Rush Island Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Rush Island Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Rush Island Lake, MN
- How big is Rush Island Lake?
- How deep is Rush Island Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Rush Island Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Rush Island Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Rush Island Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Rush Island Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Rush Island Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Rush Island Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Rush Island Lake?
How big is Rush Island Lake?
How deep is Rush Island Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Rush Island Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Central Mudminnow, Cisco (Tullibee), Creek Chub, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Tadpole Madtom and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Rush Island Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Rush Island Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Lake-Link Featured Lodging
Are there boat launches on Rush Island Lake?
Rush Island Lake area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Rush Island Lake?
Explore the Rush Island Lake area in a RV
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Bemidji, MN
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Rush-Island Lake was conducted on August 16, 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, but three stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample one station, a 15-foot seine was used at five stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter) and no species that are tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a June 2021 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 (Green Sunfish). 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.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Rush-Island Lake is healthy as indicated by an exceptionally high FIBI score, well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Big Fork River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Rush Island Lake?
Are there any state parks near Rush Island Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Rush Island Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Bass Lake | 0.6 mi | 93 | 25 ft |
| Cedar Lake | 1.3 mi | 178 | 45 ft |
| Mushgee Lake | 1.6 mi | 143 | |
| Beaver Lake | 1.6 mi | 30 | |
| Bird's Eye Lake | 1.6 mi | 80 | 50 ft |
| Sand Lake | 2.5 mi | 3,579 | 70 ft |
| Ames Lake | 2.5 mi | 10 | |
| Stone Axe Lake | 2.8 mi | 49 | |
| Minni-Car-Car Lake | 2.8 mi | 27 | |
| Portage Lake | 3.0 mi | 715 | 60 ft |
