Crocodile Lake

How big is Crocodile Lake?

How deep is Crocodile Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Crocodile Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Crocodile Lake?

Crocodile Lake is part of the headwaters of the Royal River, a tributary to the Pigeon River in the Lake Superior North watershed. The lake is currently managed for walleye, with a long range goal for that species of a minimum gill net catch of 6.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. This was the second of two surveys scheduled in the 2008 lake management plan to determine whether the lake still supported a largemouth bass population, and to determine whether a resumption of walleye stocking was needed.

No largemouth bass were collected in 2014. This was the fourth consecutive survey in which the species was not found. While that does not prove that largemouth bass are now absent, if any remain their numbers must be very low.

Walleye were abundant in 2014, and there was clearly no need to resume stocking. Management goals for the species were easily met. The gill net catch was above the normal range for this type of lake, and above the management goal, with several fish larger than 20 inches included in the catch. All walleye collected in 2014 had been produced naturally, since the lake was last stocked in 1991. A strong 2012 year class was evident, with moderately strong year classes also produced in 2011 and 2010. Growth of young walleye had been close to average for the area; fish reached a mean length of 11.4 inches at the end of their third year. Growth of older fish may have been somewhat slower; six-year-old fish reached a length of 15.9 inches at the end of their sixth year, compared to an area average of 17.3 inches.

Yellow perch were also abundant in 2014, would have provided some angling opportunities. The yellow perch gill net catch was above-normal for the lake class, although it was similar to most past catches observed in this lake. Thirty-nine percent of yellow perch taken in gill nets exceeded eight inches in length, with fish as large as 11.3 inches collected. Several year classes contributed to the 2014 catch. Growth had been somewhat faster than average; perch reached a mean length of 7.8 inches by the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 7.1 inches.

The white sucker gill net catch was within the normal range for a lake of this type, but was one of the lower catches seen in this lake historically. White sucker catches in some past assessments of Crocodile Lake have exceeded 50 fish/net. The white sucker catch in 2014 appeared to consist mainly of adult fish.

No northern pike were collected in 2014. None have ever been found in this lake, despite the presence of suitable habitat. A survey done by the U.S. Forest Service in 1938 listed northern pike as among the most abundant fish species in the lake, but did not include any fish sampling to support that report.

Sampling with minnow traps collected no species not seen in the gill net catch. Minnow traps are not a very effective tool for sampling nearshore fish, but can indicate the presence of some of the more abundant species. Previous nearshore sampling in this lake was limited to the use of two minnow trap sets in 1973, which collected yellow perch and a few golden shiner.

Aquatic vegetation was not very diverse in 2014, and not abundant. Most commonly found species included arrowheads, spikerushes, swamp horsetail, white waterlilies, and yellow waterlilies. Shoalwater substrates were typical for lakes in this area, and consisted mostly of boulder, rubble, and muck.

Are there any state parks near Crocodile Lake?