Welch Lake

How big is Welch Lake?

How deep is Welch Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Welch Lake?

What are the closest cities to Welch Lake?

Are there boat launches on Welch Lake?

Welch Lake area businesses:

Are there places to eat and drink near Welch Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Welch Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Welch Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Welch Lake was conducted on July 7th, 2021 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program 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 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 15-foot seine was used at six stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (a single Black Bullhead).

The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 17th, 2020 standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (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 (Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Fathead Minnow). 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 indicates Welch Lake is in good health as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

What is the average air temp for Welch Lake?

Are there any state parks near Welch Lake?