Gilbert Lake

How big is Gilbert Lake?

How deep is Gilbert Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Gilbert Lake?

What are the closest cities to Gilbert Lake?

Are there boat launches on Gilbert Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Gilbert Lake?

Gilbert Lake is a small (202 acres), shallow basin located approximately nine miles west of Alexandria. A small public access with limited parking is located on the northwest shoreline. Water quality and clarity have been poor due to nutrient enrichment and frequent and occasionally severe algae blooms. The shallow and fertile nature of this basin make the fish community vulnerable to periodic winterkill. The last significant winterkill event occurred during the 2013-2014 winter. Fish community composition, gamefish diversity, and fishing potential have been constrained by poor habitat conditions, severity of winterkills, and gamefish species restocked following winterkill events. Walleye fry and pre-spawn adult Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch were stocked after the winterkill of 2013-2014.

A standard MN DNR lake survey was completed in July 2016 to assess fish community structure and determine success of post-winterkill stockings. Survey methodology also included spring electrofishing to estimate abundance and size distribution of the Largemouth Bass population. This sampling event occurred on May 24.

The recent winterkill and prompt re-establishment of predator populations resulted in much improved habitat conditions. Water transparency was 6.5 feet at time of the mid-July survey. In probable response to increased water clarity and sunlight penetration, submerged vegetation was found throughout the basin.

Re-introductory stockings of adult Largemouth bass and Black Crappies were successful and recruitment of young fish was exceptional. Both Black Crappies and Largemouth Bass proved to be abundant; however, fishing potential remained marginal since most captures were two-year-old fish, the offspring of limited numbers of adults stocked following the winterkill event. Black Crappie captures averaged approximately 7.4 inches. Average length of bass captured during the electrofishing survey was 9.3 inches. Bluegill reproduction was documented, but catches were well below that of other gamefishes. Most of those captures were also two-year-old fish. A Walleye fry stocking in 2014 was also successful in re-establishing a Walleye population. Twenty-five two-year-old Walleyes were captured in gill net sets. Those young walleyes were growing fast, averaging 12.9 inches at capture. Restorative stockings in 2014 also included 455 juvenile Yellow Perch. A promising fishery may develop as this population matures. Yellow Perch catches were comprised of three age classes, age-1 through age-3, which indicated that a reproducing population was established. Gill net catches were high at 54.3 fish/net. Perch are also growing rapidly in a post-winterkill environment. The older, age-3 captures averaged 10.3 inches. This population is likely to attract the attention of anglers once cohorts of the strong 2014 year class recruit into the fishery.

Sustained development of this promising fishery will continue to hinge on frequency and severity of winterkill events. Occasional winterkills and prompt re-introduction of predators may be beneficial in limited expansion of Black Bullhead and Common Carp populations. Survey catches of both fishes was greatly reduced in 2016.

The next standard survey is tentatively planned for summer 2026. Targeted assessments may occur upon suspicion or documentation of winterkill events to assess severity of such fish mortality events.

What is the average air temp for Gilbert Lake?

Are there any state parks near Gilbert Lake?