Savanna Lake

How big is Savanna Lake?

How deep is Savanna Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Savanna Lake?

Are there boat launches on Savanna Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Savanna Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Savanna Lake?

Savanna Lake is located within Savanna Portage State Park north of McGregor. State Park facilities on the lake include a boat launch, a group camp and the Garni Cabin, all of which are located on the east side of the lake. Savanna Lake has a history of an occasional winterkill, however the last was reported in the 1970s. The lake is a very popular destination for the State Park visitors and local residents. The current management plan for Savanna Lake called for a standard survey to be completed in 2017. The primary goal of this survey was to monitor trends with the fish populations, particularly bluegill, northern pike, black crappie and walleye, which make up the lake's main management species. Another objective of the survey was to assess a walleye fry stocking program that began in 2012, in an effort to establish a walleye fishery for State Park anglers.

Savanna is one of the few lakes in the area that consistently produces large bluegills and typifies occasional partial winterkill lakes. The trap net catch rate for bluegill at 6.2/trap net is on the lower end of the normal range for this lake class and represented a decrease in catch rate from last survey. The mean size however, was good at 7.1 inches and 34 percent were larger than 8 inches. The catch rate and size structure fall within the desired management goals for the lake.

The northern pike abundance at 7/gill net is near the top of the range for this type of lake and above the long term average for the lake of 6.4/gill net going back to 1970. Pike offer a good size structure for a small lake. The mean size of pike was 24.3 inches, with individuals measuring as large as 35 inches. Approximately 24% of pike sampled were longer than 28 inches, meeting the management expectations for the lake.

Black crappie abundance can vary greatly in many lakes depending on year class strength, but have been pretty consistent on Savanna over the years. This year's 2017 catch rate of 22/gill net was the highest documented for this lake, which has a historical average of around 13/gillnet. The average size was not exceptional at 7.5 inches, but there was a good percentage (39%) larger than 8 inches with individuals up to 10 inches observed in the sample.

Low numbers of walleye have been sampled periodically in Savanna Lake throughout survey history, the last in 2003. It's thought they are able to reach the lake during high water periods through the Savanna River, which is a tributary of the Prairie River and connected to Big Sandy Lake. Experimental walleye fry stocking began in 2012, to see if they could survive and offer a new opportunity for park visitors. No walleye were sampled in any gear during the 2017 survey indicating poor survival thus far.

Yellow perch are present in the lake as well. Healthy perch populations are known to positively affect other species such as bluegill and northern pike. They offer a great forage base for northern pike and can also have a positive effect on bluegill size structure through competition. Catch rates for yellow perch were 16.3/per gill net, which is the second highest documented in survey history.

What is the average air temp for Savanna Lake?

Are there any state parks near Savanna Lake?