Albert Lea Lake

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Albert Lea Lake is a 2,654-acre lake located in Freeborn County near the city of Albert Lea. A city-maintained public access is located on the northwest corner of the lake. Two DNR-maintained public accesses are located on the south side of the lake at Saint Nicholas Landing along County Road 19 and within Myre Big Island State Park. A county-maintained public access is located near the inlet channel along Frank Avenue. Albert Lea Lake is a nutrient-rich, shallow lake with a maximum depth of 5.5 feet and an average depth of only 3.5 feet. Albert Lea Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. Walleye fry are stocked every other year at a rate of 1,000 fry per littoral acre (about 2.6 million fry). The shallow, fertile waters of Albert Lea Lake are subject to periodic winterkill events. The most recent partial winterkill took place during the winter of 2013-14. After such events, walleye fry are stocked at a rate of 1,000/littoral acre the following spring. The connection to Fountain Lake provides a source for other species to repopulate the lake. Situations like this are managed as "boom and bust" fisheries, characterized by high survival and fast growth due to a temporary reduction of competition for resources. The "boom" years are typically 2-3 years post-winterkill, while the "bust" years are 0-1 year post-winterkill. Recent stocking events in Albert Lea include Walleye fry stocking in 2021, 2019, 2017, and 2015. About 3,675 Yellow Perch adults were also stocked in 2014 after the partial winterkill.

Albert Lea Lake was surveyed the week of June 14, 2021, as part of a standard survey program conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This survey was completed to assess the fish community by deploying 3 gill nets and 8 trap nets throughout the lake, as well as recording water quality parameters. A standard survey is used for sampling a wide range of fish species during the summer months using standard methods (standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (lake survey gillnets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass).

A total of 50 Walleyes were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 16.7/net, which indicated high numbers were present. This represented a significant increase from the 2018 survey catch rate of 3.3/net. Since 2005, catch rates ranged from 3.3/net in 2018 to 60.5/net in 2006 with an average of 26.2/net. Walleye in 2021 ranged from 10.9 to 24.7 inches with an average of 16.0 inches. Four year classes were represented in the survey, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2014. The high numbers of 2014 year class fish sampled in 2015 were almost nearly absent from the 2021 survey despite their being no evidence of winterkill since 2014. One possible explanation involved the newly constructed outlet and electric fish barrier. During high water or stressful periods in the lake, fish could exit the lake into the Shellrock River, unable to return to the lake.

A total of 59 Bluegills were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 7.4/net. Bluegills ranged from 3.2 to 6.7 inches with an average of 4.4 inches. The habitat in Albert Lea Lake remained largely unsuitable for Bluegill and their limited persistence in the lake was likely supported by emigration from Fountain Lake.

Black Crappie remain abundant in Albert Lea Lake with a total of 195 fish sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 24.4/net. Black Crappie catch rates have exceeded 20.0/net with an average of 50.6/net in all 8 surveys dating back to 1984. Black Crappie ranged from 3.7 to 8.5 inches with an average of 5.3 inches. Black Crappies also sampled well in the gill nets with a catch rate of 13.0/net. Despite frequent winterkills, Black Crappies sourced from upstream Fountain Lake remained abundant in Albert Lea.

Only 2 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 0.7/net, indicating low numbers were present. In five gill net surveys since 2005, only the 2018 survey exceeded 2.0/net. Northern Pike in Albert Lea Lake remained rare in 2021 but averaged nearly 27 inches. Southern Zone Northern Pike regulations are in effect for Albert Lea Lake. Anglers are allowed two Northern Pike which must be at least 24 inches long.

A total of 55 Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 18.3/net. This represented the second lowest catch rate on record and failed to exceed 120/net for the second time since 2005. Fish were mostly small with an average length of 6.8 inches. Like Walleye, the population of Yellow Perch in Albert Lea Lake had drastically changed since the 2015 survey with no clear reason why.

Black Bullhead was the most common fish in the 2021 survey with a total of 393 sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 131.0/net. Black Bullhead were sampled at historic high in 2018. Black Bullhead thrive in Albert Lea Lake due to shallow, fertile water and the lake's tendency to undergo stressful conditions in both winter and summer. Like Black Bullhead, Common Carp numbers dropped, down from an all-time high in 2018 (15.7/net) to only 3.3/net in 2021. This came as major local efforts to manage Common Carp numbers in the Shellrock River watershed had been implemented in recent years. Common Carp overabundance remains one of the biggest challenges to managing shallow, fertile lakes like Albert Lea Lake.

Other species sampled in 2021 include Channel Catfish, Golden Shiner, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Tadpole Madtom, White Crappie, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

-Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist

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