First Fulda Lake

Murray County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 51002100

DNR records show 19 stocking entries at First Fulda Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (50,000 fish).

• First Fulda Lake has 19 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2017-2025): walleye (10), northern pike (4), bluegill sunfish (2), crappie (1), and 2 more species.
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 113,205 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 7 ft; surface area 123 acres, 123 littoral acres, 1.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.4 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch.
• 3 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 4, 2024 (targeted survey).
• Murray County, nearest town Fulda; DNR lake number (DOW) 51002100.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2024

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.

First and Second Fulda Lakes, 179 and 60-acres, are class 43 lakes located in Murray County surrounded by the City of Fulda. A channel between the two basins maintains a connection throughout the year; therefore, they are managed as one lake. After several winters of severe winterkill prior to 2008, undesirable fish such as Common Carp and Black Bullhead were highly abundant in the lakes resulting in poor water quality and limited angling opportunities. As a result, a reclamation using rotenone was done in 2008 (following a partial draw down in 2007), in cooperation with the Fulda community, to "restart" the lakes. Over time with flooding, Common Carp and Black Bullhead got back into the system, but the abundant predator populations had kept them in check, resulting in clear water and dense vegetation in most years. In fact, the submergent vegetation was so dense that lakeshore owners expressed frustration due to the recreational conflict. During the winter of 2022-2023, dissolved oxygen levels in Fulda Lakes were below 0.7 parts per million for most of the winter, despite operating a surface water agitator type of aeration system. Several calls were received reporting a foul odor emanating from the aeration hole, and the presence of dead fish in the aeration hole, both an indication that a winterkill was occurring. Following the winterkill, Yellow Perch, Walleye fry and fingerlings, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Northern Pike were restocked to restore the fish community in Fulda Lakes. Fulda Lakes are managed primarily for Bluegill and Largemouth Bass and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Northern Pike. An electrofishing survey was conducted on 4 June 2024, to assess the restocking efforts. Seven species were sampled in 30 minutes of electrofishing, with 15 minutes in First Fulda and 15 minutes in Second Fulda Lakes. Largemouth Bass were most numerous with 57 individuals sampled (113.9 per hour electrofishing), followed by Yellow Perch with 32 (63.9 per hour), Bluegill with 19 (38.0 per hour), Black Crappie with 12 (24.0 per hour), Black Bullhead with 12 (24.0 per hour), Walleye with 11 (22.0 per hour), and Pumpkinseed Sunfish with 7 (14.0 per hour). Lengths of Largemouth Bass ranged from 5.2 to 16.2 inches with an average length of 6.4 inches. Largemouth Bass have good abundance and size distribution and do not appear to need additional stocking to re-establish. Bluegill ranged in length from 2.8 to 8.9 inches with an average length of 6.0 inches. It is apparent that a natural year class has already been produced from the stocked…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 4, 2024.

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