Lady Slipper Lake

How big is Lady Slipper Lake?

How deep is Lady Slipper Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lady Slipper Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Lady Slipper Lake?

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 Lady Slipper Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Lady SLipper Lake

Are there boat launches on Lady Slipper Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lady Slipper Lake?

Lady Slipper is a small (247 acres), shallow (11 feet maximum), aerated, and productive lake located in Lyon County. A resurvey of Lady Slipper was conducted during mid-June of 2012. Residential development is limited to two farm sites near the lake. A small wildlife management area public access is located on the east side of the east bay. Water clarity was poor on June 20, 2012 (1.2 feet). Nutrient levels were high during June of 2012 (0.143 ppm total phosphorus, 84.8 ppb chlorophyll-a). Blue-green algae blooms are often intense during the summer months. Lady Slipper receives high nutrient inputs from agricultural sources. There are several tile inlets that drain agricultural row crop fields into Lady Slipper. The outlet drains into a marsh that connects to nearby School Grove Lake only during high water conditions. Water levels were normal during the spring of 2012, but 1-2 feet below normal by the end of summer due to drought conditions. Aquatic vegetation is more commonly present in Lady Slipper due to the absence of carp unlike other nearby shallow lakes. Sago pondweed was sampled at 85% of the vegetation transects sites. Filamentous algae and water moss were also frequently present in Lady Slipper. The most commonly occurring emergents included bulrush and cattail species. Shoalwater substrates consisted primarily of silt and sand with lesser amounts of boulder and rubble.

Both partial summerkills and winterkills have occurred in Lady Slipper, but these have not been documented since the late 1990's. However, a winterkill assessment was conducted during late April of 2010 for Lady Slipper Lake. Nearby, School Grove Lake had a significant winterkill during the 2009-10 winter. School Grove Lake was opened to unlimited fishing during mid-February of 2010. High snowfall events during late December resulted in deteriorating oxygen levels during the 2009-10 winter for most area lakes in southern Minnesota. Ice clarity was also poor due to partial thawing and freezing during December of 2009. The Cottonwood Sportsman's Club generally operates two surface aerators on Lady Slipper. Oxygen levels in Lady Slipper were near 13 ppm during late December of 2009, 3 ppm during mid-January of 2010, 1.7 ppm by mid-February of 2010, 1 ppm during late February of 2010, and 15 ppm by mid-March of 2010. The aeration system was started during mid-January of 2010 on Lady Slipper. One surface aerator quit during late February. There were no reports of dead fish floating or on the shoreline after ice out during early April of 2010. Three trapnets (3/8 inch mesh, single frame) were set on April 26, 2010 to assess fish species presence in Lady Slipper Lake following the 2009 10 winter. Fish species sampled included black bullhead, walleye, yellow perch, orangespotted sunfish and fathead minnows in the 2010 ice out trapnets. It appears that a major winterkill was averted.

Lady Slipper is scheduled for walleye fry stocking every other year. If a fry stocking is a failure or a winterkill occurs, then the lake will generally be stocked again with fry the following spring. Lady Slipper can be a popular local walleye and yellow perch fishery. Lady Slipper is managed primarily for walleye, bluegill and yellow perch.

Black bullhead numbers were moderate in 2012 trapnets (40.33 fish/trapnet) and large (0.78 pounds and 10.97 inches). The black bullhead historical average catch rate is 108.35 fish/trapnet. Black bullhead numbers were abundant in 2012 gillnets (280.00/gillnet) compared to the historical average (168.80 fish/gillnet). The 2012 black bullhead average size was moderate (0.41 pounds and 8.39 inches) from gillnets. The black bullhead historical average weights were 0.32 pounds and 0.39 pounds respectively from gillnets and trapnets for Lady Slipper.

Carp were not present in the 2012 gillnets or trapnets. Carp have been captured in only one other Lady Slipper survey (2 carp from trapnets in 1997).

Bluegill numbers were low in 2012 (0.44 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and the historical average (2.36 fish/trapnet) for Lady Slipper. The 2012 bluegill average weight and length were large (0.30 pounds and 7.40 inches) from trapnets. The bluegill historical average length is 7.40 inches from trapnets. Bluegill growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-5. The 2008 year class comprised 75% of the 2012 bluegill catch.

Other sunfish species captured during 2012 included low numbers of green sunfish (0.11 fish/trapnet) and high numbers of orangespotted sunfish (17.89 fish/trapnet). The 2012 average lengths were 6.50 inches for green sunfish and 4.01 inches for orangespotted sunfish.

Yellow perch numbers were abundant in 2012 (69.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and above the historical average (33.30 fish/gillnet) for Lady Slipper. The 2012 yellow perch average length was moderate to large (8.15 inches) from gillnets. The yellow perch historical average length is 7.83 inches. The 2012 catch rate of quality size (8.00 inches) and larger yellow perch was high (41.40 fish/gillnet). Yellow perch growth rates were near or above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-4. The 2010 year class comprised 64% of the 2012 yellow perch catch.

Northern pike were not present in 2012 survey nets. Northern pike numbers in 2007 (0.50 fish/gillnet) were low. Northern pike have not been captured in Lady Slipper surveys prior to 2007. The northern pike average length was small (21.85 inches) from gillnets in 2007.

Walleye numbers were abundant in 2012 (31.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range of similar lakes. The walleye historical average catch rate is 29.07 fish/gillnet. The 2012 walleye average size was moderate to small (1.18 pounds and 13.39 inches) from gillnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches) and larger walleye was moderate to high (9.00 fish/gillnet). Walleye growth rates appeared to be above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-6. The 2010 (fry stocked) and 2008 year classes (fry stocked) accounted for 29% and 15% respectively of the 2012 summer walleye catch.

Walleye fry were stocked into Lady Slipper (185,000 to 250,000 fish) during 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. Walleye fingerlings (5,506 fish, 622 pounds) were stocked into Lady Slipper during October of 2003 in response to a 2003 fry stocking failure. A fall electrofishing survey was conducted on September 10, 2012 to assess young of year "YOY" walleye numbers in Lady Slipper Lake. YOY walleye numbers were not sampled in the 2012 (0.00 YOY/hour) fall electrofishing survey, but were abundant in the 2010 (365.99 YOY/hour, 7.03 inches average length) fall electrofishing survey. YOY walleye numbers were also abundant (846.01 YOY/hour) in a previous fry stocking year of 2008 for Lady Slipper. The Spicer Area YOY walleye historical average catch rate is 81.31 YOY/hour. The Lady Slipper YOY walleye historical catch rate is 170.30 YOY/hour. Walleye fry are scheduled to be stocked in the spring of 2013.

Current fish management activities on Lady Slipper include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, working with the local residents and clubs with the operation of the aeration system, 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, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Lady Slipper Lake fishery will be sampled in the 2013 fall for YOY walleye numbers.

Are there any state parks near Lady Slipper Lake?