Manuella Lake

How big is Manuella Lake?

How deep is Manuella Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Manuella Lake?

What are the closest cities to Manuella Lake?

Are there boat launches on Manuella Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Manuella Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Manuella Lake?

Manuella is a smaller sized lake (292 acres) located near Darwin, in Meeker County. A small state-owned access with a single cement boat ramp is located on the east shore. Manuella has 3 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 51 feet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Manuella is a class 24 lake and other similar lakes in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area are Erie and Stella.

Manuella is a typical bass/panfish type of lake with a good amount of aquatic vegetation and a little bit of structure too. Historically, low to moderate numbers of Walleye are typically sampled at Manuella Lake and this was again the case in 2021. The 2021 gill net catch rate indicated that fair numbers were present, with Walleye averaging an impressive 18 inches in length. The maximum length for Walleye was just under 26 inches. Anglers targeting Northern Pike can expect good action and the chance of landing a lunker is not out of the question. Northern Pike averaged 22 inches in length and fish up to 36 inches were captured. Many anglers troll the deep weed edge with crankbaits for pike and the occasional Walleye. The lake is often clear enough for spearing Northern Pike in the winter. Decent numbers of crappie were netted, with a fair amount being over 9 inches in length. The longest Black Crappie sampled in 2021 was 12 inches. Decent numbers of Smallmouth Bass were sampled in the gill nets with the longest fish being just under 20 inches. The Washington, Stella, and Manuella chain of lakes offers the best fishing opportunities in Meeker County for Smallmouth Bass. Largemouth Bass are typically not evaluated using gill nets, but good numbers were collected this year, with the maximum length being 19 inches. Try the lily pads with a weedless frog if you are after Largemouth Bass. Bluegill are also not typically assessed with gill nets, but good numbers of 7 inch long fish were sampled this summer. Try the deep weed edge with a teardrop jig tipped with a wax worm - vertically jigged down around 10 to 12 feet for the bigger sunfish. The longest Bluegill sampled in 2021 was 8 inches.

Other species that anglers may encounter include Black Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. Eurasian watermilfoil is present in Manuella Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

What is the average air temp for Manuella Lake?