Battle Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31019700
Battle Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Battle Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 15 ft; surface area 243 acres, 243 littoral acres, 3.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 7.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Effie; DNR lake number (DOW) 31019700.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/12/1961 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| O | Minnesota DNR | Boat-in access through channel from Pickerel Lake. Small boat only. |
DNR fish survey, 2018
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 8.17 | 49 | 1.82 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 3.33 | 20 | 0.10 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 9 | 0.35 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 0.83 | 5 | 2.90 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 2.38 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 0.60 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 0.09 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 7.33 | 66 | 0.22 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 1.22 | 11 | 0.30 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 1.11 | 10 | 1.92 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 0.78 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.31 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.23 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 0.06 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 5.02 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Battle Lake is a 199 acre lake located east of Effie, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and is part of a navigable chain of lakes including Pickerel and Deer Lakes. The lake has limited development, and the primary access is through a shallow channel from Pickerel Lake. All three lakes in the chain have a conservation regulation (10 fish daily bag limit) for sunfish and a slot length limit (17-26 inch protected) for Walleye. The lake management plan (LMP) was last revised in 2014. Bluegill and Black Crappie were considered primary management species because they are well suited for the lake. Northern Pike and Walleye were considered secondary management species. A standard survey was conducted in 2018 to assess the status of the fish community. The Bluegill trap net catch rate in 2018 was above the management plan goal, but within the typical range when compared to similar lakes. Bluegill numbers may be increasing in Battle Lake. A trend of increased Bluegill abundance has been noted in many area lakes in recent years and is consistent with statewide trends. The three highest catch rates for Battle Lake Bluegill have occurred in the most recent surveys. Average size in Battle Lake has generally declined over the same period. Sampled Bluegill in 2010 ranged from 3.2 to 9.2 inches, with an average length of 6.0 inches. This compares to average lengths of 6.8 inches in 2004 and 8.4 inches in 1998. Size structure in the most recent survey was influenced by a strong 2015 year class. Ages 2 through 10 were represented, but age 3 fish made up 42% of the sample. Despite the decline in average size, overall size quality remains favorable, as 27% of the sampled Bluegill exceed 8 inches. Good angling opportunities appear to exist for Bluegills given the abundance and size quality. Battle Lake typically produces a modest crappie population. The 2018 catch was typical of Battle Lake and similar to lakes with comparable habitats. The catch rate was below the LMP goal and had declined from the previous two surveys. Crappie populations in northern Minnesota are often cyclical, and the Battle Lake fishery likely varies based on inconsistent year class production. At the time of this survey, the population appeared to be comprised of mostly younger fish. Crappie from gill nets ranged from 4.2 to 11.6 inches, with an average length of 8.0 inches. Ages 1 and 3 made up 62% of the sample, with average growth of 9.2 inches at age 5. Battle Lake has a history of moderate to high pike numbers with poor size quality. The 2018 gill net…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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