while providing excellent forage for larger brown trout, may compete with rainbow trout and smaller brown trout for invertebrate food resources. However, since both rainbow and brown trout appear to be growing much better than previous populations of brook trout, the white suckers may not be having much of a negative effect on growth rates in Loon Lake.

What is the average air temp for Loon Lake?

Are there any state parks near Loon Lake?