Wilson Lake

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What kind of fish can you catch in Wilson Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Wilson Lake?

Wilson is a 55-acre lake with 100% littoral area and a maximum depth of 14 feet. Wilson Lake is located five miles northeast of Cotton, MN off County #224 and has a County administered, earthen back-in access on the east side. Wilson Lake was stocked with walleye fry in even years from 1992 to 1998 and fingerlings at a rate of one pound per littoral acre (55 pounds) in even years from 2000 through 2008. Wilson Lake was surveyed during the summer of 2008 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the walleye stocking program.

Walleye were not sampled by experimental gillnet. Two walleye were sampled with trapnets. Mean length of sampled walleye was 20.3 inches and both were aged to the 2004 year-class.

Largemouth bass abundance of 74.7 per hour of electrofishing was less than 2002 (56.7) but was still considered high compared to other populations in Duluth Area lakes. Average size of 12.3 inches was relatively large and growth was typical. Age analysis revealed consistently strong recruitment with all year-classes represented from 2001 through 2007.

Northern pike abundance of 3.0 per gillnet lift had decreased since 2002 (6.0) but was still considered typical compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was 20.5 inches and growth was also average. Age analysis revealed inconsistent recruitment with only two year-classes (2005, 2006) represented.

Black crappie abundance of 1.2 per trapnet lift was less than 2002 (5.2) but was still considered typical compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size of 10.2 inches was large and rate of growth was typical. Age analysis revealed fairly consistent recruitment with five year-classes represented from 2001 through 2006.

Bluegill abundance of 4.0 per trapnet lift had declined since 2002 (10.8) but was still considered typical compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size of 5.8 inches was small and growth was typical compared to other Duluth Area populations. Age analysis revealed consistent recruitment from 2000 through 2006 with strong 2002 and 2004 year-classes.

Yellow perch abundance of 0.8 per gillnet lift had declined since 2002 (4.0) and was considered below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of three yellow perch was 6.9 inches and they were all recruited from the 2003 year-class.

Other fish species sampled included Johnny darter, rock bass and spottail shiner.

Information was collected on aquatic vegetation, substrate and water quality. Diversity of aquatic plants was low with 24 species or species groups identified along 10 transects. Wild celery was the most frequently identified plant (100% of transects) followed by pipewort and bushy pondweed (80% of transects). Only five other species or species groups had a frequency of occurrence greater than 50%. The most common substrate types were sand and rubble, which were identified along 80% and 70% of the transects, respectively. Results of laboratory water analysis indicate Tamarack is a neutral (pH 7.0), soft water lake (alkalinity 11 ppm) with low fertility (total phosphorus 0.020 ppm).

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Are there any state parks near Wilson Lake?