Lake Wakanda

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What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Wakanda?

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A standard survey of Lake Wakanda was conducted during early July of 2016. A fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on September 12, 2016 to assess young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye abundance. Wakanda is a large (1,754 acres), shallow (15 feet maximum depth), turbid, aerated and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. Residential development is limited to the south shore. Wakanda connects to several shallow winterkill prone lakes (Little Kandiyohi, Kasota and Minnetaga) and eventually outlets into several large ditch systems eventually flowing into Big Kandiyohi and Lake Lillian. Partial winterkills of fish occurred during the mid to late 1990's due to high snowfall events or operational problems with the aeration system. A significant winterkill of gamefish and Common Carp occurred during January/February of 2013. The helixor aeration system was unable to provide adequate oxygen levels due in part to high snowfall accumulations. The helixor aeration system was not operated during the 2013-14 winter in part to facilitate a winterkill of undesirable fish (Common Carp) in Wakanda and also because the 2013 Walleye fry stocking was a failure. Dissolved oxygen levels were measured from 1 to 1.9 ppm during early February of 2014. Common Carp and Black Bullhead were present in 2014 ice out nets in Wakanda. It appears that even with a severe and prolonged winter with low oxygen conditions that a complete winterkill of undesirable fish species (Common Carp, Black Bullhead) did not occur in 2014. The helixor aeration was moved into shallower water with more rock substrates and away from silt and muck substrates in the fall of 2014. The 2014-15 winter had mild temperatures and little snow accumulation resulting in good oxygen levels in many susceptible winterkill lakes. The Wakanda helixor aeration system appeared to maintain dissolved oxygen levels at 5.0 ppm throughout the 2014-15 and 2015-16 winters, however nearby shallow lakes without aeration had higher oxygen levels (>7 ppm).

Submergent vegetation densities are variable in Wakanda. Sago pondweed is usually the most frequently occurring submergent species. Blue-green algae blooms are often intense and common during mid to late summer months. Wakanda receives high flows of agricultural and storm sewer runoff via tiles and ditches. Water clarity is often good from ice out to mid-June, but poor during the remainder of the summer. The secchi disc reading was 2.0 feet on July 15, 2016. Intense blue-green algae blooms were notably absent in Wakanda during July of 2016 unlike previous years and other nearby lakes (Big Kandiyohi). Water levels were above normal during the summer and fall of 2016. Dissolved oxygen levels were moderate (6.4-9.1 ppm) throughout the water column during the July 2016 survey. Total phosphorus levels (0.177 ppm) were high on June 13, 2016. Local residents and various government officials are developing a new comprehensive management plan for Wakanda. A large upstream wetland restoration (Grass Lake Project) is currently underway to potentially reduce or buffer storm water runoff from the city of Willmar and improve incoming water quality flowing into Wakanda and Big Kandiyohi.

Yellow Perch numbers were moderate in 2016 (15.50 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and the historical average 17.99 fish/gillnet. The Yellow Perch average size was large (0.38 pounds and 9.2 inches from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.29 pounds from gillnets. There were moderate numbers of Yellow Perch 8.0 inches and larger in the 2016 survey catch. Yellow Perch growth rates were excellent. The 2014 year class comprised 76% of the 2016 Yellow Perch survey catch.

Northern Pike numbers were moderate in 2016 (4.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes, but below the historical average (7.68 fish/gillnet). The Northern Pike average size was large (6.77 pounds and 31.5 inches) from gillnets. The Northern Pike historical average weight is 2.91 pounds from gillnets. The Northern Pike catch rate of 28.00 inches and larger was high (4.00 fish/gillnet) in 2016. Northern Pike growth rates were excellent. The 2013 and 2012 year classes each comprised 36% of the 2016 Northern Pike survey catch. Local anglers reported good success catching large northern pike during the 2016 summer.

Bluegill numbers were low in 2016 (0.53 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The Bluegill historical average catch rate is 1.26 fish/trapnet. The 2016 Bluegill average size was small (0.11 pounds and 4.6 inches) from trapnets. The Bluegill historical average weight is 0.10 pounds from trapnets. Bluegill growth rates were above the Spicer Area 75th quartiles for ages 1-5. The 2015 year class comprised 88% of the 2016 Bluegill survey catch.

Black Crappie numbers were low in 2016 (0.33 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The Black Crappie historical average catch rate is 0.61 fish/trapnet. Low numbers of small sized Black Crappie (1.50 fish/gillnet, 0.18 pounds average weight) were captured in the 2016 gillnets. The 2016 Black Crappie average size was small (0.25 pounds and 7.52 inches) from trapnets. The Black Crappie historical average weight is 0.41 pounds and 0.12 pounds from trapnets and gillnets respectively. Black Crappie growth rates were excellent. The 2015 year class comprised 75% of the Black Crappie survey catch.

Walleye numbers were abundant in 2016 (39.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes and the historical average (20.71 fish/gillnet). The 2016 Walleye average size was moderate (1.05 pounds and 14.7 inches) from gillnets. The Walleye historical average weight is 1.28 pounds from gillnets. There were abundant Walleye 15.0 inches and larger (16.50 fish/gillnet) in the 2016 survey catch. Walleye growth rates were good. The 2014 year class comprised 96% of the 2016 Walleye survey catch. Local anglers reported good angling success for Walleye during the 2016 summer.

Walleye natural reproduction is probably insignificant during most years, although adequate windswept shoal water substrates for good spawning habitat are present in Wakanda. Approximately 1.6 million walleye fry were stocked each year during the 2016, 2014 (Spicer strain) and 2013 springs. YOY Walleye numbers were abundant (90.0 YOY/hour, 6.8 inches) in 2016. Abundant YOY walleye numbers were captured (464.0 YOY/hour, 7.9 inches) in the 2014 fall electrofishing survey. No YOY walleye were captured in the 2013 fall electrofishing survey.

Channel Catfish abundance was moderate (1.50 fish/gillnet) in 2016. The 2016 Channel Catfish average size was large from gillnets (8.22 pounds, 27.7 inches). Channel Catfish were first documented in Wakanda during a 2006 survey. Channel Catfish have been stocked (Big Kandiyohi) or moved (Lillian) into other lakes within the South Fork of Crow River Watershed. The Channel Catfish may have moved into the Wakanda from the outlet via the connected tiles and ditches or were illegally stocked.

Bigmouth Buffalo numbers were low in 2016 (0.40 fish/trapnet). The 2016 Bigmouth Buffalo average size was 3.48 pounds from trapnets. The historical average weight is 7.54 pounds.

Black Bullhead numbers were low in 2016 (14.33 fish/trapnet) compared to the historical average (215.35 fish/trapnet). Black Bullhead abundance in 2016 gillnets (42.50 fish/gillnet) was also below the historical average catch rate (82.07 fish/gillnet). The 2016 Black Bullhead average size was moderate (0.34 pounds and 8.4 inches) from trapnets. The Black Bullhead historical average weight is 0.19 pounds and 0.26 pounds from trapnets and gillnets respectively.

Common Carp numbers were abundant in 2016 (12.27 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal range for similar lakes. The Common Carp historical average catch rate is 19.90 fish/trapnet. The 2016 Common Carp average size was large (8.40 pounds and 25.1 inches) from trapnets. The Common Carp historical average weight is 3.61 pounds from trapnets.

Current fish management activities on Wakanda include monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting Kandiyohi County in operating the aeration system, 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 land owners to implement best management practices in the watershed, and stocking various fish species as warranted. All fish species will be sampled in 2021. Fall electrofishing surveys will be conducted during Walleye fry stocked years to assess the success or failure of the stockings.

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