Ella Lake

How big is Ella Lake?

How deep is Ella Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Ella Lake?

What are the closest cities to Ella Lake?

Are there boat launches on Ella Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Ella Lake?

A standard survey of Lake Ella was conducted during mid-June of 2016. Ella is a small (153 acres), shallow (12 feet maximum depth), and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Several springs are located along the north shore. Ella is not aerated. Partial winterkills have occurred in Ella, but are generally rare. Conditions were conducive for a potential winterkill with an uncharacteristically long and cold winter with high amounts of snowfall in 2014. Low numbers of dead fish (Common Carp, Walleye, Yellow Perch and Black Crappie) were observed after ice out, but gamefish species were abundant in spring ice out trapnets during 2014. Moderate nutrient runoff inflows are common into Ella during rain events from agricultural sources via the shoreline areas, tiles, and ditches. The outlet connects to Lake Elizabeth during moderate to high water levels. Fish movement between the two lakes is possible via the outlet channel during high flows. There were moderate levels of total phosphorus (0.030 ppm) and chlorophyll-a (8.9 ppb) in Ella during 2016. Dissolved oxygen readings were constant at each foot depth (about 7 ppm) during 2016 survey. The water clarity was fair (secchi disc=4.2 feet) during the 2016 survey. High densities of submergent vegetation (curly-leaf pondweed) were present during the spring and summer of 2002, however densities were low during 2006 and 2011. Densities of curly-leaf pondweed were also low in 2016 with the only high density area being in Southeast bay near public access. Low densities of other submergent vegetation species present included sago pondweed, water celery, bushy pondweed and coontail. Broad-leaved and narrow leaf cattails were common aquatic emergents around the south and east shoreline areas. Shoalwater substrates were mostly sand, marl, silt, and boulder. Residential development is limited to several farm sites.

Yellow Perch abundance in 2016 (8.00 fish/gillnet) was within the normal ranges for Ella and similar lakes. The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 11.17 fish/gillnet. The Yellow Perch average size was moderate (0.17 pounds and 7.1 inches) from the gillnet catch in 2016. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.17 pounds for Ella. The Yellow Perch catch rate of 8.0 inches and larger was low (1.00 fish/gillnet) in the 2016 survey. Majority (82%) of Yellow Perch sampled were of ages 2-3. Growth rates were within the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-4.

Northern Pike abundance was low in 2016 (2.00 fish/gillnet) and below the normal range for Ella, but near the low end of the normal range for similar lakes. The Northern Pike historical average catch rate is 5.24 fish/gillnet. The Northern Pike average size (4.16 pounds and 27.0 inches) was above the historical average (2.87 pounds and 23.78 inches) from the gillnet catch. The Northern Pike catch rate of 21.0 inches and larger was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) in 2016. Northern pike growth rates were above Spicer Area growth normal ranges for age 1 and within the normal ranges for ages 2-5. The 2013 year class comprised 50% of the 2016 Northern Pike survey catch.

Bluegill abundance was low in 2016 (2.17 fish/trapnet) and well below normal range for Ella, but near the low end of the normal range for similar lakes. The Bluegill historical average catch rate is 22.83 fish/trapnet. Moderate numbers of Bluegill (15.67 fish/trapnet, 4.9 inches average length) were captured in the previous 2011 resurvey. The 2016 Bluegill average size was small (0.12 pounds and 4.9 inches) from trapnets. The Bluegill historical average weight is 0.17 pounds from trapnets. There were only 2 year classes sampled with the majority (69%) being yearlings and others of age 4. Growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-4.

Black Crappie abundance was high in 2016 (19.00 fish/gillnet, 37.83 fish/trapnet) and well above the normal ranges for Ella and similar lakes. The 2016 Black Crappie average size was small from both gillnet (0.17 pounds and 6.8 inches) and trapnet catches (0.19 pounds and 7.1 inches). The Black Crappie historical average weights are 0.14 and 0.21 pounds respectively from gillnets and trapnets. The Black Crappie catch rate of 8.0 inches and 10.0 inches and larger was moderate with 2.67 fish/trapnet and 1.33 fish/trapnet respectively in 2016. Several Black Crappie year classes were sampled in 2016 with majority (90%) being age 2. Growth rates above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-4.

White Crappie were not sampled in 2016. The White Crappie historical average catch rate is 2.02 fish/trapnet. The White Crappie historical average weight is 0.68 pounds and length 10.8 inches from trapnets in Ella.

Largemouth Bass abundance was low (0.17 fish/trapnet) in 2016. Abundant numbers of young of year "YOY" and yearling Largemouth Bass were captured by near shore electrofishing and seining gears during late July of 2011. A spring electrofishing survey was not conducted on Ella during 2016.

Walleye abundance was high in 2016 (12.00 fish/gillnet) for Ella, but within the normal range for similar lakes. The Walleye historical average catch rate is 7.33 fish/gillnet. The 2016 Walleye trapnet catch rate (0.50 fish/trapnet, 1.58 pounds average weight) was below the historical average (1.67 fish/trapnet). The 2016 Walleye average size was moderate to large (1.73 pounds and 17.1 inches) from gillnet catch. The Walleye historical average weight is 2.03 pounds from gillnets. The Walleye catch rate of 15.0 inches and larger Walleye was high (9.00 fish/gillnet) in 2016. Walleye growth rates were generally above the Spicer Area normal ranges. The 2013 year class comprised the majority (73%) of the 2016 Walleye catch. The 2014 year class (27%) may be from natural reproduction or Walleye movement into Ella from Elizabeth since there was no stocking done in 2014.

Walleye natural reproduction in Ella is generally insignificant or rare based on previous fall and summer surveys. Prior to 2008, Walleye fry had been stocked in Ella every odd year from 1983-2007. Walleye fry stockings were generally successful during the 1990's as documented by fall electrofishing and summer surveys, but generally unsuccessful from 2003 to 2007. Walleye frylings (approximately 1 inch average length, 1,500 fish/pound) became available from the New London Hatchery in 2008. Ella was stocked with 5,975 Walleye fingerlings (about 4 inch average size) in 2013. Walleye fry stocking occurred with 152,385 fish in 2015. YOY Walleye catch rates were fair in 2015 (42.0 YOY/hour, 6.1 inches length) for fall electrofishing surveys, but better than fall electrofishing surveys during previous fry stocking years. Nearby Lake Elizabeth, which is connected on high water, had a slightly lower catch rate (30.0 YOY/hour, 5.5 inches), but no Walleye fry were stocked in Elizabeth during 2015. There were no yearlings captured in Ella during 2015 fall electrofishing survey.

Black Bullhead abundance was high in 2016 (68.00 fish/gillnet), but within the normal range for similar lakes. The Black Bullhead historical average catch rate is 31.45 fish/gillnet. Black Bullhead catch rate (29.17 fish/trapnet) was moderate in the 2016 trapnets. The 2016 Black Bullhead average size was large (0.61 pounds and 9.9 inches) from the gillnet catch. The Black Bullhead historical average weight is 0.46 pounds from gillnets.

Common Carp abundance was low in 2016 (1.00 fish/trapnet) and below the normal ranges for Ella and similar lakes. The Common Carp historical average catch rate is 1.67 fish/trapnet. The 2016 Common Carp average size was large (6.71 pounds and 23.8 inches) from trapnets. The historical average weight is 5.81 pounds from trapnets.

Current fish management activities on Ella include monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, encouraging land owners to implement best management practices in the watershed, and stocking Walleye fry or frylings every other year. The Ella fishery will be surveyed in the 2021 summer for all fish species. Fall electrofishing surveys will be conducted during Walleye fry or fryling stocked years to assess the success or failure of these stockings.

What is the average air temp for Ella Lake?

Are there any state parks near Ella Lake?