Perch Lake
Lincoln County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions About Perch Lake, MN
- How big is Perch Lake?
- How deep is Perch Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Perch Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Perch Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Perch Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Perch Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Perch Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Perch Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Perch Lake?
How big is Perch Lake?
How deep is Perch Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Perch Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Orangespotted Sunfish and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Perch Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Perch Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Perch Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Perch Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
Perch Lake is located in western Minnesota approximately four miles northwest of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. It is a productive prairie lake with a surface area of 224 acres and a maximum depth of 18 feet. An unimproved gravel access is present along the lake's east border. Parking is restricted and anglers must park along the road some distance from the access location.
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Perch Lake was conducted July 12-13 and August 4, 2021 by Ortonville Area Fisheries staff. Ten stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot seine. Nearshore sampling captured 8 native species of fish including Iowa Darter, which was the only intolerant species observed. Other species were Fathead Minnow, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Black Bullhead.
Data from this targeted nearshore survey is combined with data from a standard gill and trap netting survey (June 2021) to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. The FIBI score is composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics and indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. The 2021 FIBI score for Perch Lake is near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Minnesota River (Yellow Medicine) Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
What is the average air temp for Perch Lake?
Are there any state parks near Perch Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Perch Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Steep Bank Lake | 2.7 mi | 199 | 7 ft |
| Oak Lake | 3.0 mi | 108 | 10 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 3.2 mi | 32 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 3.6 mi | 25 | |
| Drietz Lake | 3.7 mi | 72 | 4 ft |
| Widmark Lake | 4.3 mi | 22 | |
| Popowski Lake | 4.4 mi | 143 | 12 ft |
| Hawksnest Lake | 4.8 mi | 299 | 7 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 5.2 mi | 20 | |
| North Ash Lake | 5.7 mi | 84 |
