Peterson Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31079100
DNR records show 2 stocking entries at Peterson Lake since 2022, most recently bluegill sunfish adults in 2022 (150 fish).
- Peterson Lake has 2 DNR stocking records across 1 year (2022-2022): bluegill sunfish (1), largemouth bass (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is bluegill sunfish: 150 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 55 ft; surface area 163 acres, 94 littoral acres, 3.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 11.3 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, northern pike, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Talmoon; DNR lake number (DOW) 31079100.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 150 | 15.0 |
| 2022 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 30 | 30.0 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | Minnesota DNR |
DNR fish survey, 2020
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black crappie | 1/4-in trap nets | 32.50 | 65 | 0.02 |
| Yellow perch | 1/4-in trap nets | 6.50 | 13 | 0.05 |
| Brassy minnow | 1/4-in trap nets | 4.50 | 9 | 0.00 |
| Brown bullhead | 1/4-in trap nets | 2.00 | 4 | 0.08 |
| Northern pike | 1/4-in trap nets | 1.00 | 2 | 0.29 |
| Golden shiner | 1/4-in trap nets | 1.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Bluegill | 1/4-in trap nets | 0.50 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Tadpole madtom | 1/4-in trap nets | 0.50 | 1 | 0.02 |
| Yellow perch | Special gill nets | 17.33 | 52 | 0.17 |
| Northern pike | Special gill nets | 5.67 | 17 | 1.66 |
| Black crappie | Special gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.44 |
| Black crappie | Special trap nets | 4.00 | 8 | 0.15 |
| Brown bullhead | Special trap nets | 1.50 | 3 | 0.40 |
| Northern pike | Special trap nets | 1.50 | 3 | 0.37 |
| Yellow perch | Special trap nets | 1.00 | 2 | 0.22 |
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.
Peterson Lake is 130 acres with a large proportion less than 15 feet deep (94 acres). The lake has a history of partial winterkills. Lakeshore residents suspected a partial winterkill in 2018/2019 but the extent was not determined. Shoreline residents again reported possible winterkill in 2019/2020 as dead fish were observed in the spring. Winterkill conditions were observed on other area lakes. Test netting was conducted mid-August to help sample or observe young of the year fish to determine if production occurred in the spring. Three standard gill nets, two standard trap nets and two small mesh trap nets were set at likely locations and not comparable to past effort. Gill nets sampled Black Crappie, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch at rates of 0.3, 5.6 and 17.3 per net, respectively. Pike and perch were caught in a wide range of lengths indicating multiple ages were present in the sample. Angling opportunities for pike and perch will be favorable in the very near future as pike over 30 inches and perch over 8 inches were sampled. Standard trap nets caught Black Crappie, Brown Bullhead, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch while small mesh trap nets caught Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose Minnow, Brown Bullhead, Central Mudminnow, Golden Shiner, Northern Pike, Tadpole Madtom and Yellow Perch. A high proportion of Black Crappie caught in trap nets were less than three inches and were from spring 2020 production. Angling opportunities for crappie will likely be decent in a few years. Peterson Lake and the fish community appear to be fairly resilient to winterkill. There appears to be enough habitat available to protect enough fish to repopulate the lake at this time. Connectivity to Little Peterson or South Ackerman may also help to repopulate the lake.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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