Wakefield Lake

How big is Wakefield Lake?

How deep is Wakefield Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Wakefield Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Wakefield Lake?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Wakefield Lake was conducted on August 2, 2022, by Aitkin Area Fisheries Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample three stations, a 15-foot seine was used at four stations and site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 8 species of fish.

The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.

Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Mississippi River-Grand Rapids Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Wakefield Lake?

Are there any state parks near Wakefield Lake?