Foot Lake

How big is Foot Lake?

How deep is Foot Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Foot Lake?

What are the closest cities to Foot Lake?

Are there boat launches on Foot Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Foot Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Foot Lake?

A standard survey was conducted on Foot Lake during late July of 2020. 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).

Foot is a moderate sized (503 acres), multi basin, aerated, and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Foot is part of the Hawk Creek Watershed. Foot Lake is located within the city limits of Willmar. There are two distinct basins (northwest and southeast) bisected by a county road, but connected via several large culverts. A large city park "Robbin's Island" is located along the east side of the southeast basin. The Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds is located along the south shore of the northwest basin. Ridgewater College is located on the north shore of the northwest basin. There are 86 homes and several nearby apartment buildings (adjacent) on Foot Lake. There are two public boat access sites with one site on each basin, and one shore fishing pier on the north shore of the southeast basin near the two large culverts. The fishing pier is popular spot for catching Walleye, Northern Pike and Channel Catfish in the lake. Foot Lake is also connected to Willmar Lake via an upstream navigable channel. Fish movement between the Foot Lake basins and Willmar Lake occurs frequently. The Foot Lake outlet is considered the headwaters of Hawk Creek, although there are several shallow lakes upstream of Foot Lake connected via ditches and inlets to Willmar Lake. The outlet dam is located along the southwest shore of the northwest basin. There are 27 inlets/tiles that enter Foot Lake. Nutrient inputs into Foot Lake are from varied sources such as road runoff via Highway 23/71, storm sewer runoff from the city of Willmar, residential lawn runoff, fecal droppings from local Canada goose populations, and agricultural runoff primarily in the northwest basin. Nutrient levels are high in Foot. Shoalwater substrates were varied in both basins with sand, silt, muck, gravel, boulder, and rubble.

The northwest basin is approximately 6 feet deep maximum, moderate to abundant submergent vegetation (coontail, northern milfoil, water moss) and moderate water clarity. The southeast basin has a maximum depth of 24 feet, sparse submergent vegetation (sago pondweed) and poor water clarity (secchi=1.0 feet on July 27, 2020). Emergent vegetation (cattails, bulrush) is common near the Willmar Lake channel area and scattered throughout the near shore areas of the northwest basin. Blue-green algae blooms are common occurrences during the late summer months of most years. Dissolved oxygen levels were low (<1.0 ppm) at depths greater than 15 feet. Water levels were low during 2020. Foot Lake has been a popular fishing lake for Black Crappie, Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Channel Catfish and Largemouth Bass in recent years.

Black Crappie numbers were moderate in 2020 (9.33 fish/gillnet, 3.83 fish/trapnet). Black Crappie historical average catch rates are 1.85 fish/gillnet and 5.67 fish/trapnet for Foot Lake. The Black Crappie average sizes was moderate from gillnets (0.33 pounds, 8.12 inches) and trapnets (0.40 pounds and 8.81 inches). The Black Crappie historical average weight is 0.34 pounds from both gillnets and trapnets. The largest Black Crappie captured was 10.83 inches. Black Crappie growth rates were fair for ages 1-5. The 2018 and 2016 year classes comprised 41% and 22% respectively of the 2020 Black Crappie catch.

Bluegill numbers were abundant in 2020 (23.67 fish/trapnet). The Bluegill historical average catch rate is 9.98 fish/trapnet for Foot Lake. Abundant numbers of moderate sized Bluegill (5.00 fish/gillnet, 0.23 pounds average weight) were also captured in the 2020 gillnets. The 2020 Bluegill average size was moderate (0.16 pounds and 5.77 inches) from trapnets. The Bluegill historical average weight is 0.24 pounds from trapnets. The catch rate of quality size (6.00 plus inches) Bluegill was high (12.00 fish/trapnet) in 2020.

Channel Catfish were not captured in 2014 or 2020 survey nets. Channel Catfish were last captured in 2009 gillnets (0.33 fish/gillnet, 15.35 inches average length). Channel Catfish fingerlings (4,891 fish, 75 pounds) were last stocked into Foot during 2013.

Largemouth Bass numbers were abundant in the 2020 gillnets (1.67 fish/gillnet). A spring electrofishing survey was not conducted for Largemouth Bass in 2020. The Largemouth Bass average weight was moderate (1.27 pounds) in 2020.

Northern Pike numbers were moderate in 2020 (3.33 fish/gillnet). The Northern Pike historical average catch rate is 3.27 fish/gillnet for Foot Lake. The 2020 Northern Pike average size was moderate (2.81 pounds and 23.06 inches) from gillnets. The Northern Pike historical average weight is 2.58 pounds from gillnets. Northern Pike growth rates were fair for ages 1-5. The 2015 and 2014 year classes comprised 38% and 31% respectively of the 2020 Northern Pike catch. Northern Pike possession limit regulations for Foot Lake in the North-central Zone are as follows: anglers can keep 10 Northern Pike, but not more than two pike longer than 26 inches; and all from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Northern Pike taken by spearing follow the same rules except one pike may be between 22 and 26 inches or two larger than 26 inches.

Walleye numbers were moderate in 2020 (8.00 fish/gillnet). The Walleye historical average catch rate is 5.75 fish/gillnet for Foot Lake. Walleye were moderately abundant and similar size in connected Willmar Lake (12.00 fish/gillnet, 2.02 pounds average weight). The 2020 Walleye average weight and length were 1.90 pounds and 16.79 inches from gillnets in Foot. The Walleye historical average weight is 1.77 pounds from gillnets. There were abundant Walleye of 15.00 plus inches (6.00 fish/gillnet) in 2020. Walleye growth rates were fair for ages 1-4, but slow for ages 5-8. The 2014 year class (fry stocked) comprised 57% of the 2020 Walleye catch.

Walleye natural reproduction in Foot Lake is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous fall and summer surveys. Walleye fry have been generally stocked (250,000-670,000 fish per lake) during even years since 1982 in both Willmar and Foot. Recent Walleye stockings include 2019 (300,000 fry; 6,019 fingerlings, 521 pounds), 2018 (357,952 fry), 2017 (404,208 fry), 2016 (504,388 fry), 2014 (499,182 fry) and 2012 (527,482 fry). Young of year "YOY" Walleye (fry stockings) were last abundant in the 2014 fall electrofishing surveys for Foot (216.00 YOY/hour, 5.59 inches average length) and connected Willmar (192.00 YOY/hour, 5.63 inches). YOY Walleye abundance was low (15.00 YOY/hour or less) in 2016-2019 fall electrofishing surveys for both Foot and Willmar.

Yellow Perch numbers were low in 2020 (3.67 fish/gillnet). The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 6.71 fish/gillnet for Foot Lake. The 2020 Yellow Perch average size was small (0.13 pounds and 6.48 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.18 pounds from gillnets. The catch rate of quality size (8.00 plus inches) Yellow Perch was low (0.67 fish/gillnet) in 2020.

Black Bullhead numbers were low in 2020 (1.00 fish/gillnet, 0.50 fish/trapnet). The Black Bullhead historical average catch rate is 120.23 fish/gillnet for Foot Lake. The 2020 Black Bullhead average size was small (0.27 pounds and 7.56 inches) from gillnets. The Black Bullhead historical average weight is 0.34 pounds from gillnets.

Common Carp numbers were low in 2020 (1.00 fish/trapnet). The Common Carp historical average catch rate is 3.00 fish/trapnet for Foot Lake. The 2020 Common Carp average size was large (7.41 pounds and 24.65 inches) from trapnets. The Common Carp historical average weight is 4.70 pounds from trapnets.

Freshwater Drum numbers were abundant in 2020 (16.33 fish/gillnet). The Freshwater Drum historical average catch rate is 6.08 fish/gillnet for Foot Lake. The 2020 Freshwater Drum average size was moderate (1.25 pounds and 13.98 inches) from gillnets.

Current fish management activities on Foot include protecting the important aquatic habitats such as emergent and submergent vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, encouraging land owners to implement best management practices in the watershed, and stocking various fish species as warranted. All fish species in Foot Lake will be surveyed again in the summer of 2025.

What is the average air temp for Foot Lake?

Are there any state parks near Foot Lake?