Prairie Lake

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What kind of fish can you catch in Prairie Lake?

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Prairie Lake is located about four miles north of Grand Rapids, MN and within the Mississippi River Watershed. The 1,064 acre lake is about 80% littoral (853 acres) with 18 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 31 feet. There are two accesses, one on the northwest shore and the other on the south end (Lower Prairie). Prairie River passes through the lake and a small hydro-electric dam at the outlet acts as a fish barrier while upstream facilitates fish migration. Most of the shoreline is privately owned and relatively developed. Past management included stocking walleye fingerling at a rate of 0.5 pound per littoral acre (426 pounds) during two consecutive years out of four in an attempt to achieve the management goal of 3.0/net.

Walleye were sampled at a historically low rate of 0.6/gill net, below what was expected for lakes similar to Prairie. Past catches have typically been within the expected range. The continued evaluation of the walleye stocking regime suggests fingerling stocking has been unsuccessful at achieving management goals. Lengths from the nine sampled fish ranged from 7.9 to 26.1 inches with an average length of 17.1 inches. No meaningful conclusions of size structure can be drawn from such a small sample size. Age analysis identified four ages of fish with fish up to age-15 present. Most of the fish sampled (55%) were age-4 while 78% of the sample corresponds to a stocked year class. However, other stocked year classes were not present in the sample. The low number of year classes present combined with the low catch rate suggests limited stocking success which is similar to past assessments.

Northern pike were sampled at a rate of 4.5/gill net near the expected range and similar to the historically high catch from the previous assessment (5.1/net). Catches have been traditionally at the low end of the expected range. Lengths ranged from 12.4-31.3 inches with an average length of 21.8 inches. Size structure was moderate with 25% of the sample exceeding 24 inches. Black spot (Neascus) was observed on 36% of the 55 examined northern pike.

Black crappie were the most numerous species observed in gill nets at a rate higher than expected while the trap net sample was within the expected range. Both catches were similar to previous assessments. Lengths from the gill net sample ranged from 4.1-10.0 inches with an average length of 6.5 inches and lengths from the trap net sample ranged from 3.6-8.5 inches with an average length of 6.0 inches. Size structure was poor in the trap net sample, while the gill net sample was only slightly better. Scale analysis identified ages 1-7 present in the sample indicating relatively consistent recruitment. Growth was determined to be below the statewide average by age 2. Crappie typically exceed eight inches by age 5, but are only 7.2 inches by age 5 in Prairie Lake.

Bluegill were sampled in gill nets and sampled in trap nets at a rate within the expected range. Catches have historically been variable. Lengths from the trap net sample ranged from 3.2-8.0 inches with an average length of 5.2 inches, while the gill net lengths ranged from 3.6-8.5 inches with an average length of 5.6 inches. Size structure was poor in the trap net sample, while the gill net sample was only slightly better. Scale analysis identified ages 2-8 present in the sample indicating relatively consistent recruitment, however year class strength was variable. Ages 2, 5, and 6 comprised 71% of the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age determined growth was similar to the Ecological Lake Class 35 average. Bluegill typically exceeded six inches by age 7.

Yellow perch were sampled at a historically low rate of 2.4/gill net, below the lake class expected range. Past catches have typically been variable but within the expected range. Lengths ranged from 5.3-8.7 with an average length of 6.2 inches. Size structure was poor and not likely to interest most anglers. External examination identified black spot on 97% of the 32 examined perch and yellow grub was also identified in two fish.

Gill netting sampled one smallmouth bass, 17.3 inches. Trap netting sampled three largemouth bass, two about 5 inches and one 16.7 inches. Past netting has sampled largemouth and smallmouth bass at relatively low numbers. Both populations are believed to be relatively small and naturally occurring.

Other species sampled included bowfin, brown bullhead, golden redhorse, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.

As part of IBI (Index of Biotic Integrity) near shore sampling, Iowa darter, blackchin shiner, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, and yellow perch were sampled in seven seine hauls. Backpack electrofishing sampled black crappie, bluegill, burbot, central mudminnow, largemouth bass, mottled sculpin, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, tadpole madtom, and yellow perch in 11 stations.

Experimental daytime electrofishing was conducted as a comparison/compliment for near shore IBI sampling. The special sampling was conducted with a Smith-Root GPP 5.0 electrofishing boat equipped with a spider array anode using pulsed DC current operating at 4amps and 200 volts. Sampling occurred on 8/14/2012 with a water conductivity of 150 S/cm and surface temperature of 75 degrees F. Visibility was variable between stations. All ages and species of fish were targeted and sampled species included Iowa darter, blackchin shiner, bluegill, brown bullhead, golden redhorse, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow perch. Bluegill, yellow perch and young-of-the-year largemouth bass were the most numerous species sampled.

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