Forest Lake (Itasca County)
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31037400
DNR records show 1 stocking entry at Forest Lake (Itasca County) since 2019, most recently walleye fry in 2019 (100,000 fish).
- Forest Lake (Itasca County) has 1 DNR stocking record across 1 year (2019-2019): walleye (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 100,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 31 ft; surface area 37 acres, 15 littoral acres, 1.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 13.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Grand Rapids; DNR lake number (DOW) 31037400.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/29/1956 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 100,000 | 0.8 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| asphalt ramp | city | There is a municipal public access on Fifth Street northwest. |
DNR fish survey, 2019
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 10.33 | 31 | 0.09 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 7.33 | 22 | 3.51 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 4.33 | 13 | 0.05 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.67 | 5 | 0.24 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 3 | 1.48 |
| Golden shiner | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.21 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.09 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.19 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 3.80 | 19 | 0.05 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.60 | 3 | 0.06 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.60 | 3 | 0.26 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.40 | 2 | 0.16 |
| Green sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 1 | 0.18 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 1 | 0.19 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 1 | 0.09 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.20 | 1 | 0.04 |
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.
Forest Lake is a small lake in the City of Grand Rapids. The lake covers 38 acres and has a maximum depth of 31 feet. There are no inlets, and a small outlet on the southwest end flows into the Mississippi River. Forest Lake is a popular urban fishery with a public swimming beach on the east shore and a public fishing pier on the south shore. Forest Lake is one of six lakes located within the city limits of Grand Rapids and therefore provides special opportunities for fisheries management. The installation of the fishing pier has provided fishing opportunities for those without a boat. The Fisheries Lake Management Plan (LMP) was last revised in 2010. Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike were considered primary management species. A standard survey was conducted in August of 2019 to determine the status of the fish community. This survey consisted of 3 gill nets and 5 trap nets. Trap netting is difficult on Forest Lake due to steep near shore drop offs so trap net catches should be viewed with caution. Black Crappie were sampled at a typical rate for Forest Lake and for lakes with similar habitats. The size structure was dominated by relatively small individuals and only a few individuals exceeded 8 inches. Recruitment appeared inconsistent, as sampled fish belonged to a single year class. Inconsistent recruitment of Black Crappie is a common life history trait for many populations, often resulting in "boom and bust" angling cycles. Growth rates were average. Given the current age and size structure, the popularity of the crappie fishery is likely limited due to the small average size and inconsistent recruitment. Lakes with similar habitats typically produce moderate numbers of Bluegill with moderate growth rates and size structure. Trap net catches from Forest Lake have generally been low compared to similar lakes, but this is likely due to the poor conditions for trap net sampling and the time of year. The 2019 trap net catch was within the typical range for lakes with similar habitats, but below average for Forest Lake. Bluegills were generally small, as length ranged from 3.2 to 6 inches. A lack of larger individuals may limit the popularity of the Bluegill fishery. Largemouth Bass are difficult to sample with nets. Only three bass were sampled. Boat electrofishing was planned but not conducted due to late ice out and poor spring weather conditions. Previous electrofishing indicated good numbers and size distribution, suggesting good angling opportunities for this species. Forest Lake typically produces moderate pike catches…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
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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