Grand Lake

How big is Grand Lake?

How deep is Grand Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Grand Lake?

What are the closest cities to Grand Lake?

Are there boat launches on Grand Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Grand Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Grand Lake?

Grand Lake is a 650 acre lake located two (2) miles south of Rockville in eastern Stearns County. The lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet with moderate water quality. It has a modest watershed (< 7,000 acres) dominated by row crops, forest and pasture. A DNR public access is located on the south side of the lake and the lake was designated infested with starry stonewort in 2017. A lake survey was completed August 17 - 21, 2020 to update fisheries data last collected in 2015 and included summer gill netting and trap netting.

Walleye are a primary managed species in Grand Lake and are managed through fingerling stocking during even numbered years with occasional stocking by the Lake Association. Walleye abundance in 2020 was similar to 2015 and within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 12 to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 18 inches and two (2) pounds. Walleye ages ranged from two (2) to 12 years old with age-2 fish making up 52% of the ageing sample. Walleye growth is fast, taking two (2) years to reach 14 inches.

Northern Pike are abundant and small, but offer anglers the opportunity to catch good numbers. The pike population is comprised mostly of small fish with only 3% of the pike sampled being over 26 inches and none were longer than 30 inches. Northern Pike sampled in 2020 ranged in length from nine (9) to 28 inches with an average length and weight of 20 inches and two (2) pounds. Anglers are encouraged to harvest the abundant small pike (<22 inches) and release more of the medium-sized pike (>26 inches) to help improve the size structure.

Spring electrofishing is the preferred sampling method to assess Largemouth Bass populations; however bass sampling was not conducted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Largemouth Bass were last surveyed in 2015 and found in lower than average numbers; however the average size was good (14 inches) and 33% were longer than 15 inches.

Bluegill abundance was similar to 2015 with a few quality size Bluegill present. Twenty-nine percent of the Bluegill sampled were longer than six (6) inches, but only 3% were longer than eight (8) inches. Five hundred fifty-six Bluegill were sampled and ranged in length from two (2) to nine (9) inches with an average length of five (5) inches.

Black Crappie abundance in gill nets and trap nets was lower than 2015, but within the range of expected values for gill nets and below the expected values for trap nets. Only 10 Black Crappie were caught during the survey and ranged in length from six (6) to 12 inches with an average length of nine (9) inches. Surveys in late summer likely under represent panfish abundance and size structure. Targeted near-shore sampling around spawning time is recommended for both Bluegill and Black Crappie to better assess their abundance and size structure.

Yellow Perch abundance was similar to 2015, but below the expected range of values for similar lakes. Only three (3) Yellow Perch were sampled during the survey and all were six (6) inches in length. Yellow Perch abundance has been low since 2008 and is likely limited due to high numbers of Northern Pike.

Other species sampled included: Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and White Sucker.

What is the average air temp for Grand Lake?