West Sturgeon Lake

How big is West Sturgeon Lake?

How deep is West Sturgeon Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in West Sturgeon Lake?

Are there boat launches on West Sturgeon Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near West Sturgeon Lake?

West Sturgeon is a small, infertile lake located about 15 miles northwest of Chisholm, Minnesota. There is no public access on the lake but access can be attained from other lakes in the chain. Small, infertile lakes like West Sturgeon often do not have the ability to produce high quality fisheries and are vulnerable to angling overharvest. The 2003 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Black Crappie and Northern Pike are the primary species of management with Bluegill as a secondary species. Historical netting data was used to formulate the LMP goals for the lake. A standard survey was conducted in June of 2016 to assess the status of the fish community.

Black Crappie numbers have never been high relative to similar lakes. The trap-net catch of 1.6 fish/net approached the LMP goal of 2.0/net. The sampled fish ranged from 6.2 to 10.8 inches and averaged 9.0 inches. Fish from three to six years old were sampled. Growth was slow with Black Crappie averaging 8.6 inches after five years. The Black Crappie population may provide decent fishing at times following periods of good natural reproduction.

The 2016 Northern Pike catch was the lowest on record and fell short of the LMP goal. The sampled fish ranged from 19.9 to 26.5 inches and averaged 22.1 inches. The sampled fish were four to six years old. Northern Pike averaged 20.1 inches after four years, which is similar to the statewide average. The pike population appears to be low and likely cannot withstand much angler harvest.

Bluegill catches increased from 1984 to 2002, but declined in 2016. The catch was within the normal range for similar lakes but failed to meet the LMP goal. The sampled fish ranged from 3.3 to 8.9 inches and averaged 4.9 inches. The oldest Bluegill was estimated to be 10 years old based on scale evaluations. Fish averaged 4.7 inches after five years, which is slow. More than likely the small average size and slow growing Bluegill in West Sturgeon will not attract much attention from anglers.

Walleye catches have always been low in West Sturgeon despite various stocking within the chain. Only one Walleye was sampled by gill nets in each of the last two surveys while the most ever sampled was three fish. Low lake productivity in conjunction with an inadequate prey base will limit Walleye numbers.

The Yellow Perch catch was the lowest on record in 2016. The sampled Yellow Perch ranged from 5.8 to 7.0 inches and averaged 6.3 inches. Yellow Perch are not likely providing much fishing opportunities or food for predators due to their poor size structure and low numbers.

Other species sampled during the survey included Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Tullibee and White Sucker.

In order to maintain or improve fish and wildlife populations, water quality and habitat must be protected. People often associate water quality problems with large-scale agricultural, forestry, urban development or industrial practices in the watershed. In reality, the impact of land use decisions on one lake lot may be relatively small, yet the cumulative impact of those decisions on many lake lots can result in a significant decline in water quality and habitat. For example, removing shoreline and aquatic vegetation, fertilizing lawns, mowing to the water's edge, installing beach sand blankets, failing septic systems and uncontrolled run-off, all contribute excess nutrients and sediment which degrade water quality and habitat. Understanding these cumulative impacts and taking steps to avoid or minimize them will help to insure our quality fisheries can be enjoyed by future generations.

What is the average air temp for West Sturgeon Lake?

Are there any state parks near West Sturgeon Lake?