Rays Lake

How big is Rays Lake?

How deep is Rays Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Rays Lake?

What are the closest cities to Rays Lake?

Are there boat launches on Rays Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Rays Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Rays Lake?

Rays (Charles) Lake is a 156.3-acre lake located in Le Sueur County north of the town of Elysian. A public access is located on the south side of the lake off 1st Street North, which goes north from Elysian. Rays Lake has a maximum depth of 32.0 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil is present in Rays Lake. Boaters should be sure to remove all aquatic vegetation from boats, trailers, and equipment and drain all water from livewell, transoms, and bilges when leaving the lake to prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil to other lakes. Rays Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily managed for Northern Pike. Fish are only stocked in Rays Lake in the event of a winterkill. The last stocking event on record took place in 1980.

Gill nets and boat electrofishing were completed during the regularly scheduled survey in 2020 but trap nets were postponed until 2021 due to COVID protocols. The 2021 targeted survey was completed the week of 26 July 2021 using 9 trap nets. 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 methods (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, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Results from this targeted survey should not be compared to results from standard surveys.

A total of 311 Bluegills were sampled for a catch rate of 34.6/net, indicating moderate to high numbers were present. Bluegills ranged from 3.2 to 8.2 inches with an average of 5.5 inches. Size structure was poor with few fish over 7 inches.

A total of 346 Black Crappie were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 38.4/net. Black Crappie ranged from 0.75 to 11.3 inches and averaged 7.0 inches. Black Crappie size structure was poor but fish over 10 inches were sampled.

Other game fish sampled in low numbers in 2021 include Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch.

Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body.

Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

- Tyler Fellows, Fisheries Specialist

What is the average air temp for Rays Lake?

Are there any state parks near Rays Lake?