Pocket Lake

How big is Pocket Lake?

How deep is Pocket Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Pocket Lake?

What are the closest cities to Pocket Lake?

Are there boat launches on Pocket Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Pocket Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Pocket Lake?

Pocket Lake is a 275-acre lake located approximately 10 miles southwest of Alexandria. The basin has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of approximately 15 feet. The lake exists in a eutrophic state in response to excessive nutrient delivery from the watershed and internal nutrient cycling during summer months. Water transparency measures during summer months from 2008 to 2016 have averaged 5.7 feet. Occasional nuisance algal blooms can occur. Due to depth and fertility, the lake becomes thermally stratified during the summer. While thermally stratified, dissolved oxygen concentrations may be too low to support fish life below the thermocline. The thermocline occurred at approximately 17.0 feet during the July 2016 standardized fisheries survey. Much of the lake's submergent vegetation occurs in the shallow, northern end of the lake. Habitat conditions can be seasonally harsh for cool water gamefishes and sight-feeding predators. Even with such challenges, Pocket Lake can offer good fishing opportunities and quieter fishing experiences than other lakes near Alexandria.

The most recent fisheries survey was completed in 2016. Survey methodology included spring electrofishing on May 24 to assess Largemouth Bass population abundance and size structure. Gill and trap nets were set from July 5-7 to best capture and estimate abundance, age structure, growth, and size distribution of other gamefishes.

Similar to preceding survey results, Black Crappies proved to be very abundant. Size of captures extended to 10.9 inches. Most crappie captures were two- or three-year-old fish, thus average size of captures in trap nets was only 5.8 inches. These population attributes were very similar to that of Bluegill Sunfish. Trap net catches of Bluegills were elevated. Age distribution of captures extended to age 8, but most of the total catch was comprised of two- and three-year-old individuals. Rate of growth of Bluegills is a little too slow to optimize fishing potential. Older captures were just reaching 8.0 inches in length at age 7. With a maximum age of eight-years-old, the relative proportion of 8.0-inch and larger Bluegill captures during this and past surveys has been limited. The largest Bluegill measured during the 2016 survey was 8.6 inches in total length. Yellow Perch were moderately abundant, but captures were too small to contribute to the panfishery. Average length of perch caught in gill nets was 6.4 inches.

Walleyes are stocked to sustain this popular fishing opportunity. Twenty-two Walleyes were captured in gill nets, which yielded a modest catch rate of 3.7 fish/net. Sizes at capture ranged from 11.1 to 22.9 inches and averaged 16.4 inches. Northern Pike are more abundant, but in absence of cisco and a coolwater refuge during summer months, growth potential is diminished. Pike catches ranged from 10.3 to 30.3 inches in length. Average length was 21.9 inches. Largemouth Bass catches during the spring electrofishing survey were lower than anticipated based on past survey results. Annual recruitment of young bass into the population appeared to be limited from 2009 through 2012. Most bass captures were young fish determined to be two- or three-years-old or older individuals either eight- or nine-years-old. Average length at capture was 9.6 inches. The largest bass captured by electrofishing measured 16.5 inches.

Catch statistics generated from the 2016 survey would tend to describe only fair fishing because of the high proportion of young sunfishes (Largemouth Bass, Bluegills, and Black Crappies) in the total catch. Fishing experiences might best be described as high catch rates, but a small average size. Fish quality expressed in terms of average size of captures should improve markedly as those young fish grow to preferred sizes. Anglers are encouraged to target the surplus of 22.0-inch and smaller Northern Pike and practice catch and release of larger, older predators to maintain or enhance predator-prey balance and fish quality.

A DNR public access is located on the far south end of the lake. Zebra mussels were found in Pocket Lake in 2016. Anglers and recreational boaters are urged to thoroughly clean and disinfect watercraft after use and avoid transporting water and invasive species to other non-infested basins.

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Are there any state parks near Pocket Lake?