Barrett Lake

How big is Barrett Lake?

How deep is Barrett Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Barrett Lake?

What are the closest cities to Barrett Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Barrett Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Barrett Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Barrett Lake

Are there boat launches on Barrett Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Barrett Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Barrett Lake?

Barrett Lake is a 530-acre impoundment of the Pomme de Terre River. The earliest available records of dam construction date back to 1936. The City of Barrett developed along the west and south shorelines. Maximum depth of the lake is 28.0 feet. Average depth is estimated at 8.5 feet. Water quality measurements describe Barrett Lake as eutrophic. The Pomme de Terre River carries sediments and nutrients from an expansive, well drained, and largely cultivated watershed area extending well north into Otter Tail County. Algae blooms and suspended sediments impair water clarity during summer months. Water transparency at the time of the late-July fish survey measured 3.0 feet. Poor water clarity limits diversity and distribution of submergent plants. Primary management efforts on Barrett Lake are directed towards Walleye. Natural reproduction sustains this fishery but Walleye fry are stocked every other year to supplement the population.

A fisheries survey was completed on Barrett Lake, July 31 through August 3, 2023. A combination of six gill nets and eight trap nets were used to sample the fish community. Netting was preceded by electrofishing on May 31 to gain estimates of Largemouth Bass abundance and population size structure. Walleye catch rates (24.5 fish/gill net) were high during the 2023 survey. Lengths of those Walleye ranged from 9.8-28.3 inches but averaged only 13.8 inches. Most of the Walleye in the system at the time of the survey were younger fish. Survival of young Walleye has been above average recently and multiple year classes were present from stocked and non-stocked years. Walleye fry are stocked in odd-numbered years to supplement natural reproduction, but in the last several surveys, it appears naturally produced fish may make up a majority of this population. Walleye grow fast in Barrett Lake, reaching 15 inches around age 3, so the small fish will quickly grow to harvestable sizes. Walleye fishing is expected to be very good for at least the next several years. Northern Pike abundance was moderate for Barrett Lake. Average size was 22.2 inches and the largest pike observed was 31.3 inches. Barrett Lake also supports both Black and White Crappie. Black Crappie are more common than White Crappie. Many of the Black Crappie caught in this survey were large, average length was 10.1 inches and the largest crappie was 13.4 inches. Bluegill catch rates were low, but some large fish over 9 inches were sampled. Spring electrofishing efforts caught only a few Largemouth Bass. Low water made electrofishing difficult and habitat conditions are less than ideal for bass. Only 10 Largemouth Bass were observed. Yellow Perch abundance was also low for Barrett Lake. Perch occasionally get large enough to keep, but the few observed in this survey averaged 6.7 inches.

Abundance of most underutilized species declined from the previous survey. Abundance of Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Common Carp, and White Sucker was lower than previous surveys. Freshwater Drum is one species that has been increasing. First recorded in the 2017 survey, they are now increasing in abundance. Freshwater Drum are native to the Pomme de Terre River system, but have only recently been recorded in lakes above Crissy Dam in Morris, MN. They are thought to have expanded above Crissy Dam in 2012 during flood conditions.

Barrett Lake was designated as an infested water after the discovery of zebra mussels in 2018. Recreational users should take necessary precautions to prevent the further spread of invasive species. Drain all water and remove all aquatic vegetation from your boat and trailer when leaving any body of water.

What is the average air temp for Barrett Lake?