Homer Lake

How big is Homer Lake?

How deep is Homer Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Homer Lake?

Are there boat launches on Homer Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Homer Lake?

Homer Lake is a relatively shallow, deeply bog-stained lake, currently managed for Walleye and Northern Pike. The lake lies partially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, therefore about two thirds of the lake is open to motorized uses. Like most lakes in this area, it supports a relatively simple fish community, with major species present (through the early 1990s) limited to Walleye, Northern Pike, White Sucker, Burbot, and Yellow Perch. Smallmouth Bass were first documented in a DNR lake survey in 2004 but had been reported in the lake by other parties as early as 1997.

Current long-range goals for the Walleye and Northern Pike populations in this lake, from the 2014 lake management plan are to maintain minimum gill net catches of 3.0 and 2.0 fish/net, respectively. Size goals for these populations include maintaining the presence of some Walleye over 20 inches, and sustaining a Northern Pike mean weight of 1.75 lbs/fish from gill net samples. This was the last of three surveys scheduled in the 2014 LMP to monitor the Walleye and Northern Pike populations and to determine any potential effects the establishment of Smallmouth Bass has had on the fish community of Homer Lake.

The 2022 Walleye gill net was up considerably from 2019 and fell just shy of the highest catch observed for Homer Lake. The Walleye catch in 0.75-in-mesh trap nets was consistent with the range of catches typically observed in Homer Lake. The combined Walleye sample from both net types included fish from 6.3 to 22.8 inches in length, with an average length of about 14 inches. Thirteen naturally produced year classes contributed to the 2022 sample, which included fish up to 22 years old. Walleye natural recruitment appeared very consistent since 2015, as there were no missing year classes between ages one and seven. The 2019 year class appeared strongest, accounting for about 30% of the Walleye catch in 2022. Walleye growth rates were about average; age-3 fish reached a mean length of 10.7 inches by the start of their third year, compared to an area mean of 11.0 inches for similar lakes in the area.

Northern Pike gill net catches have fluctuated considerably in Homer Lake since 1970, with some of the lowest catches occurring in more-recent surveys. The 2022 Northern Pike gill net catch was the second lowest recorded for the population and fell below the normal range for similar lakes in this area. Northern Pike catches have typically been low in 0.75-inch mesh trap nets set in Homer Lake, and none were sampled in that gear in 2022. Neither the abundance goal nor size goal for the population were met in this survey, as the limited number of Northern Pike that were sampled averaged about 18 inches and 1.4 lbs.

Only one adult Smallmouth Bass was sampled during the survey, but it is likely that the true bass abundance in Homer Lake was higher than this result suggests. Gill nets and trap nets are not considered effective sampling gears for evaluating Smallmouth Bass abundance in most scenarios, while boat electrofishing, the primary method for evaluating bass abundance, has not been completed for Homer Lake.

Yellow Perch abundance has often appeared low in Homer Lake. The 2022 Yellow Perch gill net catch was the highest recorded for the lake but was considered about average compared to similar lake types. Fair numbers of non-young-of-year Yellow Perch were also sampled in small-mesh trap nets used in this survey. Most of the Yellow Perch sampled were small and would have contributed to the forage base for predator species. The White Sucker gill net catch was typical for the lake. Most of the fish sampled in 2022 would have been too large to serve as forage for Northern Pike or Walleye sampled in this survey.

Rock Bass, which are not a native species to this area, were sampled in Homer Lake for the first time in 2022. The closest lake in the watershed where Rock Bass have been documented is Peterson Lake, which is part of the Temperance River system that has a connection with the Vern River (and Homer Lake). Therefore, the lone fish sampled in 2022 may have been the result of upstream migration. Another realistic possibility is that the species was introduced through illegal dumping of unwanted bait, which has occurred in several lakes in the area.

Are there any state parks near Homer Lake?