Nichols Lake

How big is Nichols Lake?

How deep is Nichols Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Nichols Lake?

Are there boat launches on Nichols Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Nichols Lake?

Nichols is a 413 acre lake with 362 acres (88%) of littoral area and a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake is located approximately 18 miles northwest of Duluth, MN. There is a state administered, concrete back-in access located on the north side of the lake off Highway 53 on Lake Nichols Road. Nichols was last surveyed in 2007. Nichols was assessed during the summer of 2012 to update information about fish populations and evaluated the success of the walleye stocking program.

Currently, walleye fingerlings are stocked into Nichols at a rate of 1 pound per littoral acre (362 pounds) every odd year. Walleye abundance of 1.1 remained steady from 2007 but was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 16.1 inches and growth was average when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Three year-classes were present (1995, 2007 and 2011). Eighty-nine percent of the walleyes aged corresponded to stocked year-classes. The bulk of the catch (56%) was comprised of the 2007 year-class.

A total of 30 largemouth bass were sampled by electrofishing. The largemouth bass catch rate was 48.8 fish per hour, which is much higher than what was found in 1991 (13.0), 1997 (12.9) and 2007 (13.9). Mean length of sampled bass was 15.0 inches, and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2001 to 2009 were represented except 2008.

Northern pike abundance of 5.5 per gillnet lift was down from 2007 (7.9) and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Northern pike abundance in Nichols has been relatively stable over the past eight investigations dating back to 1951 (range, 3.0-7.9). Mean length was 19.0 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 1999 to 2005 were represented in the survey except the 2000 year-class. All year-classes from 2006 to 2010 were represented.

Black crappie abundance of 3.4 per trapnet lift was up from 2007 (2.2) and was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length was 8.6 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2004 to 2010 were represented except the 2009 year-class.

Bluegill abundance of 7.0 per trapnet lift was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type and was much lower than 2007 (21.0). Average length of sampled bluegills was 6.1 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2003 to 2009 were represented.

Yellow perch abundance of 1.6 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type and up from 2007 (1.2). Average length of perch was 6.4 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2005 to 2008 were represented.

Other fish species sampled include Iowa darter, blacknose shiner, common shiner, central mudminnow, white suckers, pumpkinseed sunfish, brown bullhead, black bullhead and yellow bullhead.

Nichols Lake was included in an index of biotic integrity (IBI) assessment in 2012. In addition to standard gillnets and trapnets, beach seines and backpack electrofishing equipment were used to index species richness of the nearshore lake habitat.

What is the average air temp for Nichols Lake?

Are there any state parks near Nichols Lake?