Lake Latoka

How big is Lake Latoka?

How deep is Lake Latoka?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Latoka?

Are there boat launches on Lake Latoka?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Latoka?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Lake Latoka?

Lake Latoka is a 767-acre lake located about two miles west of the City of Alexandria. The basin has a maximum depth of 108.0 feet and average depth of 42.0 feet. The lake has exceptional water quality. Summer water transparency measurements within the northern portion of the lake average 13.3 feet. Total productivity from a fisheries management perspective is moderate due to the lake's limited fertility and littoral area. Only 35% of the surface area of Lake Latoka is less than 15.0 feet in depth. This shallow area with sunlight penetration and active aquatic plant growth is considered the most productive area of lakes. Even with modest carrying capacity, Lake Latoka supports a diverse fish community and good fishing opportunities.

A standardized fish community survey was completed on July 23, 2015. Fish sampling gear included trap nets and gill nets. The netting portion of the survey was augmented with a night electrofishing survey on June 8, 2015, to better estimate abundance and size distribution of the Largemouth Bass population.

Electrofishing catches of Largemouth Bass were lower than that of prior surveys. Age distribution of captures extended to age 10, but annual recruitment of young bass into the population appeared limited since 2005. Bass captures ranged from 9.7 to 18.8 inches and averaged 15.4 inches. One Smallmouth Bass was captured during the electrofishing survey. This was the first recorded catch of this gamefish. Another 19 Smallmouth Bass were captured in nets. Four age classes were documented in this limited catch, which indicated Lake Latoka now supports a self-sustaining Smallmouth Bass population.

Northern Pike are excessively abundant. Gill net catches averaged 18.5-pike/net. Due to the high population density, growth is slow. Average size of captures was 18.8 inches. The largest Northern Pike recorded in the 2015 survey measured 32.5 inches.

Large Walleye fingerlings and yearlings are stocked to sustain this popular fishery. A gill net catch rate of 6.5-fish/net describes a moderate population density. Walleyes grow well in Lake Latoka and age distribution of gill net captures extended to age 18, so the lake can offer good opportunities to catch large Walleyes. Captures of 25.0-inch and larger Walleyes have been common among all surveys.

Sunfishes are abundant in Lake Latoka, particularly Bluegills and Pumpkinseed Sunfish. A relatively high proportion of Bluegill captures were four-years-old or younger, thus average size of Bluegill captures was 5.6 inches. Due to their excessive abundance, Bluegill growth is too slow to optimize fishing quality potential. Few 8.0-inch Bluegills have been captured among surveys. Rock Bass catches during the 2015 survey were also elevated. Gill net captures averaged 8.6 inches in length. Many Rock Bass captures exceeded 10.0 inches in length. Black Crappies are less abundant than other sunfishes, but the population can offer good fishing. Crappie recruitment was good in 2010. Those five-year-old crappies captured during the 2015 survey averaged 11.1 inches in length.

Lake Latoka has the depth and water quality to sustain a Cisco population. Cisco, commonly called tullibees, is a coldwater fish intolerant of water temperatures exceeding 70 degrees F. Lake Latoka becomes thermally stratified during summer months. The thermocline was detected below 30.0 feet at time of the 2015 survey. There proved to be sufficient dissolved oxygen and cooler water temperatures at this depth during the summer to provide suitable habitat for the Cisco population. Ciscos are considered high fat, high value prey for Northern Pike and Walleyes. They also grow large enough to add to the lake's overall fishery. The largest Cisco captured measured 18.3 inches.

Anglers are strongly encouraged to harvest the surplus of small Northern Pike (< 21.0 inches) to reduce pike density, release some excessive predatory pressure off the Yellow Perch population, and increase survival of stocked Walleyes. Releasing medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish and should provide anglers with opportunities to catch more large fish in the future.

Lake Latoka is designated as an infested waterbody due to the presence of zebra mussels, which were first confirmed in 2014. Regulations restricting bait harvest and transport of water apply to this basin. For more information regarding aquatic invasive species in Minnesota see the following: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquatic/index.html

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Are there any state parks near Lake Latoka?