Lower Island Lake (South)

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Lower Island is a 320-acre lake with 207 (65%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake is located just east of Cromwell, Minnesota off Highway #210. The lake has a DNR administered, gravel, back-in access located on the southeast shore. Lower Island was last surveyed in 2007. Lower Island was sampled in 2013 to help evaluate the walleye stocking program as well as update information on other fish populations.

Lower Island has been actively managed with stocking of fry, fingerling and yearling walleye from 1948 through 2012. Most recently, walleye fry have been stocked in even years from 1994 through 2012. The stocking rate was increased from 1,000 to 2,000 per littoral acre in 2000. Walleye abundance of 2.8 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye gillnet catch rates from seven investigations since 1972 have ranged from 2.0 to 8.7 per lift. Mean size of 19.7 inches for walleye sampled in 2013 was considered large and rate of growth was average. Of the total walleye sampled during 2013, 94% were aged to years that walleye fry were stocked. Walleye aging from previous investigations resulted in correlations to years of stocking which ranged from 50% to 97%.

Black crappie abundance of 0.6 per trapnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was 7.6 inches and rate of growth was average. Age analysis revealed a strong 2010 year-class and all year-classes from 2007 through 2012 represented, except 2009.

Bluegill abundance of 20.6 per trapnet lift had increased since 2007 (16.0) but was still considered average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was 6.1 inches and growth was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Age analysis revealed consistent recruitment and all year-classes from 2005 through 2011 represented.

Largemouth bass abundance of 36.0 per hour of electrofishing was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes and represented a historic high for Lower Island Lake. Previous largemouth bass electrofishing assessments on Lower Island have ranged from 8.7 (2002) to 13.9 (1998) per hour of electrofishing. Average size of 13.2 inches was relatively large and growth was fast. Age analysis revealed a relatively strong 2007 year-class and all year-classes represented from 2006 through 2011.

Northern pike abundance of 7.8 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was small at 19.3 inches. Northern pike were not aged for this assessment.

Yellow perch abundance of 0.3 per lift was down from 2007 (1.2) and below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was 5.9 inches. Yellow perch were not aged for this assessment.

Other fish species sampled include bigmouth buffalo, bowfin, black bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white sucker and yellow bullhead.

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