Star Lake

How big is Star Lake?

How deep is Star Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Star Lake?

Are there boat launches on Star Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Star Lake?

This was the first of two surveys scheduled in the 2007 Star Lake management plan to determine whether an increase in walleye stocking that began in 2008 had resulted in an increase in walleye abundance. The next survey will be done in 2019.

Despite regular stocking, and a doubling of the stocking rate, walleye numbers remained low in 2015, and most of the fish taken were small. Only four walleye year classes were represented in the 2015 catch, and none appeared to have been strong. Stocking may have accounted for some or all of the two and three-year-old fish taken in this survey, but the catch also included a few naturally produced fish from unstocked 2007 and 2011 year classes. Growth of young walleye appeared to have been about average; fish reached a length of 8.6 inches by the end of their second year.

Northern pike were fairly abundant in 2015, as they usually have been in this lake. Although no trophy-sized fish were seen, the mean weight for northern pike taken in gill nets was the highest seen to date in this lake. Northern pike growth had also been about average, with three-year-old fish reaching a mean length of 18.3 inches.

Modest numbers of yellow perch and some smaller white sucker were available as forage for walleye and northern pike, but it was likely walleye in this lake had to rely primarily on invertebrate forage. The yellow perch gill net catch was low, but was similar to past catches in this lake. The white sucker gill net catch was also similar to past catches in this lake. Only the smallest white sucker taken would have been available as forage for northern pike of the sizes sampled, and all were too large for most of the walleye in the lake. A dozen minnow traps set around the shoreline caught only a single small yellow perch, and no minnows. Although minnow traps are usually a poor means of sampling nearshore fishes in this area, the failure to catch any minnows at all suggests their abundance may have been low.

Smallmouth bass have become established in Homer Lake, just downstream of Star Lake. It is likely only a matter of time before they reach Star, since there are no permanent barriers to movement of fish between the two lakes.

Are there any state parks near Star Lake?