Buck Lake

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Buck Lake is a shallow, productive lake located north of Nashwauk, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake is highly developed and has a small public access on the southwest side of the lake. Buck Lake supports a variety of species of aquatic vegetation with good habitat for panfish and Largemouth Bass. The 2014 lake management plan (LMP) listed Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass as a primary management species, with Walleye as a secondary management species. The goals were to maintain a catch of 2.0 Black Crappie/net, a Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch of 50/h, and provide a bonus Walleye fishery. A standard survey using 9 gill nets and 9 trap nets was conducted in August 2023 to assess the fishery.

Black Crappie catches have fluctuated substantially from a low of 0.3 in 1991 to a high of 25.6/net in 1976. The 2023 catch of 7.8/net was the second highest on record and exceeded the LMP goal. The sampled crappie ranged from 4.9 to 12.2 inches and averaged 8.4 inches. Multiple good year-classes were observed with fish ranging from age 1 to 11. Growth was generally slow compared to other lakes with similar habitat. Fish averaged 9.3 inches after five years of growth. Black Crappie likely provide good fishing when strong year-classes reach a size anglers desire.

Largemouth Bass are most effectively sampled with spring, night electrofishing but due to the late spring and staff shortages, it was not conducted in 2023. The gill-net catches have generally ranged from 1.1 to 2.4/net since 1976. The 2023 catch was 2.6/gill net. The sampled fish ranged from 5.8 to 18.3 inches and averaged 11.3 inches. Six year-classes from age 1 to age 6 were identified from the fish less than 15.0 inches. Growth was somewhat slow compared to the statewide average.

Walleye habitat in Buck Lake is limited so the management goal is to provide a bonus fishery. Various management strategies have been attempted to create a fishery. The 2023 survey evaluated a period of stocking 1 lb of Walleye fingerlings/littoral acre every third year, beginning in 2015. The nine surveys conducted since 1951 found Walleye catches ranging from 0 to 3.4/gill-net. The 2023 catch of 3.1/net was the second highest for the lake. The sampled fish ranged from 10.8 to 24.3 inches and averaged 18.9 inches. Four ages were estimated with fish from age 2 to 22 represented. The three stockings since 2015 resulted in all but one of the 28 fish sampled. Growth rates were good compared to the statewide average. Fish averaged 17.7 inches after four years of growth. The Walleye population likely provides a modest fishery.

Yellow Perch catches have been lower than most lakes with similar habitat since 1981. In 2023, no perch were sampled in the gill nets or trap nets but they were observed in nearshore sampling. The lack of perch is noted because they are often an important component of Walleye diets. The perch population does not provide any angling opportunities.

Northern Pike catches have been average to high compared to other lakes with similar habitat. Pike were sampled at a rate of 8.2/gill net in 2023. Few fish over 28 inches have ever been sampled; including only one over 34 inches. The 2023 sample included fish from 15.6 to 30.0 inches and the average length was 20.2 inches. Buck Lake is known for having higher numbers of smaller pike and these population attributes are not desirable because they result in slow growth. Anglers and spearers are encouraged to not harvest fish over 26 inches to improve size structure.

The Bluegill population can be characterized as having moderate numbers and sized fish. Trap-net catch rates declined from 25.3/net in 2013 to 8.4/net in 2023; the second lowest on record. Size structure from the trap nets has generally been poor. In 2023, nearly 7% of the Bluegill exceeded 8 inches. Sampled fish ranged from 3.1 to 8.9 inches and averaged 4.6 inches. Mid-summer trap netting generally does not represent Bluegill numbers or size very well. Larger fish were sampled in the gill nets with 14% exceeding 8 inches. Ageing structures were not collected in 2023 but based on the size distributions it appears recruitment is fairly consistent. Buck Lake can provide decent Bluegill fishing opportunities at times.

Other species sampled in test nets included Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.

Boaters can help slow the spread of invasive species by removing all vegetation from their boat and trailer before moving from one waterbody to another.

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