Mud Hen Lake

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Mud Hen is a 166-acre lake with 166 (100%) acres of littoral area and maximum depth of 9 feet. Mud Hen is located two miles east of Makinen, MN off St. Louis County Highway #16. Mud Hen Lake has a gravel, state-administered, back-in public access. Currently, Mud Hen is stocked with walleye fry every even year and in any odd year following a winterkill. Mud Hen was last assessed in 2008 and initially surveyed in 1992. Mud Hen was surveyed during the summer of 2013 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the walleye fry stocking program.

Walleye abundance of 7.8 per gillnet lift was up from 2008 (0.2) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length was 15.7 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Three year-classes were present from 2008 through 2012. The 2011 year-class was strong, contributing to 84% of the overall catch. All walleye captured corresponded to stocked year-classes.

Northern pike abundance of 17.2 per gillnet lift was up from 2008 (10.2) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length was 21.2 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2007 through 2011 were represented, except 2008. The 2010 year-class was strong, contributing to 63% of the overall catch.

Yellow perch abundance of 35.5 per gillnet lift was up from 2008 (32.7) and was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Numbers of yellow perch sampled have been increasing over the past four investigations on Mud Hen. Average length of perch was 6.4 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2007 to 2010 were represented. The 2010 year-class was strong, contributing to 87% of the overall catch. Quarter-inch trapnets sampled 9 young-of-the-year (YOY) yellow perch for a CPUE of 3.7 per lift.

Black crappie abundance of 0.2 per trapnet lift was down from 2008 (2.3) and was below average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length was 9.9 inches but only 2 specimens were sampled. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth.

Bluegill abundance of 2.8 per trapnet lift was up from 2008 (0.2) and average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill average length was 5.4 inches. Bluegill were not aged for this assessment.

Three largemouth bass were sampled with electrofishing equipment. The catch rate of largemouth bass was 4.5 per hour of electrofishing on-time. No prior largemouth bass electrofishing assessments have been conducted on Mud Hen Lake. One other 4.0 inch largemouth bass was captured in a trapnet. Not enough individuals were captured to evaluate stock density or growth. Largemouth bass have not been sampled in any previous surveys or assessments for Mud Hen. Anecdotal reports from anglers indicate that a fishable population of largemouth bass is developing.

Black bullhead abundance of 35.2 per trapnet lift was up from 2008 (0.4) and above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black bullhead mean length was 6.2 inches. Black bullhead quarter-inch trapnet abundance was 554.3 per lift.

Brown bullhead abundance of 0.0 per trapnet lift was down from 2008 (1.4) and below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. However, four specimens were captured in the gillnets for an abundance of 0.7 per gillnet lift. Brown bullhead mean length was 11.9 inches.

Yellow bullhead abundance of 0.6 per trapnet lift was down from 2008 (5.4) and above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Yellow bullhead mean length was 10.6 inches. Yellow bullhead quarter-inch trapnet abundance was 9.0 per lift.

Other fish species sampled included pumpkinseed, golden shiner and white sucker.

Anecdotal evidence from lake residents suggests a partial winterkill event occurred during the winter of 2007-2008. The fish community is consistent with a lake subject to winterkills with a high density of northern pike and black bullheads. However, recent walleye stocking efforts have created a quality angling opportunity for this species.

Information was collected on aquatic vegetation, substrate and water quality. Forty aquatic plant species or species groups were identified along 20 transects. Filamentous algae was the most frequently found plant (95% of transects) followed by flat-stemmed pondweed and greater duckweed (both 85% of transects). Beggertick, rush group, smartweed, spikerush, floating bur-reed and ribbon-leaved pondweed were the most infrequently found plants or plant groups (all found at 5% of transects). The most common substrate types were detritus, muck and sand which were identified along 70%, 60% and 60% of the transects, respectively. Results of laboratory water analysis indicate Mud Hen is an slightly alkaline, moderately hard water lake with moderate fertility.

A substantial percentage (42%) of lakeshore homeowners on Mud Hen Lake have open yards extending to the shoreline. Lakeshore owners can prevent excessive nutrient loading which leads to excessive plant growth and poor water quality by avoiding lawn fertilization, limiting aquatic vegetation removal, and implementing riparian best management practices.

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