Minnetaga Lake

How big is Minnetaga Lake?

How deep is Minnetaga Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Minnetaga Lake?

What are the closest cities to Minnetaga Lake?

Are there boat launches on Minnetaga Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Minnetaga Lake?

A standard survey of Minnetaga was conducted during late June and early July of 2021. 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).

A standard survey of Minnetaga was first conducted during early July of 2016. An initial fish survey was completed in 2007. Minnetaga is a moderate sized (791 acres), shallow (9 feet deep), turbid and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. There are two public access sites along the east shore which include a newly completed state-owned gravel boat ramp and a road right away access off the county gravel road. Low water levels can make large boat access difficult at the public sites. Water levels were low in 2020 and 2021. An Aquatic Management Area is located along the southwest shore. Moderate nutrient runoff inflows are common into Minnetaga during rain events from agricultural sources via the shoreline areas, tiles, and ditches. The outlet flows into Lake Kasota (6 feet deep) which connects to other shallow lakes (Little Kandiyohi and eventually Lake Wakanda). A swinging finger fish barrier is located on the downstream (Kasota side) culvert end of the outlet. Intense blue-green algae blooms can be common in Minnetaga during the summer months. Aquatic vegetation species present are usually limited mostly to sago pondweed, filamentous algae and water moss in Minnetaga. Submergent vegetation was sparse in 2021. The water clarity was poor (secchi disc=2.5 feet) for Minnetaga on June 13, 2016. The water was a brown-green stained color due in part to algae blooms in 2021.

Winterkill events have been relatively uncommon in Minnetaga during recent years. A partial winterkill of gamefish may have occurred during the 2007 08 winter due to low oxygen conditions; however, there were no local reports of dead fish seen along the shore in the 2008 spring. Excellent Walleye fishing had occurred prior to January of 2013 on both Minnetaga and Kasota. Nearby, connected Lake Kasota and Lake Wakanda had significant winterkills of Common Carp and Walleye during late January or early February of 2013. No significant numbers of dead fish were noted on Minnetaga during the spring of 2014. Ice out trapnets captured low numbers of Walleye that were 20+ inches in size from Minnetaga during the spring of 2013. Winter dissolved oxygen readings on most area shallow lakes were relatively high (>10.0 ppm) during January of 2019. High snowfall events and cold temperatures were the norm for February and early March of 2019. No winterkill was observed on Minnetaga unlike other nearby lakes like Wakanda and Lake Lillian. Ice out netting in 2019 confirmed the presence of various gamefish/panfish species present in Minnetaga. Dissolved oxygen levels were adequate on most area lakes during the 2020-21 winter. Minnetaga winter oxygen levels were marginal (2.6 ppm) during mid-February of 2022. Dissolved oxygen levels were variable during the 2021-22 winter due in part to low water levels, colder temperatures, variability in snow cover, and overabundance of submergent vegetation in some basins (i.e., Elizabeth). In 2021-22 winter, high snowfall cover coupled with low water and decaying of high submergent vegetation densities in some area lakes resulted in rapid declines of winter oxygen levels. These conditions may result in possible winterkill of fish in some area lakes in 2022.

Northern Pike were absent in the 2021 gillnets. Northern Pike abundance in 2016 was low (0.50 fish/gillnet). The 2007 Northern Pike abundance was 6.00 fish/gillnet. One Northern Pike was captured in the 2021 trapnets (0.08 fish/trapnet, 22.17 inches). Minnetaga has been a popular shore fishing area for catching large Northern Pike in the past. Northern Pike possession limit regulations for Minnetaga 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.

Black Crappie abundance in 2021 was moderate in trapnets (3.92 fish/trapnet) and gillnets (2.33 fish/gillnet). Black Crappie average size was moderate in trapnets (0.52 pounds, 9.34 inches), but large in gillnets (0.96 pounds, 11.86 inches).

Yellow Perch abundance in 2021 was low (4.33 fish/gillnet). The 2016 Yellow Perch abundance was moderate (19.50 fish/gillnet). The 2007 Yellow Perch abundance was 28.50 fish/gillnet. The 2021 Yellow Perch size was large (0.55 pounds and 10.29 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch catch rate of quality size (10.00 plus inches) was 2.67 fish/gillnet in 2021. The largest Yellow Perch capture was 12.40 inches in 2021. Yellow Perch growth rates were generally above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-7. The 2019 year class comprised 29% of the 2021 Yellow Perch survey catch. The 2015 year class comprised 17% of the 2021 Yellow Perch survey catch.

Walleye abundance in 2021 was high (40.33 fish/gillnet). The 2016 Walleye abundance was also high (39.50 fish/gillnet). The 2007 Walleye abundance was 9.25 fish/gillnet. The 2021 Walleye average size was moderate (1.03 pounds and 14.17 inches) from gillnets. The Walleye catch rate of quality size (15.00 plus inches) was 4.33 fish/gillnet in 2021. Walleye growth rates were below the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-3, within the normal ranges for ages 4-5 and above the normal ranges for ages 6-8. The 2018 year class comprised 86% of the 2021 Walleye survey catch. Local anglers reported excellent success catching Walleye during the 2016-17 and 2020-2021.

Walleye natural reproduction is generally insignificant in Minnetaga. Walleye movement in or out of Minnetaga is possible with connected Kasota and Wakanda Lakes. Walleye fry (about 770,000 fry per year) were stocked into Minnetaga from 2008 2012, 2014 and 2016. Private strain Walleye (400,000 fish) were stocked in 2017. Approximately 1.1 million Pike River strain Walleye fry were stocked into Minnetaga during 2018. In 2021, 593,837 Spicer strain Walleye fry were stocked into Minnetaga. Walleye fry stocked in Minnetaga were of Spicer strain in 2014, but Pike River strain in 2016. Young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye abundance was high (226.16 YOY/hour, 5.81 inches) in the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye abundance was low in 2017 (16.36 YOY/hour, 5.19 inches) and 2016 (4.00 YOY/hour, 6.85 inches). YOY Walleye numbers were abundant (192.00 YOY/hour, 5.86 inches) in the 2014 fall electrofishing survey. No fall electrofishing surveys were conducted in 2011-2012 due to poor access and low water conditions.

Black Bullhead abundance in 2021 was low (1.17 fish/trapnet). Black Bullhead abundance was also low in 2016 (4.25 fish/trapnet. The 2021 Black Bullhead gillnet catch rate was also low (1.67 fish/gillnet). The 2007 Black Bullhead catch rates were 3.67 fish/trapnet and 36.00 fish/gillnet. The 2021 Black Bullhead average weights were large from trapnets (1.22 pounds) and moderate from gillnets (0.59 pounds).

Common Carp trapnet abundance in 2021 was high (4.42 fish/trapnet). The 2021 Common Carp gillnet abundance was moderate (2.33 fish/gillnet). Common Carp abundance in 2016 was 15.17 fish/trapnet and 16.50 fish/gillnet. The 2007 Common Carp catch rates were 3.67 fish/trapnet and 7.25 fish/gillnet. The 2021 Common Carp average sizes were large from trapnets (7.41 pounds and 24.80 inches) and moderate from gillnets (5.21 pounds and 20.97 inches).

White Sucker abundance in 2021 was high (19.67 fish/gillnet). Bigmouth Buffalo abundance in 2021 was low (0.75 fish/trapnet).

Current fish management activities on Minnetaga include monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, encouraging landowners to implement best management practices in the watershed, and stocking various fish species as warranted. All fish species will be sampled in 2026. Fall electrofishing surveys may be conducted during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.

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Are there any state parks near Minnetaga Lake?