West Jefferson Lake

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We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of West Jefferson Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

West Jefferson Lake

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What aquatic invasive species are found in West Jefferson Lake?

West Jefferson Lake is a 441 acre lake in Le Sueur County located northwest of Elysian. West Jefferson Lake is the smallest of the Jefferson lakes chain and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. A DNR owned public access is located on the northeast corner of the lake off Le Sueur County Road 15. West Jefferson Lake is managed to provide a bluegill and crappie fishery with secondary opportunities for northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleye. West Jefferson Lake was surveyed the week of August 5th, 2013 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. The 2013 survey consisted of deploying trap and gill nets to monitor the fish community.

Fish species such as bluegill, black crappie, and black bullhead were most abundant in the net catches. Bluegills had the highest abundance; they were captured in gill nets at a rate of 3.3 fish/net, and sampled in trap nets at a rate of 27.6 fish/net, which is average for a lake of this type. Bluegill lengths ranged from 2.5 to 8.9 inches, with a mean length of 5.2 inches. Black crappie were second-most abundant in the survey, they were caught at a rate of 13.1 fish/trap net and 6.6 fish/gill net (average abundances compared to similar lakes in Minnesota). Black bullheads were sampled at 14.3 fish/gill net, this is considerably less than gill net abundances observed in 2008 (104 fish/gill net) and in 2002 (149 fish/gill net). Black bullhead lengths averaged around 10.5 inches in total length, which is generally considered acceptable to most anglers.

Northern pike abundance increased from 2008 to 2013 with gill net catch rates of 1.5 fish/gill net and 6.0 fish/gill net, respectively. Northern pike abundances were relatively high compared to similar lakes in Minnesota. Total lengths of northern pike captured during 2013 ranged from 17.5 to 29.1 inches. Northern pike fry are stocked annually to sustain the population. Most of the northern pike sampled from this survey were apparently from the 2010 and 2011 stocked year classes, when 29,211 and 22,572 fry were stocked, respectively.

Only four largemouth bass were captured in nets during the 2013 survey. However, largemouth bass typically are not effectively sampled by nets; thus, these numbers may not reflect true abundance. The Jefferson chain remains a popular largemouth bass destination and location of bass angling tournaments which indicates that the lake supports a fishable bass population. The largemouth bass captured in nets during the 2013 survey ranged in length from 8.1 to 20.3 inches. Spring electrofishing should be conducted to properly assess the largemouth bass population in the Jefferson Lake chain.

Only two walleye were sampled in this survey; one 18.0 inches in total length and the other 26.0. A walleye maintenance stocking program has been in place at West Jefferson Lake to sustain the population. Walleye fry are stocked three of every four years. Common carp were sampled at a rate (3.67 fish/gill net) above average for this lake type. Yellow perch catch rates illustrated below-average abundances for this type of lake. Other fish surveyed include bigmouth buffalo, bowfin (dogfish), freshwater drum (sheephead), golden shiner, white sucker, pumpkinseed, and yellow bullhead.

Anglers can help maintain or improve the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for table fare, but encourages release of medium to large-sized fish. Releasing these fish can help maintain balance in the fish community in West Jefferson Lake and provide anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future.

Shoreline areas on the land and into the shallow water provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines cannot support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural, undeveloped lakes. Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants, and natural lake bottom soils. Plants in the water and at the water's edge provide habitat, prevent erosion, and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.

-Prepared by: Matt Mork, Fisheries Specialist.

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