Today's Best Fishing Times
Get the best fishing times for Round Lake with Lake-Link's Fishing Forecast. SEE MORE
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Round Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Round Lake, MN
- How big is Round Lake?
- How deep is Round Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Round Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Round Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Round Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Round Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Round Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Round Lake?
- What are the fishing regulations for Round Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Round Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Round Lake?
How big is Round Lake?
How deep is Round Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Round Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Blacknose Shiner, Cisco (Tullibee), Common Shiner, Golden Redhorse, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Lake Whitefish, Shorthead Redhorse, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom, Trout-Perch and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Round Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Round Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Lake-Link Featured Lodging
Are there topographical lake maps available Round Lake?
Are there boat launches on Round Lake?
Round Lake area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Round Lake?
What are the fishing regulations for Round Lake?
Explore the Round Lake area in a RV
Are you looking for an adventurous vacation option that won't break the bank? Look no further than renting an RV! Contrary to popular belief, the process is much simpler than you might imagine. With just a few easy steps, you'll soon be experiencing the ultimate freedom and convenience of exploring the open road in your very own recreational vehicle. And the best part? RV travel can save you up to 60% compared to other types of vacations! With the money you'll save, you'll be able to travel even more and create unforgettable memories along the way. So why wait? Start planning your next adventure today with an RV rental. Learn more about renting a RV.
History & Status of the Fishery
Round Lake is a class 27 lake located on the west side of Squaw Lake, MN. The lake has two public accesses and moderate shoreline development. The 2007 lake management plan indicates walleye and northern pike as the primary species of management with yellow perch as secondary species. A special walleye regulation was implemented in the spring of 2005 and a special northern pike regulation was implemented in the spring of 2007. The walleye slot length limit required all fish between 17 and 26 inches to be released and only one fish over 26 inches could be in possession. The northern pike slot length limit required all fish between 22 to 36 inches to be released and only one northern pike over 36 inches could be possessed. The northern pike regulation also included an expanded nine fish bag limit.
Walleye catch rates have fluctuated from 3.3 to 11.2 since 1954. The catch rates in five of the last seven assessments ranged from 5.3 to 5.7 fish/gill net. In 2013, the walleye gill-net catch of 5.3 fish/net was near the lake class median of 5.5 fish/net but short of the management goal of 8.0 fish/net. The sampled walleye ranged from 7.4 to 26.5 inches and averaged 18.9 inches. Fourteen age-classes were identified from scale, opercle, and otolith analysis with fish from 1 to 17 years old. Four year-classes represented from 13 to 20% of the sample, indicating fairly consistent recruitment. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages up to 10 years old. Walleye averaged 16.3 inches after four years of growth.
In the 1996, 2001 and 2006 assessments, at least 65% of the walleye aged were from years in which no stocking occurred. Since some natural production likely occurred in years with stocking, the natural contribution to the population would be higher than the observed 65%. Further evidence of excellent natural reproduction was observed in the last two assessments when 98 and 89% of the aged fish corresponded to years with no stocking. It would appear the connecting river systems on Round Lake play a critical role in the natural recruitment of walleye since the in-lake habitat seems to be marginal.
Northern pike gill-net catch rates from 1954 to 1986 were near the upper end of the normal range but from 1989 to 2006 the catches were higher, ranging from 13.1 to 18.2 fish/net. The gill-net catch declined in 2009 (4.9 fish/net) to the lowest ever recorded. It is unclear what lead to the decline, but by 2013, the catch had increased to a record high (22.1 fish/net). The sampled fish ranged from 13.9 to 36.4 inches and averaged 22.3 inches. Eleven year-classes were identified from cliethra and scales ranging from age 2 to age 12. Five age classes represented from 14 to 23% of the sample. Northern pike averaged 22.5 inches after four years of growth which was above the statewide average of 20.5.
Yellow perch gill-net catch rates have fluctuated from a low of 15.6 fish/net in 2009 to a high of 102.7 fish/net in 1983. In 2013, the catch of 28.6 exceeded the lake class median of18.2 fish/gill net. The sampled fish ranged from 4.2 to 13.3 inches and averaged 8.1 inches. Although the yellow perch population is healthy in terms of numbers and size, the frequency of the parasite yellow grub may hinder some anglers from targeting them. Age and growth information was not collected in this assessment.
Tullibee is a species that can be difficult to sample but they are important to fish communities as a prey source. In 2006, the gill-net catch rate of 2.7 fish/net was the highest on record for Round Lake and exceeded the median for class 27 lakes. In contrast, only one tullibee was sampled in 2009 and none in 2013. Generally because sampling tullibee can be challenging, it is difficult to know whether the decline reflects a real change in the population. However, two years of such low catches does not bode well for the population.
Other species observed during the assessment included black bullhead, black crappie, bowfin, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.
In order to maintain or improve fish and wildlife populations, water quality and habitat must be protected. People often associate water quality problems with large-scale agricultural, forestry, urban development or industrial practices in the watershed. In reality, the impact of land use decisions on one lake lot may be relatively small, yet the cumulative impact of those decisions on many lake lots can result in a significant decline in water quality and habitat. For example, removing shoreline and aquatic vegetation, fertilizing lawns, mowing to the water's edge, installing beach sand blankets, failing septic systems and uncontrolled run-off, all contribute excess nutrients and sediment which degrade water quality and habitat. Understanding these cumulative impacts and taking steps to avoid or minimize them will help to insure our quality fisheries can be enjoyed by future generations.
What is the average air temp for Round Lake?
Are there any state parks near Round Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Round Lake Reviews
Below is the word on street about Round Lake.Have you been to Round Lake? Why not share your personal reveiw with others?
Submit Review
eddie r.
jim h.
brian s.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Round Lake...DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
Lake Alice | 1.5 mi | 41 | 65 ft |
Virgin Lake | 1.5 mi | 61 | 22 ft |
Middle Pigeon Lake | 2.7 mi | 182 | 25 ft |
Natures Lake | 3.4 mi | 2,249 | 6 ft |
Lost Lake | 3.5 mi | 26 | 15 ft |
Dunbar Lake | 3.8 mi | 268 | 30 ft |
Mosomo Lake | 4.4 mi | 48 | 30 ft |
Wilderness Lake | 4.4 mi | 22 | 25 ft |
Sioux Lake | 4.8 mi | 71 | 34 ft |
Greeley Lake | 5.0 mi | 23 | 43 ft |