Grassy Lake

How big is Grassy Lake?

How deep is Grassy Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Grassy Lake?

What are the closest cities to Grassy Lake?

Are there boat launches on Grassy Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Grassy Lake?

Grassy Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 12, which consists of 90 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are average in size, are very shallow, have irregularly shaped shorelines, and have very soft (unmineralized) water. Grassy Lake ranks as mesotrophic according to Carlson's Trophic State Index.

Grassy Lake was thermally stratified on 06/11/2007 with a surface temperature of 69 F and a bottom temperature of 61 F. Adequate oxygen for fish (more than 2 ppm) was retained to the bottom. The main inlet is from Tee Lake and the outlet is to the Range River; there are beaver dams and rocky drops limiting fish movement in the inlets and outlet. Bottom substrates consist mostly of muck, silt, and boulder. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 6 ft, with concentrations in the inlet and outlet bays. The most common plants are watershield, milfoil, waterlilies, floating leaf burreed, and bladderwort.

Lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service surround all of Grassy Lake except for a private parcel on the northeast shore that is accessed by a private road off the Grassy Lake Road (Forest Road 459). Public access is by a 0.25 mile portage to the northwest shore of Grassy Lake from a parking area that is 0.9 miles south of the Grassy Lake Road. Other accesses include a portage from Tee Lake and a portage from the Range River via Low Lake.

The 2007 fisheries lake survey sampled fish populations with six gillnets, nine standard trapnets, and four small mesh (1/4" bar) trapnets. Previously, a fisheries lake survey (1975) and two fish population assessments (1985, 1997) were conducted on Grassy Lake. These previous investigations used 3-6 gillnets and 4-9 trapnets.

The total catch of fish (all species combined) in the gillnets in 2007 of 6 fish/net (11 lb/net) was in the first quartile for this lake class, and was similar to the median total catch of 8 fish/net (9 lb/net) in all investigations on this lake. The total catch of fish in the trapnets in 2007 of 20 fish/net (13 lb/net) was similar to the median total catch of 19 fish/net (12 lb/net) in previous trapnettings on this lake.

Fish populations in 2007, as in previous investigations on this lake, were dominated by northern pike and bluegill, followed by black crappie and largemouth bass. Notable by their absence in this investigation (and by their presence in very low numbers in previous investigations) were white sucker.

Northern pike numbers in 2007 (4.5/gillnet) were in the third quartile for this lake class and were similar to the median pike catch of 3.9/gillnet in all investigations on this lake. Pike sizes in 2007 averaged 21.4" (2.5 lb), which was in the fourth quartile for this lake class and was similar to the average size of 20.3" in all investigations on this lake. The largest pike was 36.6". Pike scales were difficult to read, but pike growth appeared to be slower than normal (in the first or second quartile, depending on the age) by area standards.

Bluegill numbers in 2007 (16.0/trapnet) were in the fourth quartile for this lake class and were similar to the median bluegill catch of 13.3/trapnet in all investigations on this lake. Bluegill sizes in Grassy Lake have increased over time and in 2007 averaged 7.8" (0.43 lb), which was in the fourth quartile for this lake class. Forty nine percent of the bluegill were 8" or larger and the largest was 9.9". Bluegill growth was faster than normal by area standards.

Black crappie numbers in 2007 (2.1/trapnet) were in the second quartile for this lake class and were similar to the median crappie catch of 2.2/trapnet in all investigations on this lake. Crappie sizes in 2007 averaged 9.4" (0.46 lb), which was in the third quartile for this lake class and was similar to the average size of 9.0" in all investigations on this lake. Crappie growth was somewhat faster than normal by area standards.

Largemouth bass are likely more abundant than indicated by trapnet and gillnet catches. Bass are "net shy" and tend to avoid standard sampling nets. The largest largemouth captured in 2007 was 17.9". Largemouth growth appeared to be faster than normal by area standards.

The game fish examined in 2007 were remarkably free of diseases or parasites. Only two fish had neascus (black spot). Neascus is a common parasite that is native to the area. It cannot infect humans, is often removed by filleting fish, and is killed at temperatures used to cook fish.

What is the average air temp for Grassy Lake?

Are there any state parks near Grassy Lake?