Lily Lake

How big is Lily Lake?

How deep is Lily Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lily Lake?

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Are there topographical lake maps available Lily Lake?

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Lily Lake

Are there boat launches on Lily Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lily Lake?

Lily Lake is a small, 59 acre lake located in Waseca County east of the city of Elysian. A public access is located on the north end of the lake, just off Highway 60. Lily Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet and consists of two distinct basins. The west basin is deeper and is the main focus of angling efforts, while the east basin is shallow and has dense aquatic vegetation. The shoreline of Lily Lake is largely undeveloped, which has resulted in exceptional water clarity with a secchi disk reading greater than 10.0 feet.

Lily Lake was surveyed the week of June 10, 2013 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. This survey consisted of deploying trap- and gill-nets to monitor the fish community. Bluegills were the most abundant fish in the 2013 survey and were likely the primary targeted species by anglers in Lily Lake. Trap net catch rates of bluegill were 62.0 fish/net, which is above average for similar lakes in the area. The size of bluegill in Lily Lake was generally small, averaging about 4.0 inches in total length. However, nearly 12% of all measured bluegills were greater than 8.0 inches and the largest was nearly 10.0 inches, so the population has larger individuals that are typically sought by anglers.

Black crappie and northern pike had similar catch rates in 2013 as that observed in 2009. Black crappie abundance was low during this survey. Black crappies were netted at a rate of 3.0 fish/gill net and 1.0 fish/trap net. The length of all black crappies sampled in the 2013 survey averaged 6.0 inches and ranged from 4.0 to 11.0 inches. Northern pike catch rate averaged 7.0 fish/gill net in 2013. The average length of northern pike was 23.0 inches and ranged from 14.0 to 31.0 inches. The average weight of northern pike captured in 2013 was 3.5 lbs, which is above average for similar lakes in Minnesota. Northern pike ranged in age from one to six years old in 2013. The only northern pike stocking event in Lily Lake took place in 2003, so the current population was likely sustained through natural reproduction.

Black bullhead abundance was moderate to high in Lily Lake, with catch rates at 35.0 fish/gill net and 29.0 fish/trap net. The average length of all black bullhead from the survey was 7.0 inches, with 25% of all measured bullhead being 9.0 inches or larger.

Although largemouth bass were present in Lily Lake, trap and gill nets did not effectively sample largemouth so the population was not represented in this survey. Lily Lake has favorable habitat and forage for largemouth bass, so there is strong potential for a quality fishery. Other fish species sampled in the survey included pumpkinseed and hybrid sunfish.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Prepared by: Kip Rounds, Fisheries Specialist

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