Guernsey Lake
Todd County, Minnesota
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Guernsey Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Guernsey Lake, MN
- How big is Guernsey Lake?
- How deep is Guernsey Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Guernsey Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Guernsey Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Guernsey Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Guernsey Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Guernsey Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Guernsey Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Guernsey Lake?
How big is Guernsey Lake?
How deep is Guernsey Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Guernsey Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Common Shiner, Emerald Shiner, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Spottail Shiner, Tadpole Madtom and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Guernsey Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Guernsey Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Guernsey Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Guernsey Lake?
What aquatic invasive species are found in Guernsey Lake?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
A standard lake survey was completed in May 2018 to obtain current information regarding the fishery. Trap nets were used in the shallows to assess panfish populations and gill nets were used in deeper, open water to assess Northern Pike, Walleye and Yellow Perch populations. Guernsey Lake is a small, quiet 125-acre lake located on the Sauk River about 7 miles southeast of Osakis. As a riverine lake, nutrient levels are high and water clarity is poor. Cattail is the dominant species of vegetation and essentially rings the entire basin. There is little to no residential shoreline development. A concrete public boat ramp is located on the southwest end of the lake near the inlet of the Sauk River. Species supported in the Sauk River can freely move in and out of Guernsey Lake. Black Crappie and Bluegill are the primary species of management, but there are Walleyes (natural not stocked) in the lake and Northern Pike approaching trophy size have historically been captured in survey nets.
Black Crappies are abundant. Spring Trap netting regularly samples crappies over 10 inches in length. Since 2009, crappies have been getting bigger to the point where the 2010 year class is dominating the population. These fish measured 10-11 inches in 2018. Bluegills do not appear to be doing as well as crappies, however, the lake supports fish over nine inches, as evidenced in trap net sampling during the past decade.
Northern Pike appear to be increasing in abundance. Past surveys found occasional pike in the upper 30 to low 40-inch range however, the 2018 survey did not find many large fish. A total of 33 Walleyes were sampled in gill nets, the largest was 25 inches. Because of Guernsey's riverine nature, large predators can move in and out with ease making their presence highly variable. The good news is that adequate prey-fish including Yellow Perch and White Sucker are common and appear to provide a sustainable forage base for large pike and Walleye.
Anglers and dark house spearers are encouraged to practice selective harvest with Northern Pike and Bluegill. The sustained presence of large individuals of either of these species seems to be of particular importance in maintaining a quality, healthy fishery.
What is the average air temp for Guernsey Lake?
Are there any state parks near Guernsey Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Guernsey Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.8 mi | 40 | |
| Long Lake | 2.8 mi | 107 | 35 ft |
| Little Sauk Lake | 2.9 mi | 277 | 29 ft |
| Lily Lake | 3.2 mi | 66 | 38 ft |
| Randall Lake | 3.5 mi | 15 | |
| Fairy Lake | 3.8 mi | 307 | 37 ft |
| Twin Island Lake | 3.9 mi | 27 | |
| Cedar Lake | 5.2 mi | 139 | 28 ft |
| Juergens Lake | 5.2 mi | 117 | 22 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 5.3 mi | 30 |
