Lake Lillian

How big is Lake Lillian?

How deep is Lake Lillian?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Lillian?

What are the closest cities to Lake Lillian?

Are there boat launches on Lake Lillian?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Lillian?

A standard survey was conducted on Lake Lillian during late June of 2016. Lake Lillian is a large (1,151 acres), shallow (8 feet), turbid and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Lillian is a designated waterfowl feeding and resting area during the open waterfowl season. Motor propelled watercraft are prohibited except for trolling motors with battery power of 12 volts or less during the open waterfowl season. High nutrient runoff inflows are common into Lillian during rain events from agricultural sources via the shoreline areas, tiles, and ditches. The outlet of Big Kandiyohi flows via a large ditch into the west side of Lake Lillian. The Lake Lillian outlet flows into the South Fork of Crow River. Intense blue-green algae blooms are common in Lake Lillian during the summer months. Hardstem bulrush and cattails are abundant in Lillian. Other aquatic vegetation species present are limited mostly to sago pondweed, filamentous algae and water moss. The water clarity was excellent (secchi disc=7.4 feet) for Lillian on June 22, 2016. Partial winterkills have rarely occurred in Lillian (1996-97 winter) and resulted in only minor losses of gamefish numbers. However, a significant winterkill (primarily Common Carp and Walleye) occurred during January/February of 2014. We did catch low numbers of Common Carp, Walleye, White Sucker and Yellow Perch in ice out nets during the spring of 2014. Local anglers reported good success catching large Yellow Perch and small Walleye (12-14 inches) during January of 2017.

Northern Pike numbers were moderate in 2016 (2.50 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and the same as the historical average. The 2016 Northern Pike average size was small (2.36 pounds and 22.2 inches) from gillnets. The historical average weight is 2.95 pounds. Growth rates were excellent. The 2014 year class comprised 100% of the 2016 Northern Pike survey catch. Northern pike fingerlings (5,391 fish) were stocked into Lillian during early June of 2014.

Yellow Perch numbers were moderate in 2016 (16.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 26.93 fish/gillnet. The 2016 Yellow Perch average size was large (0.50 pounds and 10.1 inches) from gillnets and growth rates were excellent. There were abundant numbers of Yellow Perch 10.0 inches and greater (10.50 fish/gillnet) in the 2016 survey catch. Yellow Perch were fast growing following the 2014 winterkill. The 2013 and 2014 year classes comprised 67% and 30% respectively of the 2016 Yellow Perch survey catch. Yellow Perch exhibited greater low winter oxygen survival in Lillian during 2014 than other gamefish species.

Walleye numbers were moderately abundant in 2016 (9.00 fish/gillnet) compared the normal range for similar lakes and the historical average (6.50 fish/gillnet). The 2016 Walleye average size was small (0.43 pounds and 10.7 inches) from June gillnets. The 2014 year class comprised 93% of the 2016 Walleye survey catch. Walleye growth rates appeared good during the 2016 summer and fall based on the average size (12-14 inches) anglers were catching in 2017.

Walleye natural reproduction is generally insignificant in Lake Lillian. Fish movement can occur into Lake Lillian from Big Kandiyohi or the South Fork of Crow River. The Walleye population is maintained by fry stockings (0.8-1.6 million) with the most recent stockings occurring during 2008-2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015. Approximately 1 million Walleye fry were stocked in 2015. A fall night electrofishing survey was conducted for young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye on Lake Lillian during September 8, 2015. Abundant numbers of YOY Walleye (72.0 YOY/hour, 5.3 inches) were observed in the 2015 fall electrofishing survey. Abundant numbers of YOY Walleye (174.0 YOY/hour, 6.2 inches average) were also observed in the 2014 fall electrofishing survey. Yearling Walleye (2014 year class) were also abundant (28.0 fish/hour, 10.1 inches) in 2015. There were abundant YOY Walleye numbers documented in fall electrofishing surveys prior to 2014; however the majority of these year classes probably did not survive the January/February 2014 winterkill event.

Black Crappie and Bluegill numbers were low (<1.0 fish/trapnet) in 2016 as expected following a winterkill. The Black Crappie sampled was from the 2014 year class. All Bluegill sampled were from the 2015 year class.

Other fish species captured during 2016 included low numbers of Common Carp (1.00 fish/trapnet), Black Bullhead (2.42 fish/trapnet), Bigmouth Buffalo (0.17 fish/trapnet), Smallmouth Bass (1.00 fish/gillnet) and White Sucker (0.50 fish/gillnet). No Channel Catfish were captured in Lillian during 2016.

Current fish management activities on Lake Lillian 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 various fish species as warranted. All fish species will be sampled in 2021. Fall electrofishing surveys will be conducted during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.

What is the average air temp for Lake Lillian?