Split Rock Reservoir

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Split Rock Lake is an impoundment created by a dam on Split Rock Creek constructed in 1938. This reservoir is located entirely within the boundaries of Split Rock State Park near Ihlen in Pipestone County. It has a surface area of 80 acres, a maximum depth of 16 feet, transparency depth of 2.0 feet, and is in lake class 42. Minnesota DNR Fisheries classifies lakes with similar characteristics, such as size, depth, water chemistry, and other metrics on a statewide basis for comparison of fish communities. A winter aeration system is operated on the lake but occasional partial winterkills still occur. This lake is only one of four small reservoirs in Pipestone County which has no "natural" lakes. To increase angling opportunities in the area, a shoreline fishing pier is maintained on the northwest corner of the reservoir. The lake is managed primarily for yellow perch, bluegill sunfish, and black crappie with no secondary management species. Due to the presence of the endangered Topeka Shiner within Split Rock Creek, the division of fisheries is not allowed to stock predators such as walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, or channel catfish in the reservoir. To evaluate fish populations and management goals, an assessment utilizing one gill net and nine trap nets was conducted during the week of July 8, 2013 with the following results.

Black crappie catch rate in trap nets, of 5.7 per net, is slightly under the long-term average for this lake. Although this is a decline from the record high catch of 42 per net in 2007, good numbers of crappie remain. Lengths of fish sampled in trap nets ranged from 4.4 to 12.4 inches with a mean length of 8 inches. The fish are healthy and foraging successfully resulting in good growth rates. No aging of crappies was done, but length frequency groupings appear to indicate at least five year classes present. They are reproducing successfully, and should continue to provide an angling opportunity for years to come.

Bluegill sunfish catch rates have shown a steady decline from a peak of 19 per trap net in 1997, to 8.6 in 2001, 4.4 in 2007, and 0.6 during 2013. Declining bluegill populations appear to be directly related to elevated common carp catches since 1997, along with the lack of submergent vegetation associated with poor water clarity. Lengths for bluegill from trap nets ranged from 4.9 to 8.6 inches with a mean length of 6.6 inches. These fish are foraging successfully indicated by healthy fish in the sample. Length frequency distribution groupings appear to indicate four year classes of bluegill present during this survey. Since bluegill numbers are low and sizes are somewhat small, more adult bluegills will be stocked to boost the population in 2014.

Gill net catch rates for yellow perch have dropped from 3 per net in 2007 to zero per net during 2013. Although no perch were sampled in gill nets, a total of seven fish were captured in the trap nets for a catch rate of 0.8 per net. This is equal to the long term average for trap nets from seven surveys on this lake dating back to 1987. Perch lengths in trap nets ranged from 5.3 to 8.5 inches with a mean length of 6.4 inches. There appear to be two year classes of perch present based on length frequency groups. Long-range plan goals are not being met for perch numbers, therefore yellow perch adults will be stocked to enhance the population in 2014.

White Sucker catch rates of 38.0 per gill net are six times the long-term average for this lake. Trap net catches of 2.6 per net were also more than double the long-term average. Since no white suckers were sampled prior to 2001, catches from both gear types are at all time high levels and rising rapidly. Lengths from both gears ranged from 7.5 to 15.4 inches with an overall mean length of 13.7 inches.

Black Bullhead catch rates of 46.0 per gill net and 6.0 per trap net were both very near the long-term average catch rates for this reservoir. Lengths of bullheads from both gear types ranged from 4.6 to 8.8 inches with an overall mean length of 6.7 inches.

Common Carp catch rates of 23.0 per gill net and 2.7 per trap net were both nearly double the long-term average catch rates for Split Rock reservoir. Lengths of carp from both gear types ranged from 13.0 to 22.0 inches with an average weight of 2.0 pounds.

Other fish species sampled during this assessment in low densities included Northern Pike, Orange Spotted Sunfish, Green Sunfish, and Channel Catfish.

Split Rock reservoir also provides excellent turtle habitat with 24 painted turtles and 18 snapping turtles captured in the nine trap net sets.

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