Preliminary Survey Results

These survey results are provisional data gathered from various surveys we complete to monitor the fish populations in the Little Falls Management Area (Benton, Mille Lacs, Morrison, and Todd counties). The complete final reports will come out in the following spring.

Ice out summaries 2013

Each year we sample several lakes just as the ice comes off in an effort to get a good grasp of northern pike, walleye and muskie numbers and length distributions. We use trap nets in shallow water to live trap the fish, measure them and release them. Sometimes we take scales, fin rays or spines to get a better idea of age. Please let us know if you have questions.

Bass electrofishing summaries 2013

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are typically sampled during the spring by electrofishing. Electricity was run through the water using a specialized boat at night, to temporarily stun the fish so they could be netted. The average catch rate of largemouth bass in Little Falls area lakes is 47/hour.

Ice out summaries 2012

Each year we sample several lakes just as the ice comes off in an effort to get a good grasp of northern pike, walleye and muskie numbers and length distributions. We use trap nets in shallow water to live trap the fish, measure them and release them. Sometimes we take scales, fin rays or spines to get a better idea of age. Please let us know if you have questions.

Bass electrofishing summaries 2012

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are typically sampled during the spring by electrofishing. Electricity was run through the water using a specialized boat at night, to temporarily stun the fish so they could be netted. The average catch rate of largemouth bass in Little Falls area lakes is 47/hour.