Trout Lake

How big is Trout Lake?

How deep is Trout Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Trout Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Trout Lake?

Trout Lake has been primarily managed for lake trout since 1975. Although periodic stockings were done in previous years, recently yearlings have been stocked on an every-other-year schedule. Because of the difficulty of ageing lake trout, all stocked yearlings, since 1993, were given a specific fin clip to differentiate between stocked age classes and natural reproduction. Beginning in 2005, as part of a strain evaluation project, both Gillis Lake and Mountain Lake strain lake trout were stocked at 2.5 fish/acre (4,383). Each strain was assigned a fin clip to distinguish between the strains and assign ages to individual fish. The goal of the project was to evaluate growth and survival of the paired stockings at age-4 across the state.

Deepwater gill nets sampled 14 lake trout at a rate lower than the previous assessment, yet similar to the historic low since deepwater gill net sets were used. Captured lake trout ranged in length from 7.5-31.1 inches. Nearly 80% of the sampled fish were less than 10 inches and identified as age-1 through fin clips. One yearling was identified as Mountain strain and ten were Gillis strain. All age-1 fish were from the 2007 spring stocking. Fin clip markings also identified one age-5 Gillis strain fish from the 2003 stocking. Two large fish lacking a fin clip were also sampled, signifying some recruitment through natural reproduction. Scale analysis suggests that both of these individuals were age-9. Caution should be exercised when reviewing back-calculated length-at-age data due to the difficulty of accurately reading lake trout scales. A small sample size may be inadequate to accurately determine growth. However, growth appears to be similar to a little faster then Bluewater Lake, which is attached to Trout Lake through a chain of lakes. Growth may also be biased because of the high number of yearling, hatchery reared fish in the sample.

Evaluating between the lake trout strains in Trout Lake is difficult due to no fish being sampled from the 2005 stocking (age-3). However, 91% of the stocked (2007) yearlings sampled were Gillis strain. Other lakes in the Grand Rapids area included in the project were Bluewater Lake and Caribou Lake. One age-3 fish was sampled in Bluewater, a 414mm Gillis strain lake trout. Five marked yearlings were also sampled in Bluewater, three Gillis strain and two Mountain strain. There was five age-3 fish sampled in Caribou, of which four were identified as Gillis strain and one Mountain strain. There was no yearling stocked lake trout sampled in Caribou. At this time, more Gillis strain lake trout have been sampled in the Grand Rapids area, but more time and a larger sample size is needed to draw any conclusions.

Tullibee were sampled at a rate of 15.9 fish/gill net. The 2007 catch rate was similar to the lake mean of 19.5 TLC/net since deepwater gill nets have been used. Tullibee catch rates tend to be variable due to their schooling, open water nature. Lengths ranged from 6.5-9.2 inches with a mean length of 7.5 inches. Larger size tullibee are not typically sampled in Trout Lake.

Catch rates for other species sampled in gill nets set deep, targeting lake trout, are not very useful as an indicator of species abundance. However, length and growth information provides some information on the status of the fishery. Black crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker and yellow perch were all sampled in the deepwater gill net sets in relatively low abundance. Despite the low sample size, northern pike and walleye were of a relatively larger size with an average length of 27.4 and 24.1 inches, respectively.

Trap nets sampled black crappie within the expected range with an average length of 6.3 inches. Bluegill and largemouth bass catch rates exceeded the expected range with average lengths of 5.4 and 8.0 inches, respectively. All three species were sampled at a rate above the previous assessment. Other species sampled in trap nets include green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, and yellow perch.

What is the average air temp for Trout Lake?

Are there any state parks near Trout Lake?