St. James Lake
Watonwan County, Minnesota
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We want to see what you've caught on St. James Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About St. James Lake, MN
- How big is St. James Lake?
- How deep is St. James Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in St. James Lake?
- What are the closest cities to St. James Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the St. James Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on St. James Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near St. James Lake?
- What is the average air temp for St. James Lake?
- Are there any state parks near St. James Lake?
How big is St. James Lake?
How deep is St. James Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in St. James Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Orangespotted Sunfish and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to St. James Lake?
Are there places to stay in the St. James Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on St. James Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near St. James Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in St. James Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff from 15-16 June 2022. Ten sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sites with two sites sampled from the boat due to deep and soft sediments. A 50-foot seine was used to sample eight sites and soft sediments with abundant vegetation and deep water prevented the use of seines at two sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 7 native species of fish none of which are intolerant of disturbance and two species (Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish) that are tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with gill net and trap net data from a June 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey indicate the fish community of St. James Lake is affected by disturbance as indicated by an FIBI score very near to the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. The results are similar to a previous assessment, which also had FIBI scores near the impairment threshold. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Watonwan River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for St. James Lake?
Are there any state parks near St. James Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around St. James Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Mary Lake | 3.3 mi | 124 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 4.2 mi | 35 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 4.3 mi | 22 | |
| Kansas Lake | 4.8 mi | 403 | 7 ft |
| Long Lake | 4.9 mi | 242 | 13 ft |
| Butterfield Lake | 8.1 mi | 54 | 10 ft |
| Mud Lake | 8.4 mi | 42 | 0 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 9.2 mi | 20 | |
| Irish Lake | 9.3 mi | 168 | |
| Johnson's Lake | 9.4 mi | 30 |
