Wood Lake

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A lake survey was conducted during late June 2012 in Wood Lake. Wood is a moderate sized (432 acres), shallow (9 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Yellow Medicine County. Residential development is limited to several farm sites/homes along the south shore area. Timm County Park is located on the north side of Wood Lake. A DNR public access is adjacent to the county park. Nutrient runoff into Wood is primarily from agricultural row crops. Significant winterkills occurred during the 1996-97 and 2000-01 winters due to heavy snow accumulation and/or problems with the aeration system. The outlet connects to Wood Lake Creek, which flows into the Minnesota River. Water clarity was poor (secchi= 1.00 feet) during early June of 2012. The water is a brown stained color (similar to the Minnesota River). Blue-green algae blooms are common and intense in Wood Lake. Submergent vegetation is limited to primarily sago pondweed, clasping-leaf pondweed, water moss, and filamentous algae, especially in the near shore areas. No Submergent vegetation was observed during the 2012 vegetation transect survey. Emergent vegetation consists mainly of bulrush and cattail species scattered throughout the shoreline areas. Wood Lake is managed primarily for walleye with yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill as secondary species. Walleye fry are generally stocked into Wood every other year. If a fry stocking is a failure, then the lake will generally be stocked again with fry the following spring. Young of year (YOY) freshwater drum were observed during the 2011 fall electrofishing. Yearling freshwater drum were captured in the 2012 survey nets for the first time. Freshwater drum probably entered Wood Lake from the Minnesota River via Wood Lake Creek during high water events that compromised the dam and fish barrier.

Black crappie numbers were very abundant in 2012 (502.33 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and the Wood Lake historical average catch rate (107.80 fish/trapnet). The 2012 black crappie average size (0.21 pounds and 6.62 inches) from trapnets was small. The historical average weight and length is 0.33 pounds and 7.52 inches from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of preferred (10.00 inches) and larger black crappie was 6.00 fish/trapnet for Wood Lake. The 2012 black crappie growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-5 and near normal for ages 6-7. The 2011 and 2010 black crappie year classes comprised 23.8% and 42.9% respectively of the 2012 black crappie survey catch.

Yellow perch numbers in gillnets were within the normal range in 2012 (6.00 fish/gillnet) for similar lakes. Historically, this was the highest catch rate of yellow perch in gillnets for Wood Lake. The yellow perch historical average catch rate is 1.00 fish/gillnet for Wood Lake. Yellow perch numbers in trapnets were abundant in 2012 (17.00/trapnet) compared to similar lakes and historical records. The 2012 yellow perch average size (0.26 pounds and 8.33 inches) from gillnets is moderate. The historical average weight and length is 0.23 pounds and 7.65 inches from gillnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality sized (8.00 inches) and larger yellow perch was 10.40 fish/net (combined gillnet and trapnet). Yellow perch growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for all ages (1-5). The 2010 year class comprised 32.8% of the 2012 yellow perch survey catch while the 2011 and 2009 year classes comprised 29.3% and 22.4% respectively.

Bluegill numbers in trapnets were below the normal range in 2012 (0.78 fish/trapnet) for similar lakes and near the lower end of the normal range for Wood Lake. The bluegill historical average catch rate is 10.95 fish/trapnet for Wood Lake. The 2012 bluegill average size (0.18 pounds and 5.78 inches) from trapnets was moderate. The historical average size is 0.24 pounds and 5.50 inches from trapnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality size (6.00 inches) and larger bluegill was 0.22 fish/trapnet. Adult bluegill (1,840 fish) were last stocked in Wood Lake during 2001.

Walleye numbers in gillnets were very abundant in 2012 (80.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range in similar lakes and the Wood Lake historical catch rate (5.28 fish/gillnet). The walleye historical average catch rate is 24.60 fish/gillnet for Wood Lake. The 2012 walleye average size (1.50 pounds and 15.37 inches) was moderate from gillnets. The walleye historical average weight and length are 1.49 pounds and 14.86 inches from gillnets. The 2012 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches) and larger walleye was very high (55.00 fish/gillnet) in the 2012 survey. Walleye growth rates were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-4. The 2009 year class (fry stocked) comprised 42% of the walleye catch in addition to the 2011, 2010 and 2008 year classes that comprised 39.1%, 14.5%, and 4.4% respectively in the 2012 survey. Stockings prior to 2008 were not sampled in the 2012 survey. Walleye natural reproduction in Wood is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous fall and summer surveys.

A fall electrofishing survey was not conducted in 2012 as no fry were stocked. Fry (217,459) were stocked in spring of 2011. There were abundant numbers of YOY walleye (153.00 YOY/hour, 6.50 inches average length) captured in the 2011 fall electrofishing survey. There were low YOY walleye numbers (16.00 YOY/hour, 8.19 inches average length) captured in the 2010 fall electrofishing survey. The Wood Lake fall electrofishing historical average catch rate and length are 128.78 YOY/hour and 6.06 inches respectively. Walleye fingerlings were stocked into Wood during the fall of 2001(13,359 fish) and 2008(836 fish). Walleye fry have been stocked recently into Wood during 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The highest Wood Lake YOY walleye catch rate occurred during a 1996 fry stocked year (625.71 YOY/hour, 4.67 inches average length).

Channel catfish numbers were abundant in trapnets in 2012 (4.44 fish/trapnet) compared to the average historical catch rate (0.87 fish/trapnet). The 2012 channel catfish average size (0.60 pounds and 11.96 inches) from trapnets was small. The historical average size from trapnets is 0.81 pounds and 12.07 inches. Channel catfish fingerlings (4,000 fish, 25 pounds) and yearlings (86 fish, 21 pounds) were stocked in 2002. Channel catfish fingerlings (4,347 fish, 23 pounds) were last stocked in 2006. Channel catfish may have also entered Wood Lake during high flow events from the Wood Lake Creek.

Black bullhead numbers were moderate compared to the normal range in 2012 (32.00 fish/gillnet) for similar lakes and the historical catch rate for Wood Lake. The 2012 black bullhead trapnet numbers (24.89 fish/trapnet) were within the normal range for similar lakes but were below the normal range for Wood Lake. The black bullhead historical average catch rates are 81.95 fish/gillnet and 275.45 fish/trapnet for Wood Lake. The 2012 black bullhead average weight and length were 0.72 pounds and 10.50 inches from trapnets and 0.49 pounds and 8.68 inches from gillnets. The black bullhead historical average weight and length were 0.31 pounds and 7.88 inches from trapnets in Wood Lake.

Carp numbers in 2012 (3.00 fish/trapnet) were within the normal ranges for similar lakes and Wood Lake. The carp historical average catch rate is 4.08 fish/trapnet for Wood Lake. Carp abundance in the 2012 gillnets (11.00 fish/gillnet) was below the Wood Lake historical average (19.86 fish/gillnet). The 2012 carp average size was 2.58 pounds and 14.91 inches from trapnets. The carp historical average weight and length were 2.35 pounds and 15.80 inches from trapnets in Wood Lake.

Freshwater drum were observed in the 2012 survey nets for the first time. YOY freshwater drum were observed during the 2011 fall electrofishing. Freshwater drum were captured in commercial nets (100 pounds) in 1992. Freshwater drum were abundant in 2012 (37.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The freshwater drum average size (0.18 pounds and 7.67 inches) was small.

Current fish management activities on Wood include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the Wood Lake Sportsman's Club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Wood Lake fishery will be sampled in the 2013 fall for YOY walleye numbers. The next population assessment is scheduled for 2017 and a full lake survey in 2022.

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