Fall Lake

How big is Fall Lake?

How deep is Fall Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Fall Lake?

Are there boat launches on Fall Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Fall Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Fall Lake?

Fall Lake is a 2,173-acre lake located on northeast corner of the town of Winton. The northeast portion of Fall Lake is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Motorboats in this portion of the lake are limited to 25 horsepower and BWCAW permits are required. Public accesses on the lake are in Winton and at the US Forest Service Fall Lake Campground, which is a major entry point to Newton and Basswood Lake. On Fall Lake, anglers will have success catching walleye, northern pike, and black crappie. Bluegill and yellow perch are less abundant but of quality size.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different types based on physical and chemical characteristics. Fall Lake is in lake class 7. Other area lakes in the same class include Agnes (BWCAW), Bear Island, Bearhead, Birch (Babbit), and Shagawa. Compared to most class 7 lakes, Fall Lake is shallower and has lower water clarity because of the bog stained water from the Kawishiwi River. Fall Lake has a rocky shoreline. Water levels may change as much as 4 feet through the year due to weather trends and operation of the Minnesota Power hydroelectric dam upstream on the Kawishiwi River at Garden Lake.

In 2012, twelve gill nets were set in late August. Walleye abundance exceeded what you would typically find in a similar type of lake. The walleye population has been quite stable over many years and is supported entirely by natural reproduction. Walleye from the survey were 6 to 19 inches long and averaged 11 inches. Age 1 to 4 walleye made up 78% of the aged sample. One year old walleye were 47% of the survey sample indicating a strong year class. Walleye grow slowly in Fall Lake. It takes three years for a typical Fall Lake walleye to reach 11 inches.

The northern pike gill net catch was above average, both in the number of pike per net and in average size. In 2012, pike were 13 to 34 inches long with an average of 21 inches. This was the highest average length over the past five assessments dating back to 1995. Ages 1 to 6 were present in the sample. Pike growth was normal. Anglers are reminded that releasing medium and large size pike helps maintain a wide range of pike sizes in a population and ensures future opportunities to catch a large pike.

Bluegill and crappie are harder to find in Fall Lake, but often reach a large size based on trap nets set in late June. Yellow perch are also in low abundance but of a good size with many of them in 8 to 10 inch size range. Other species sampled were rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, and white sucker.

Rusty crayfish and clearwater crayfish are both non-native species present in Fall Lake. Since their first discovery in 1986, rusty crayfish have become quite abundant throughout the lake. The average of 30 entangled per gill net was lower than in the previous four surveys however. Their presence in Fall Lake and other area lakes was probably due to anglers releasing unused bait. It is illegal to release crayfish into the wild.

What is the average air temp for Fall Lake?

Are there any state parks near Fall Lake?