Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 9, 2022
Species recorded at Island Lake
5 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Island Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 9, 2022 caught 4.33 rainbow trout per gill net at Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–22 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-09 (Standard Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-09 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 115.84 | 4–8 in 2022-06-09 | 0.08 lb |
| Golden Shiner | 16.67 | 5–7 in 2022-06-09 | 0.09 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 6.59 | 11–22 in 2022-06-09 | 0.78 lb |
| Brown Trout | 3.00 | 18–26 in 2017-06-07 | 3.2 lb |
| White Sucker | 0.97 | 19 in 2017-06-07 | 2.37 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 0.50 | 8–9 in 2017-06-07 | 0.74 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Green Sunfish
Golden Shiner
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
From the 2022-06-09 survey
Island Lake is a 44-acre lake with a maximum depth of 58 feet located 10 miles southwest of the village of Zerkel in Clearwater County. Rules specific to designated trout lakes can be found in the regulation book.The lake is located south of HWY 200 off of the Height of Land Forest Road. There is a DNR public water…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Island Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IslandFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Island (1330)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — IslandFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — IslandPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Island Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 9, 2022 caught 4.33 rainbow trout per gill net at Island Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–22 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 5 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Island Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Island Lake is dated June 9, 2022. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Island Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Island Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Island Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Island Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class: a lake with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Island Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Island Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to Island Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Island Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.