Laura Lake

How big is Laura Lake?

How deep is Laura Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Laura Lake?

What are the closest cities to Laura Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Laura Lake?

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Laura Lake

Are there places to eat and drink near Laura Lake?

INTRODUCTION

Laura Lake is a 22-acre reservoir 1 mile southwest of Walnut Grove in Redwood County. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 21 feet, a shoreline length of 1.8 miles, and is a DNR class 33 lake based on physical and chemical characteristics. Laura Lake has shoreline access through a Redwood County Park. Boat access is by portage only with non-gas powered boats only. The lake is managed for largemouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch.

LARGEMOUTH BASS

The largemouth bass were introduced shortly after construction of the reservoir with the first and only stocking in 1979. Since 1979 the population has maintained itself naturally. Largemouth bass are best assessed with the use of spring electrofishing to capture the fish as they prepare to spawn or have just finished spawning. In June 26 largemouth bass were caught in just over an hour of electrofishing. The length of largemouth bass captured ranged from 4 to 19 inches with an average size of 13 inches. The wide range of fish sampled coupled with the presence of 7 age groups of fish indicates a population that is successfully sustaining itself. Additionally, the health of the largemouth bass population is above average compared to other populations in other lakes. The Largemouth bass population in Laura Lake currently exceeds the management goals set by the DNR (20 fish per hour of electrofishing). Local bass anglers particularly shore, canoe, and kayak anglers should consider Laura Lake as a fishing destination. Some large fish can be caught!

BLACK CRAPPIE

The black crappie population in Laura Lake has been on the rise since the early 1990's. The current catch rates are the highest on record with 42 fish in the gill net and an average of 33.5 fish in each trap net. The crappie ranged in length from 4 inches to 8 inches with an average length of 6 inches in the gill net and trap nets. The high catch rate in 2012 combined with healthy and plump fish gives evidence that the population will sustain itself at or near these levels for several years. Larger fish will become more common over the next 2 to 3 years as the youngest and most abundant crappie grow.

YELLOW PERCH

The yellow perch catch rate in 2012 was 31 fish per gill net and 3 fish per trap. The historical catch rate indicates that yellow perch abundance was highest in the early 1990s. This was then followed by catch rates just above or equal to the upper normal range of 19 fish per gill net and 4 fish per trap net, except for the 2006 trap net catch rate of 1.4 which was just average. The current yellow perch population abundance appears to have reached equilibrium as the catch rates have not changed substantially since the 1999 survey. Yellow perch in the 2012 sample ranged from 5 to 8 inches with an average length of 7 inches. The population is dominated by 1 age group of fish and the population is dominated by smaller fish. The overall average health of the yellow perch was average indicating no unusual stressors. Overall, the yellow perch population is sustaining itself and the size structure appears to provide a good forage base for the northern pike and largemouth bass in the lake.

BLUEGILL

The bluegill population in Laura Lake used to be included as a managed species up until 2006. Stocking to boost the population in the early 1990's did not work due to poor spawning habitat, poor water quality, and competition with other species. Surprisingly, in 2012 the bluegill catch rate was near 9 fish per trap net which is the second highest net catch rate since DNR sampling began in the late 1980's. Bluegill ranged in length from 4 to 7 inches with an average length of 5 inches. The bluegill population is sustaining itself at a low abundance, but it appears every so often that Laura Lake contains good numbers of bluegill when conditions are right for bluegill to do well.


OTHER SPECIES

Other species sampled in Laura Lake during August were black bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, white crappie, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.

SUMMARY

Overall, Laura Lake appears to contain healthy numbers of catchable size largemouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch. Also, an emerging bluegill population will add a species to angler's creel over the next 2 to 3 years. Laura Lake would benefit from increased conservation of land in the watershed area. Improvements in the watershed will directly improve oxygen levels in the lake for species such as northern pike, bluegill, and bait fish as well as giving Laura Lake a potential to support walleye if stocked. At this point walleye cannot be recommended as a managed species by the DNR due to poor oxygen levels in the lower depths that walleye would need to survive. In the time being, Laura Lake will continue to sustain a robust population of largemouth bass and should be a destination for shore, canoe, and kayak bass anglers in southwestern Minnesota. Good luck fishing!

Prepared by Nate Hodgins

Are there any state parks near Laura Lake?