Ella Lake

How big is Ella Lake?

How deep is Ella Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Ella Lake?

What are the closest cities to Ella Lake?

Are there boat launches on Ella Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Ella Lake?

A targeted fall daytime electrofishing survey was conducted on Ella during September 7, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. Two stations were sampled for a total of 20 minutes. The water temperature was 73 F. Water clarity was poor (6"). Light densities of sago pondweed were present during the 2023 electrofishing survey. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e., standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass).

Lake Ella experienced a significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp during the 2022-23 winter. Lake Elizabeth also had a significant winterkill of Walleye and Common Carp near the Lake Ella outlet area. The Ella standard lake survey trapnet catch (3 single frame sets during early June of 2023) consisted of numerous adult Northern Pike, White Crappie and Black Bullhead in addition to low numbers of Bluegill, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead. Poor conditions such as high snowfall, long winter duration, low water and high aquatic vegetation contributed to the winterkill severity in many local lakes for 2022-23 winter. A partial winterkill of mostly Common Carp and Walleye occurred near the outlet area during February of 2019.

Ella is a small (153 acres), shallow (12 feet maximum depth), and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Walleye natural reproduction in Ella is generally insignificant or rare based on previous surveys. Walleye movement out of or into Ella via Lake Elizabeth can also occur during high water events. Walleye fry were generally stocked in Ella every other odd year from 1983-2007. Ella was stocked with 33,403 and 35,051 Walleye frylings (1-2 inch average length) in late/mid-June of 2008 and 2010 respectively. YOY Walleye catch rates were low to moderate in 2008 (25.26 YOY/hour, 7.01 inches length) and 2010 (42.00 YOY/hour, 6.55 inches) fall electrofishing surveys, but better than fall electrofishing surveys of 2003-2007 fry stocked years (3-20 YOY/hour). Walleye fry were stocked into Ella due to no/minimal fryling availability during 2015 (152,385 fry), 2017 (103,822 fry), 2018 (115,064 fry), 2019 (101,232 fry), 2021 (105,525 fry) and 2023 (76,262 fry). The fryling program has been discontinued.

Low numbers of YOY Walleye (6.00 YOY/hour, 5.66 inches) were caught in the 2023 fall daytime electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye are probably more numerous than documented in 2023 due to daytime electrofishing being less effective than nighttime electrofishing for catching YOY Walleye. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (102.00 YOY/hour, 5.57 inches) were captured in the 2019 fall night electrofishing survey. No Yearling Walleye were captured in 2019. We observed moderate numbers of Bluegill in the 2019 fall electrofishing survey. Low YOY Walleye numbers (18.00 YOY/hour, 6.17 inches) and no yearling Walleye were captured in the 2018 fall night electrofishing survey. No YOY or yearling Walleye were captured in the 2017 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate numbers of YOY Walleye (42.00 YOY/hour, 6.12 inches) were captured in the 2015 fall night electrofishing survey. Nearby Lake Elizabeth had a slightly lower catch rate (30.00 YOY/hour, 5.52 inches), but no Walleye fry were stocked in Elizabeth during 2015. Low YOY Walleye numbers (6.00 YOY/hour, 7.68 inches average length) due to natural reproduction or movement from Elizabeth were sampled in the 2013 night fall electrofishing survey. Walleye fingerlings (239 pounds, 5,975 fish) were stocked into Ella during the 2013 fall after the fall night electrofishing survey.

Adult Walleye numbers (10.33 fish/gillnet, 1.42 pounds and 15.60 inches) were abundant in the most recent 2021 standard summer gillnet and trapnet survey. Approximately 50% of the 2021 summer catch was from the 2019 year class. However, Walleye numbers are currently reduced as of 2023 due to the recent winterkill.

The Ella fishery will be surveyed in the 2026 summer for all fish species. Walleye fry will be stocked annually. Fall night electrofishing surveys will be conducted periodically during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of these stockings.

What is the average air temp for Ella Lake?

Are there any state parks near Ella Lake?