Falk Lake

How big is Falk Lake?

How deep is Falk Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Falk Lake?

What are the closest cities to Falk Lake?

Are there boat launches on Falk Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Falk Lake?

Falk Lake is six miles east of Clearbrook in east-central Clearwater County. It has a surface area of 65 acres and a maximum depth of 33 feet. There is very little residential development along the shoreline, which is surrounded by a mixture of forest and agricultural lands. A quiet little lake, the view from the water conveys a tranquil, north woods feeling. There is a county-owned, earthen public access in the northeast corner of the lake off Township Road 82. This lake has steep shoreline breaks immediately adjacent to a narrow littoral (shallow water) zone, which limits productivity and makes it difficult to effectively sample the game fish community.

Northern pike is the most abundant predator species in the lake, although the population density appears to have declined over the past 20 years, which is an unusual trend for a small lake in northern Minnesota. In the 2009 population assessment, northern pike ranged in length from 18 to 25 inches, which is similar to that of the previous assessment. The average Falk Lake northern pike is about 21 inches long, and it reaches that size sometime during its third or fourth growing season.

It is uncertain if walleye are indigenous to Falk Lake, although there are anecdotal reports that anglers caught walleye there in the 1940s. Although the lake has a history of stocking (1968-1993), the existing population is the result of natural reproduction. The walleye population in Falk Lake can be considered a low density population, which appears to be what the lake is capable of supporting due to its small size and low productivity.

Largemouth bass were moderately abundant in 2009; however, that was the first time specialized sampling for largemouth bass had been conducted. Bass ranged in length from 10 to 19 inches with an average length of 15 inches. Eight different year classes were identified.

In 2009, yellow perch abundance was the lowest recorded of any assessment. Historically, yellow perch abundance has been higher. In Falk Lake, yellow perch may be the preferred food item for northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleye. Because northern pike and largemouth bass are fairly abundant, they may be competing with walleye for food, and therefore affecting walleye abundance. It is not likely this lake could support any increase in predator populations.

With the exception of largemouth bass, other members of the sunfish family are not common in Falk Lake. Black crappie have not been captured in any assessment to date.

Are there any state parks near Falk Lake?