George Lake

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George Lake

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George Lake is an 80 acre lake located in Blue Earth County near the town of Marysburg.
A DNR-owned public access is located on the southern end of the lake off Blue Earth County Highway 27. George Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet and is placed in Lake Class 30, which includes other Waterville Area lakes such as Kelly & Dudley Lake (Rice County), Roemhildts Lake (Le Sueur County), Steele Lake (Le Sueur County), and Sunfish Lake (Le Sueur County). George Lake is managed primarily for Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie and secondarily for Northern Pike. The management plan calls for stocking Northern Pike adults annually at a rate of 3 pounds per acre (240 total) and Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike adults following evidence of a winterkill. Low dissolved oxygen levels were documented during the winter of 2013-2014 and trap nets set the following spring suggest the lake experienced a strong winterkill event. Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike adults were stocked in 2014 and 2015 to repopulate the lake. George Lake was surveyed the week of June 22, 2015 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by the Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying two gill nets and four trap nets and conducting spring nighttime boat electrofishing to target Largemouth Bass that are typically difficult to sample with net gears.

Largemouth Bass
A 56 minute boat electrofishing sample was completed at night on May 20, 2015 and no Largemouth Bass were sampled. Since 1994, electrofishing catch rates have varied from 0/hour in 1994 and 2015 to 97.5/hour in 1995 with an average of 27.4/hour. No Largemouth Bass were sampled with gill or trap nets. It appears the Largemouth Bass population in George Lake was decimated by the winterkill in 2013-2014 and the stocked adults have yet to produce offspring to repopulate the lake.

Bluegill
A total of 136 Bluegills were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 34.0/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. Since 1970, catch rates have varied from 6.8/net in 1970 to 104.4/net in 1995 with an average of 59.2/net. Lengths ranged from 2.8 to 7.6 inches with an average of 3.7 inches. Only two fish were larger than 4.5 inches. An additional four Bluegills ranging from 3.7 to 3.9 inches were sampled with gill nets. Bluegills from both gears ranged from 1 to 5 years old with three year-classes present. One year old fish accounted for 99% of the sample. The Bluegill population in George Lake is in a state of recovery and dominated by small, young fish that are likely descendants of adults stocked following the 2013-2014 winterkill.

Black Crappie
A total of 585 Black Crappies were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 146.3/net, which was an all-time high and indicated high numbers were present. Since 1970, catch rates have varied from 6.8/net in 1970 to 146.3/net in 2015 with an average of 36.0/net. Lengths ranged from 3.3 to 4.4 inches with an average of 3.9 inches. An additional six fish ranging from 4.1 to 4.5 inches were sampled with gill nets. Much like the Bluegill population, the Black Crappie population is in a state of recovery and is dominated by young fish produced after the 2013-2014 winterkill.

Northern Pike
Northern Pike were sampled at a high rate in 2015. A total of 39 fish were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 19.5/net, indicating high numbers were present and was the highest ever sampled in George Lake. Since 1970, catch rates varied from 1.0/net in 1995, 1997, and 2005 to 19.5/net in 2015 with an average of 4.1/net. Lengths ranged from 16.0 to 23.7 with an average of 18.5 inches. Three additional Northern Pike ranging from 18.9 to 20.1 inches were sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 1 to 3 years old with three year-classes present. One year old fish accounted for over 71% of the sample. The Northern Pike population in George Lake has responded well to stocking efforts following the 2013-2014 winterkill.

Yellow Perch
A total of 9 Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 4.5/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. Since 1970, catch rates have varied from 0/net in 1970 and 2005 to 9.0/net in 1997 with an average of 4.2/net. Lengths ranged from 6.6 to 8.8 inches with an average of 7.7 inches. A single 8.4 inch Yellow Perch was also sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 2 to 4 years old with three year-classes present. Despite the strong winterkill of 2013-2014, Yellow Perch continue to persist in moderate numbers in George Lake.

Black Bullhead
A total of 43 Black Bullheads were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 21.5/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. Since 1970, catch rates have varied from 0.5/net in 1994 to 134.5/net in 2005 with an average of 29.5/net. Most of the fish sampled were less than 5.0 inches long and likely produced following the 2013-2014 winterkill. Black Bullhead numbers remain highly volatile in George Lake and likely benefited from the recent strong winterkill.

Other Species
Other species sampled in 2015 include Pumpkinseed and hybrid sunfish.

Water Quality Parameters
Water quality parameter measurements including secchi depth, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen readings were taken during the survey. At the time of this survey, secchi depth was 6.5 feet, indicating moderately clear water. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen readings throughout the water column ranged from 72.5 degrees Fahrenheit and 8.8 ppm at the surface to 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit and 0.0 ppm at 25 feet. A thermocline appeared to be established around 13 feet.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Sky Wigen, Fisheries Specialist

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