Sylvan Lake

How big is Sylvan Lake?

How deep is Sylvan Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Sylvan Lake?

What are the closest cities to Sylvan Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Sylvan 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 Sylvan Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Sylvan Lake Resevoir

Are there places to eat and drink near Sylvan Lake?

Sylvan Reservoir is a riverine lake formed at the confluence of the Crow Wing River and Gull Rivers by the Sylvan Dam. Most of the land around the main basin is owned by Minnesota Power and Light Company or is part of the Camp Ripley Military Reservation. Any private development is on the Gull River. Anglers have long used the bridge over the Gull River for fishing. The area around the bridge was improved for shore fishermen with the addition of large granite blocks. Shore anglers also utilize the boat access dock for fishing. The species most sought after from the bridge and dock is Bluegill. Boat anglers fish not only the reservoir for Northern Pike, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass, but travel up both rivers as well.
Large sediment deposition areas with lush vegetation are located in the middle of the reservoir and on the south side of where the Crow Wing River enters. Curly leaf pondweed is common in both the main reservoir as well as the Gull River. Stream flow from the Crow Wing River has carved a deeper channel in the reservoir, which follows the south shoreline for much of the main basin. Boat anglers are advised to consult maps or watch their depth finders while traveling toward the Crow Wing River. Water clarity is impacted by rain events and flows from the two major tributaries.
Bluegill numbers are considered to be within the normal range when compared to similar type lakes. Fish between 6.5 and 7.5 inches in length were common in the survey. Few Black Crappie were netted during the survey but a wide range of sizes was observed. The two gear types used in this survey, trap nets and spring electrofishing, typically do not represent Northern Pike and Walleye populations well unless performed during spring or fall. The Northern Pike observed in the survey were all less than 26 inches in length but larger pike have been recorded in previous surveys. Sylvan historically has had a low Walleye population despite regular stocking prior to 1994. The population was then sustained by natural reproduction until 2006 when stocking was performed. Fry stocking still occurs, but with two major rivers feeding the reservoir, it is not known if the Walleye are staying in the reservoir. Walleye have been observed and fished below both the Placid Lake Dam and Gull River Dam. Some nicer Largemouth Bass were documented during daytime electrofishing on the reservoir. Although the average size of the bass caught was about 10 inches, there were some fish up to 19 inches measured. Five smaller Smallmouth Bass, under seven inches in length, were also sampled during the electrofishing effort.
Sylvan Reservoir supports a diverse roughfish community that is indicative of a riverine system. White Sucker, Shorthead Redhorse, and Silver Redhorse were all sampled in the survey along with Bowfin or Dogfish, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, and Common Carp. Some other fish species found in the reservoir include Pumpkinseed Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, and Rock Bass.

What is the average air temp for Sylvan Lake?

Are there any state parks near Sylvan Lake?