Lightning Lake
Grant County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 26028200
DNR records show 9 stocking entries at Lightning Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (540,000 fish).
- Lightning Lake has 9 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2016-2024): walleye (7), black crappie (1), yellow perch (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 3,492,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 11 ft, mean depth 7 ft; surface area 540 acres, 540 littoral acres, 4.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Grant County, nearest town Wendell; DNR lake number (DOW) 26028200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 540,000 | 4.7 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 541,000 | 4.4 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 541,000 | 4.7 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 540,000 | 4.6 |
| 2019 | Black Crappie | adults | 100 | 50.0 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 250,000 | 2.0 |
| 2019 | Yellow Perch | adults | 543 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 540,000 | 4.6 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 540,000 | 4.6 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | city | Access located on west side of lake off County Road 11. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bullhead | 3/8-in trap nets | 528.50 | 1,057 | 0.00 |
| Yellow perch | 3/8-in trap nets | 8.00 | 16 | 0.04 |
| White sucker | 3/8-in trap nets | 1.50 | 3 | 2.15 |
| Black bullhead | Single-frame trap nets | 133.33 | 400 | 0.03 |
| White sucker | Single-frame trap nets | 3.67 | 11 | 1.96 |
| Northern pike | Single-frame trap nets | 1.00 | 3 | 1.98 |
| Yellow perch | Single-frame trap nets | 1.00 | 3 | 0.18 |
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.
This targeted survey was completed to determine extent of winterkill following the severe 2022-2023 winter. Early-spring trap netting results suggested that a partial winterkill likely occurred, and some gamefish mortality was evident. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch were the only gamefishes sampled. White Suckers and an abundant Black Bullhead population were also present. Walleye fry were stocked in spring 2023.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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