Lake Volney

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Lake Volney

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Volney Lake is a 283-acre lake located approximately 3 miles southeast of the town of Le Center in Le Sueur County. It is one of the deepest lakes in the Waterville Area with a maximum depth of 67 feet. Roughly 46% of the lake is less than 15 feet deep. A DNR-owned public access is located on the southeast side of the lake off County Road 136. Volney lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Northern Pike and Walleye. Volney Lake is included in a research project investigating Walleye strain performance in the Cannon River chain of lakes beginning in 2018. The management plan calls for stocking a 50:50 ratio of Lower Mississippi Strain and Mississippi Strain Walleye fry at a rate of 500/littoral acre (N = 65,000) annually. Northern Pike fry are stocked into adjacent wetlands in odd years at a rate of 250/littoral acre (N = 32,500).

Volney Lake is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program every 6 years. The 2022 targeted survey was conducted the week of June 8, 2022, and methods were the same as a standard survey including number of nets set, net location, and time of year. Results from this targeted survey can be compared with results from standard surveys. The next survey is scheduled for 2025 and following surveys will follow the Tier-2 six-year schedule.

Black Crappie were the most abundantly sampled species in 2022. A total of 177 Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 29.5/net. Black Crappie catch rates since 1993 have varied from 0.5/net to 29.5/net with a mean of 10.3/net. Black Crappie ranged from 4.3 inches to 11.7 inches with an average of 6.5 inches. Only 12 Black Crappie were greater than 8 inches long. Black Crappie ranged from age-1 to age-7 with 5 year-classes present. The largest age class was age-2. Growth was moderate with quality length of 8.0 inches exceeded by age-4. The large 2020 year-class should provide a good fishing opportunity in another 2 years or so.

A total of 83 Bluegills were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 13.8/net. Bluegill lengths in 2022 ranged from 4.2 inches to 10.0 inches with a mean of 7.6 inches. Bluegills ranged from age-2 to age-6 with 5 year-classes present. Growth was fast with 6.0 inches reached by age-3 and 8.0 inches exceeded by age-4.

A total of 26 Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 4.3/net, which was greater than the lake class average. Northern Pike ranged from 19.7 inches to 39.4 inches with an average of 29.5 inches. Over 90% of Northern Pike sampled exceeded the legal minimum length of 24 inches. Northern Pike ranged from age-2 to age-9 with 7 year-classes present. Growth was fast.

Just 13 Walleyes were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 2.2/net, which was less than the lake class average (2.8/net). The average catch rate from 1993 to 2022 was 1.6/net. Walleye lengths in 2022 ranged from 20.5 inches to 25.8 inches with an average of 22.8 inches. Walleye ranged from age-6 to age-10 with 5 year-classes present. Most of the sample was from years in which fry were stocked. Walleye growth was moderate, reaching 15 inches in three years. The current management strategy has failed to produce a respectable Walleye catch rate and changes in the stocking plan should be considered. Perhaps additional information about Walleye strain performance will help improve Walleye numbers in Volney Lake.

Yellow Perch were common in 2022 with a gill net catch rate of 10.8/net, which was just above the lake class average (10.5/net). The long-term mean catch rate was 13.8/net, showing Yellow Perch have historically been abundant in Lake Volney. Yellow Perch lengths in 2022 ranged from 5.2 inches to 10.4 inches with an average of 7.0 inches. Approximately 20% of the sample exceeded 8.0 inches in length. Growth was relatively fast with Yellow Perch reaching 8.0 inches by year 4. The Yellow Perch population in Lake Volney should help support efforts to boost Walleye numbers while also providing a modest fishery themselves.

One of the most abundant species in Volney Lake was Freshwater Drum. In 2022, a total of 105 Freshwater Drum were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 17.5/net. The catch rate in 2019 was 26.0/net and the average catch rate since 1993 was 35.5/net. The average Freshwater Drum length in 2022 was 13.9 inches. Although not often targeted, Freshwater Drum can provide both sport and harvest value to anglers and should be promoted as such.

Other species sampled in 2022 included Largemouth Bass and Yellow Bullhead.

Water clarity was good. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 9.2 ppm and 67.1 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.2 ppm and 48.7 degrees Fahrenheit at 40 feet. A thermocline was detected at approximately 20 feet.

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 recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community 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.

It is important for all who use this waterbody to remember Clean In and Clean Out. CLEAN all visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species from watercraft, trailers, and water-related equipment before leaving and entering any water access or shoreland. DRAIN water-related equipment (boat, ballast tanks, portable bait containers, and motor) and drain bilge, livewell and baitwell by removing drain plugs before leaving a water access or shoreline property. Keep drain plugs out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft. DISPOSE of unwanted bait, including minnows, leeches, and worms, in the trash. It is illegal to release bait into a waterbody or release aquatic animals from one waterbody to another. If you want to keep your bait, you must refill the bait container with bottled or tap water.

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. 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

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