Carey Lake

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Carey Lake is located within the Carey Lake Park and Recreation Area in Hibbing, Minnesota. The public access is located on the west side and there is a 10 hp outboard motor restriction on the lake. The lake has brown water due to tannins. The 2013 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Walleye were the primary species of management with Bluegill as a secondary species. The LMP goals include maintaining the Black Crappie trap-net catch rate at 5.0/net, a Northern Pike gill-net catch rate near 4.0/net, and a Walleye fishery represented by a catch of 2.0/gill net. Only gill-nets were used to evaluate Walleye stocking in August of 2017.

The Black Crappie gill-net catch of 5.3 fish/net was high compared to other lakes with similar habitat. The sampled fish ranged from 5.8 to 11.1 inches and averaged 7.8 inches. Five age-classes were estimated from scales with fish from age 2 to 7 represented. Growth was slower than other lakes with similar habitat. The fish only averaged 8.6 inches after five years of growth. Black Crappie may provide good fishing at times but the larger fish anglers seek are most likely harvested quickly since the lake is small.

Northern Pike gill-net catch rates have ranged from 1.4 to 16.0 fish/net since 1971. The Northern Pike catches in the last two surveys have been the only two distinctly higher than normal for the lake and for other lakes with similar habitat. The catch of 13.7 fish/net in 2017 was the second highest on record and did not meet the LMP goal. The goal of 4.0 fish/net reflects a population characterized by moderate density, good growth, and a diverse size structure. High numbers of Northern Pike generally lead to the opposite population characteristics and can negatively affect the prey base. The sample fish ranged from 13.9 to 30.4 inches and averaged 19.3 inches. Seven age-classes were identified with fish from age 1 to 7 represented. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages. Northern Pike averaged 20.9 inches after four years of growth. Good action may be found for Northern Pike anglers but large fish are unlikely to be encountered.

Carey Lake does not have the habitat to be a destination fishery for Walleye so management has attempted to provide a bonus fishery. Walleye have been stocked every other year since 2003. Net catches have historically been low and were again in 2017. The catch of 0.7 fish/net was low compared to other lakes with similar habitat and did not meet the LMP goal of 2.0/net. Three of the Walleye were from the 2015 stocking and averaged 14.6 inches at capture. The small size of the lake, lake productivity, and low Yellow Perch likely limits Walleye numbers.

Yellow Perch catches have ranged from 0.5 to 7.3 fish/gill net since 1971. The 2017 catch was the lowest on record at 0.5 fish/gill net. The two lowest catches have occurred in the last two surveys. The sampled Yellow Perch ranged from 6.1 to 6.7 inches. The Yellow Perch are not likely providing fishing opportunities or prey for predators due to their poor size structure and low numbers.

Other species observed during the survey included Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

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