Steele Lake

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Status of the Fishery

Steele Lake is a 70-acre lake located approximately 3 miles north of the town of Elysian in Le Sueur County. Steele Lake has a max depth of 27 feet with approximately 75% of the lake less than 15 feet deep. Most of the shoreline is undeveloped with a cattail fringe. Water quality is generally poor with frequent algal blooms due to elevated nutrient levels. A county-owned public access is located on the south side of the lake off County Highway 11. Steele Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill and Northern Pike and secondarily for Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. All four species are stocked as needed following reclamation or winterkill events. The last recorded winterkill was in 2014 and 432 adult Northern Pike, 175 adult Bluegill, and 50 adult Black Crappie were stocked as a result. Additionally, adult Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2015. Steele Lake is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program every 6 years.

The 2019 standard survey was completed the week of June 17, 2020 using 2 gill nets, 6 trap nets, and 81 minutes of standard daytime boat electrofishing. A standard survey is used for sampling a wide 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).

A total of 170 Black Crappie were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 28.3/net, indicating high numbers were present. After catching zero in the 2014 survey following the winterkill, the Black Crappie population has rebounded to the second highest catch rate since 1993. Lengths ranged from 3.8 to 10.0 inches with a mean of 5.7 inches. Size structure was poor with only 2 fish larger than 10 inches. An additional 38 fish ranging from 4.1 to 6.4 inches were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 19.0/net. Black Crappie from both gears ranged from 1 to 3 years old with 3 year classes present. Each year class was well represented. Growth was moderate with fish exceeding 6 inches at year 2. The population appeared to still be recovering with few fish large enough for anglers to harvest.

Bluegills were extremely abundant in trap nets with a catch rate of 113.0/net. High catch rates have been common since 1993 with an average catch rate of 71.4/net during that time. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 3.6 to 6.6 inches with an average of just 4.7 inches. Size structure was poor with few quality fish available. Ages ranged from 2 to 6 years old with 5 year classes present. Growth was slow with fish growing on average 1 inch a year. The Bluegill population has recovered in numbers only with very slow growth limiting its potential to angling.

Largemouth Bass were common in 2019. A total of 78 Largemouth Bass were sampled with standard daytime boat electrofishing for a catch rate of 57.3/hour. This was the first standard boat electrofishing sample conducted in Steele Lake. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from 3.1 to 18.7 inches with a mean of 15.2 inches. Sizes structure was good with many fish over 15 inches. Three more Largemouth bass, averaging 16.4 inches long, were sampled with trap nets. Ages from both gears ranged from 1 to 8 years old with 5 year classes present. Most of the sample was from 2015. Growth was fast with quality length of 15 inches exceeded by year 4. The Steele Lake Largemouth Bass population offered an excellent fishing opportunity in 2019 and should continue in the absence of winterkill events.

Northern Pike were also common in 2019 with a total of 25 sampled with the gill nets for a catch rate of 12.5/net. Since 1993, catch rates have varied from 0.0/net to 15.0/net with an average of 6.0/net. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 24.1 to 36.0 inches with an average of 28.1 inches. This indicated good size structure with the entire sample larger than the legal minimum length limit of 24 inches. An additional 10 fish ranging from 21.0 to 30.3 inches were sampled with the trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 3 to 7 years old with 5 year classes present. Approximately 74% were either 4 or 5 years old. Growth was fast with quality length of 21 inches exceeded by year 2.

Steele Lake is located in the Southern Northern Pike management zone. In order to harvest a Northern Pike the fish must be over 24.0 inches in length. The daily bag limit in this zone is 2 Northern Pike per day.
Black Bullheads were common in the 2019 survey which is typical of lakes with a recent history of winterkill. A total of 237 Black Bullheads were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 118.5/net. Most were small with an average length of just 5.4 inches. Since 1993, catch rates have been extremely variable with a range of 0.5/net to 210.5/net and an average of 81.4/net. Black Bullheads will continue to dominate the fish community as long as periodic winterkill events occur in Steele Lake.

Common Carp were successful in migrating back into Steele Lake after the 2014 winterkill event as indicated by high trap net catch rate in the 2014 survey. However, only 9 were sampled in 2019. Lengths ranged from 15.5 to 18.0 inches. The low catch rate and absence of smaller fish in the sample indicate the population has not expanded to problematic numbers in Steele Lake. The high catch rates of piscivores and egg-eating Bluegills should continue to suppress the Common Carp population.

Other Species sampled in 2019 include Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish (Lepomis spp.).

Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of just 2.0 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 13.2 ppm and 72.9 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.0 ppm and 55.6 degrees Fahrenheit at 23 feet. A thermocline was detected between 11 and 14 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 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.

- Sky Wigen, fisheries specialist

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