Island Lake (Itasca County, DOW 31091300)

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31091300

DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Island Lake (Itasca County, DOW 31091300) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (717,000 fish).

• Island Lake (Itasca County, DOW 31091300) has 10 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): walleye (9), black crappie (1).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 7,641,000 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 35 ft; surface area 3,108 acres, 1,195 littoral acres, 14.3 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 11.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and 5 more.
• 3 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: September 11, 2024 (targeted survey).
• Itasca County, nearest town Northome; DNR lake number (DOW) 31091300.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 6/10/1981 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

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.

Island Lake is a class 27 lake located about five miles south of Northome, MN. Walleye are a primary management species and has received extensive Walleye stocking since 1943. In 2005, a 17 to 26 inch protected slot length limit was established. Walleye fry have been stocked annually since 2013 except for 2020, due to safety policies pertaining to COVID-19. Island Lake was stocked with 717,000 Walleye fry in 2024 (600/littoral acre). Numerous fall young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleye electrofishing surveys have been conducted since 1997 that evaluated various stocking strategies, including no stocking so natural reproduction could be evaluated. Fall electrofishing catches have ranged from 0 to 593 YOY/h with lowesr catches associated with years of no stocking. As a result, the 2022 lake management plan recommended annual low-density fry stocking to ensure fish were in the lake when conditions were favorable to produce a good year-class. The 2024 survey had surface water temperatures near 70 F. Wave action resulted in moderate to poor visibility; however, catchability was not impacted by conditions. A total of 45 YOY Walleye were sampled for a catch rate of 29/hr on-time. Sampled fish ranged from 4.8 to 6.7 inches and averaged 5.5 inches. Three additional yearling or older Walleye were captured during electrofishing. These fish ranged from 8.0 to 13.1 inches. Sampling results suggest poor Walleye recruitment for Island Lake in 2024 and is likely attributed to the long, drawn-out, cool spring. These conditions are often associated with poor recruitment for natural and stocked Walleye fry alike. Less than average catches and growth was also observed on Lake Winnibigoshish and Jessie Lake during the fall of 2024. Anglers should note that reproduction and recruitment are variable in Walleye populations, and spring conditions (timing and water temperature fluctuations) can be an important factor in that variability. Fall electrofishing can be an effective tool to document Walleye reproduction and/or survival to their first fall when conducted as part of a long-term evaluation, but individual electrofishing events are often a poor indicator of year-class strength or future angling success.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, September 11, 2024.

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