Scotch Lake

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Scotch Lake

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Scotch Lake is a 565 acre lake located in Le Sueur County near the city of Cleveland. A public access is located on the northwest side of the lake, just off 271st Avenue. Scotch Lake is a eutrophic, shallow basin with a maximum depth of 11 feet.

Scotch Lake was surveyed the week of July 22, 2013 as part of a regular monitoring program. This survey consisted of deploying trap and gill nets to monitor the fish community. Black bullheads and common carp were the most abundant fish species in the nets. A total of 1,789.0 black bullhead were collected. Black bullhead ranged in length from 4.0 to 9.0 inches, with an average length of 5.0 inches. Black bullheads thrive in shallow lakes with high productivity, so their high abundance in Scotch Lake is expected. Similarly, common carp abundance was high in 2013. Common carp became re-established in recent years and have since increased in population. Throughout the 2013 survey, 438.0 carp were collected in the nets compared to a total of 47.0 carp in 2009.

Black crappie, bluegill, and yellow perch were captured in low numbers during 2013. Although black crappie abundance has increased since the last survey, the overall population status remained low in 2013. A total of 57.0 black crappies were collected in the 2013 assessment, compared to 8.0 fish in 2009. The length of black crappies averaged 8.0 inches, ranging from 7.0 to 10.5 inches. Bluegill abundance in Scotch Lake continues to be low, with only 4.0 fish collected throughout the survey and averaging 5.6 inches in total length. Yellow perch abundance has decreased in recent years, from 12.0 fish per gill net in 2009 to 0.0 fish in 2013. Yellow perch adults were stocked in Scotch Lake in 2004.

Northern pike and walleye were the primary predator fish species observed during the 2013 survey. Northern pike fry were stocked in Scotch Lake in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012. The 2013 survey yielded 14.0 northern pike total, all of which were collected in trap nets. Although low in abundance, the sizes of northern pike in Scotch Lake during 2013 were large ranging from 23.0 to 33.0 inches, with an average total length of 30.0 inches. Although walleye abundance has remained relatively stable over the last decade, catch rates decreased in 2013. From 2003-2009, gill nets averaged over 24.0 walleye/net. However, the 2013 average was only 4.0 walleye/gill net. The length of walleye ranged from 13.0 to 28.0 inches and averaged over 18.0 inches. The average weight of walleye from gill nets was 2.6 pounds, which was above average for similar lakes in the area. A walleye maintenance stocking program has been in place at Scotch Lake for years to sustain the population. The most recent walleye fry stockings were in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2013.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Prepared by: Kip Rounds, Fisheries Specialist

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