Albert Lea Lake

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Albert Lea Lake is a 2,654 acre lake located in Freeborn County near the city of Albert Lea. A city-maintained public access is located in town on the northwest corner of the lake. A DNR-maintained public accesses is located on the south side of the lake at Saint Nicholas Landing along County Road 19. Another public access is located within Myre Big Island State Park. Albert Lea Lake is a large, shallow lake with a maximum depth of 5.5 feet and an average depth of only 3.5 feet. Albert Lea Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch and Black Crappie. Walleye fry are stocked every other year at a rate of 1,000 fry per acre (about 2.6 million fry). The shallow, fertile waters of Albert Lea Lake are subject to periodic winterkill events. The most recent partial winterkill took place during the winter of 2013-14. After such events, Walleye fry and Yellow Perch adults are stocked during the following spring. Situations like this are managed as "boom and bust" fisheries, since fish survival is typically high due to reduced predators in the system and fish grow relatively fast after a winterkill due to reduced competition for resources. The "boom" years are typically 2-3 years post-winterkill, while the "bust" years are 0-1 year post-winterkill. Recent stocking events in Albert Lea include Walleye fry stocking in 2015, 2014 (following partial winterkill), 2013, 2011, and 2009. About 3,675 Yellow Perch adults were also stocked in 2014 after the partial winterkill. Albert Lea Lake was surveyed the week of June 22, 2015 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This survey was intended to assess the fish community by deploying six gill nets and twelve trap nets throughout the lake, as well as recording water quality parameters.

Walleye
The Walleye gill net catch rate in the 2015 survey was 12.0 fish/net, which was less than the long-term average of 34.3 fish/net. This long-term average is highly influenced by the 2006 gill net catch rate (60.5 Walleye/net) which resulted from a very strong 2004 year class following a significant winterkill. Also, the 2015 catch rate may not accurately represent the 2014 year class, as many age-1 Walleye may not have recruited to gill nets yet. Walleye abundance in Albert Lea Lake has remained highly variable throughout the past decade, ranging from 12.0 to 60.0 fish/gill net since 2005. This is largely due to periodic winterkills and the successful year classes that follow. The 2015 survey produced two main year classes of Walleye; age-1 (stocked in 2014) and age-2 (stocked in 2013). The average length of age-1 Walleye was 9.8 inches, while the average length of age-2 Walleye was 14.9 inches. Two age-4 individuals were sampled in the survey and averaged about 17.3 inches. The overall average length of all Walleyes sampled throughout this survey was 12.1 inches with less than 15% measuring 16.0 inches or longer. This relatively small size structure was indicative of a lake that was two years removed from a partial winterkill. The Walleye size structure should continue to improve throughout the next couple of years.

Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch was the most abundant fish species observed in the 2015 survey, averaging 173.0 fish/gill net and 44.6 fish/trap net. This exceeded the long-term average for Yellow Perch gill net catch rates in Albert Lea Lake (148.7 fish/net) and was the highest gill net catch rate on record. Although catch rates were high, the Yellow Perch size structure was relatively small. Total lengths ranged from 5.2 to 9.7 inches and averaged 7.1 inches. Most fish (74%) measured less than 7.0 inches. The Yellow Perch population in Albert Lea Lake had a fast growth rate, which was likely influenced by the partial winterkill in 2014. Yellow Perch averaged 5.5 inches by age-1 and 7.9 inches by age-2. Only two age groups were sampled in the 2015 survey (age-1 and age-2), suggesting a young Yellow Perch population on the rebound after the recent partial winterkill. With a very high abundance of young, fast growing Yellow Perch in the lake, anglers should expect great perch fishing at Albert Lea Lake.

Black Crappie
The Black Crappie gill net catch rate in the 2015 survey was 14.5 fish/gill net, which was near the long-term average for Albert Lea Lake (16.0 fish/gill net). The trap net catch rate was 22.9 fish/trap net, which was below the average since 2005 (25.5 fish/trap net). Most of the fish were small, averaging just 4.8 inches and ranging from 3.2 to 8.7 inches. Most fish sampled in the 2015 survey were age-1 (91%), so overall size structure should improve as this year class moves through the system. Black Crappies are not stocked in Albert Lea Lake, so the population exists from natural reproduction.

Northern Pike
The Northern Pike population in Albert Lea Lake remained in low abundance. The 2015 gill net catch rate was 1.7 fish/gill net, which exceeded the long-term average for Albert Lea Lake (1.2 fish/gill net). Only six fish were sampled in trap nets in 2015 (0.5 fish/trap net). Despite the low abundance, the size of Northern Pike was moderate. The average length of Northern Pike from both gear types was 23.7 inches, ranging from 16.3 to 34.4 inches. Typical of southern Minnesota lakes, Northern Pike in Albert Lea Lake exhibited fast growth rates. Average length at capture was 16.8 inches at age-1, 19.0 inches at age-2, 24.4 inches at age-3, 29.7 inches at age-4, and 33.3 inches at age-5. Northern Pike are not stocked in Albert Lea Lake, so the population persists through natural reproduction or movement from connected Fountain Lake.

Bluegill
The Bluegill population in Albert Lea also remained in low abundance. The Bluegill trap net catch rate in 2015 was 5.3 fish/trap net, which was greater than the long-term average for Albert Lea Lake (4.1 fish/trap net). The Bluegill size structure was small, with about 94% of the trap net catch measuring less than 6.0 inches. About 71% of the Bluegills sampled in trap nets were age-1, indicating a young population. Average length at capture was 3.5 inches at age-1, 4.9 inches at age-2, and 6.0 inches at age-3. Since Albert Lea Lake is often windswept and lacks aquatic vegetation that Bluegill prefer, the Bluegill population in Albert Lea Lake will likely remain in low abundance.

Black Bullhead
The partial winterkill of 2014 apparently did not have a large impact on the Black Bullhead population, as catch rates increased since the 2010 survey in both gear types. The catch rates for the 2015 survey were 97.2 fish/gill net and 59.5 fish/trap net. Both catch rates are greater than the average for Albert Lea Lake since 2005 (89.0 fish/gill net and 53.6 fish/trap net). The average length of all Black Bullheads sampled in this survey was 7.2 inches, with the largest measuring 12.6 inches. Black Bullheads are tolerant of low oxygen levels, making them less susceptible to winterkill than game fish species.

Other Species
Channel Catfish were present in Albert Lea Lake, although in low abundance. The 2015 survey yielded a total of 5 Channel Catfish among all gear types. The average length of Channel Catfish was 23.0 inches, with the largest individual measuring 30.0 inches. Channel Catfish have been stocked in connected Fountain Lake, where they are in higher abundance. Common Carp were sampled at a rate of 19.7 fish/gill net, which was near the average for Albert Lea Lake since 2005 (18.8 fish/gill net). Seventy percent of Common Carp sampled from both gear types measured between 8 and 12 inches. Other fish species sampled throughout the survey included Bigmouth Buffalo (N = 12), White Sucker (N = 20), Goldfish (N = 13), Green Sunfish (N = 17), Golden Shiner (N = 39), Common Shiner (N = 18), Orangespotted Sunfish (N = 12), River Carpsucker (N = 2), and Tadpole Madtom (N = 2).

Angling Summary
Walleye anglers at Albert Lea Lake should expect good fishing as the lake rebounds from the partial winterkill of 2014. The Walleye population consisted of mostly young fish (age-1 and 2) that are already measuring up to 16.5 inches. Walleye stocking will continue every other year and immediately after winterkills. Yellow Perch fishing also appears to have great potential in the near future as the young population continues to grow fast after the partial winterkill.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Kip Rounds, Fisheries Specialist

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