Thunder Lake

How big is Thunder Lake?

How deep is Thunder Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Thunder Lake?

Are there boat launches on Thunder Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Thunder Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Thunder Lake?

Thunder Lake is a 1,330 acre lake located seven miles south of Remer in Cass County. The shoreline of Thunder drops off rapidly, with only 17% of the lake less than 15 feet deep. The lake is highly developed with 281 homes/cabins and four resorts on 15.9 miles of shoreline. A DNR owned access is located on the west shore of the lake. Water clarity is good, with a secchi depth of 16 feet. A 2012 aquatic vegetation survey found 32 species of emergent and submergent aquatic plants. Maximum depth of plant growth was 25 ft. Protection of aquatic vegetation, especially emergent vegetation, is important for maintaining good water quality and is critical for fish spawning as well as providing cover for fish.

The walleye catch of 7.8/gillnet was above average, and the highest on record. Average size was 16 inches and 1.9 lbs, with walleyes up to 30.4 inches captured. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked in odd number years since 1999, though natural reproduction can be very substantial at times. The 2011 year class is a good example of that. These fish were highly abundant in the fall of 2011 resulting in an electrofishing catch rate of 228/hr. They had a mean length of 7.2" in the fall of 2011, giving them a competitive advantage over the fingerlings stocked that year (mean length 5.2"). They continued to be present in good numbers in 2012 in spring bass electrofishing and comprised 27% of the gill net catch. An additional 18% of walleyes resulted from other non-stocked years. Growth of walleyes was normal, with eleven year classes present.

The northern pike gillnet catch of 1.1/net was below average, although the size was above average. The average size was 28.2 inches and 5.1 lbs, with fish up to 37.7 inches captured.

A spring electrofishing survey was conducted to sample largemouth and smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass were captured at a run time rate of 104.7/hr. Average length was 13.6 inches with individuals up to 20.0 inches captured. Largemouth were captured in gillnets at average numbers. Smallmouth bass were also sampled at a run time rate of 28.0/hr. Average length was 15.6, with fish up to 19.8 inches captured. Smallmouth bass were captured at above average numbers in gillnets.

The bluegill trapnet catch rate was average at 35.1/trapnet. The average length was a little small at 5.7 inches, with only 10 % being seven inches or larger. Growth was slow compared to similar lakes. The black crappie trapnet catch rate was above average at 4.3/trapnet. Average length was 7.4 inches, with 49% being eight inches or larger.

Yellow perch are an important prey species for walleyes and northerns and the 2012 yellow perch gillnet catch of 33.4 was above average, and the highest catch to date. The average length was 6.6 inches, with only 7% eight inches or larger.

Other fish sampled in the survey included bowfin, brown bullhead yellow bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), white sucker, and bigmouth buffalo. During nearshore seining and backpack electrofishing for IBI sampling various other fish species were sampled including Iowa darter, johnny darter, banded killifish, bluntnose minnow, central mudminnow, golden shiner, mimic shiner, spottail shiner, blacknose shiner, common shiner, mottled sculpin, logperch, and tadpole madtom.

What is the average air temp for Thunder Lake?

Are there any state parks near Thunder Lake?