Little Sturgeon Lake

How big is Little Sturgeon Lake?

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What kind of fish can you catch in Little Sturgeon Lake?

Are there boat launches on Little Sturgeon Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Little Sturgeon Lake?

Little Sturgeon Lake is located approximately 14 miles northwest of Chisholm, MN and within the Little Fork River Watershed. The 247 acre lake has 54 littoral acres with a 22 foot maximum depth, and is moderately developed along the 3.6 mile shoreline. A public access is located on the north side of the Sturgeon River between Little Sturgeon and Side Lake with parking for five rigs. Little Sturgeon Lake is part of the larger Sturgeon Lake chain and outlets through the Sturgeon River to Side Lake. There are inlets from both Sturgeon and South Sturgeon Lakes. Little Sturgeon Lake has low fertility and very soft water, both of which limit fish production.

The 2010 Lake Management Plan (LMP) lists Black Crappie, Northern Pike and Walleye as primary species for management and Bluegill as a secondary species. The LMP goals were to: maintain a Black Crappie trap net or gill net catch near 2.0/net; maintain a Northern Pike gill net catch near 5.0/net; maintain a Walleye gill net catch of 2.0/net and to maintain a Bluegill trap net catch near 12.0/net.

A standard survey was conducted in June of 2016 to assess the status and characteristics of the fish community using six gill nets and nine trap nets.

Little Sturgeon Lake has a small Walleye population maintained by natural reproduction and/or immigration. Walleye fingerlings were stocked annually from 2005 - 2010 and in 2014 at a rate of 1 lb./littoral acre (54 lbs.) but did not appear to contribute to the fishery, as most captured walleye have been associated with non-stocked year classes. Walleye were captured at a rate of 1.0/gill net, which is below what would be expected for lakes with similar habitats. Gill net catch rates have been below the management goal of 2.0/gill net in five of six surveys conducted since 1984. A total of six Walleye were captured in gill nets ranging in length from 13.6 to 18.2 inches with an average weight of 2.2 pounds. Walleye growth was below the statewide average with an average length of 14.1 inches at age-4. Three year classes were represented in the sample, but only one fish corresponded to a year when the lake was stocked.

The Northern Pike catch rate decreased from 7.3/gill net in 2009 to 4.3/gill net, which met the management goal. Little Sturgeon Lake has a history of relatively high pike abundance as gill net catches have been near the upper limit of what would be typical of lakes with similar habitats. Northern Pike captured in gill nets ranged in length from 16.2 - 34.0 inches with an average length of 20.4 inches. Size structure in 2016 was poor as only one fish captured was greater than 28 inches in length. However, Little Sturgeon Lake has the potential to produce larger Northern Pike as fish over 28 inches have been sampled in four of six surveys. Anglers are encouraged to release Northern Pike greater than 22 inches to improve size quality. Analysis of ageing structures identified four consecutive age classes, ages 3 - 6. Northern Pike attained an average length of 18.8 inches at age-4, similar to that found in previous surveys.

The Black Crappie catch rates of 2.3/trap net and 2.7/gill net both exceeded the management goals of 2.0/net. Black Crappie gill and trap net catch rates have been variable in previous surveys, but typical of lakes with similar habitats in five of six surveys. Size structure in 2016 was moderate as 17% of the Black Crappie measured were greater than 10 inches in length. Growth appeared slower than both the 2009 survey and the statewide average, with an average length of 8.1 inches at age-5. Six consecutive age classes (ages 2-7) were represented in the sample. However, slow growth and harvest may be impacting size structure as only one Black Crappie over 12.0 inches has been sampled in six surveys.

Bluegill were captured at a rate of 7.8/trap net. Bluegill trap net catch rates have been within the typical range for lakes with similar habitat in all surveys. Bluegill size structure appears to have improved considerably as 26% of the Bluegill measured were greater than 8 inches in length, compared to 6% in 2009. Management goals for both abundance and size structure were met. Seven consecutive age classes were represented in the sample, ages 3-9. Bluegill growth was slow with an average length of 5.6 inches at age-6.

The Yellow Perch catch rate of 4.7/gill net was similar to 4.5/gill net in 2009 and within the typical range for lakes with similar habitats. The 2009 and 2016 gill net catch rates were the lowest observed in six surveys. All Yellow Perch sampled were less than eight inches, and few over eight inches have been sampled in previous surveys.

The Tullibee catch rate of 1.0/gill net was the lowest observed in any survey. However, Tullibee have not been abundant historically as gill net catches in previous surveys have ranged from 1.4 - 4.3/net.

Other species sampled included: Golden Redhorse, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and White Sucker.

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