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| Nearest Town: Backus Primary County: Cass Survey Date: 08/10/2009 Inventory Number: 11023400 |
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| Ownership | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DNR | Asphalt | STATE-OWNED PUBLIC ACCESS ON SOUTHEAST SHORE OF LAKE. |
|
Lake Area (acres): 388.61 |
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A |
| Did you know? Habitat acquisition of lands next to lakes and streams protects spawning areas and shoreline vegetation, and it increases access to fishing waters. |
| Species | Number of fish per net | Average Fish Weight (lbs) |
Normal Range (lbs) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caught | |||||
| Black Bullhead | Trap net | 0.33 | 0.3 - 1.7 | 0.76 | 0.3 - 0.9 |
| Gill net | 0.11 | 0.3 - 1.9 | 0.70 | 0.3 - 0.9 | |
| Black Crappie | Trap net | 0.56 | 0.5 - 2.2 | 0.56 | 0.3 - 0.5 |
| Gill net | 0.22 | 0.3 - 1.7 | 0.43 | 0.2 - 0.5 | |
| Bluegill | Trap net | 10.89 | 7.7 - 43.4 | 0.14 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Gill net | 2.22 | N/A | 0.14 | N/A | |
| Bowfin (dogfish) | Trap net | 1.22 | 0.3 - 1.0 | 4.71 | 2.6 - 4.9 |
| Gill net | 0.22 | 0.2 - 0.3 | 4.86 | 3.0 - 5.3 | |
| Brown Bullhead | Trap net | 0.22 | 0.3 - 1.0 | 0.53 | 0.7 - 1.0 |
| Hybrid Sunfish | Trap net | 0.56 | N/A | 0.15 | N/A |
| Gill net | 0.11 | N/A | 0.07 | N/A | |
| Largemouth Bass | Trap net | 1.33 | 0.4 - 1.5 | 0.66 | 0.2 - 0.7 |
| Gill net | 3.00 | 0.5 - 1.7 | 0.91 | 0.5 - 1.2 | |
| Northern Pike | Trap net | 1.22 | N/A | 1.37 | N/A |
| Gill net | 7.00 | 2.2 - 8.7 | 2.09 | 1.5 - 3.2 | |
| Pumpkinseed | Trap net | 2.11 | 1.4 - 5.9 | 0.08 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Gill net | 1.78 | N/A | 0.08 | N/A | |
| Rock Bass | Trap net | 1.33 | 0.8 - 3.7 | 0.23 | 0.2 - 0.4 |
| Gill net | 6.00 | 0.7 - 4.4 | 0.37 | 0.2 - 0.4 | |
| Walleye | Trap net | 0.11 | 0.2 - 0.7 | 5.86 | 0.7 - 2.8 |
| Gill net | 3.67 | 1.0 - 5.0 | 1.83 | 1.2 - 3.0 | |
| White Sucker | Gill net | 0.44 | 0.5 - 2.0 | 2.37 | 1.6 - 2.6 |
| Yellow Bullhead | Trap net | 2.67 | 1.0 - 5.3 | 0.65 | 0.5 - 0.9 |
| Gill net | 5.00 | 1.0 - 6.0 | 0.59 | 0.4 - 0.7 | |
| Yellow Perch | Gill net | 0.11 | 1.5 - 13.8 | 0.11 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Species | Number of fish caught in each category (inches) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 | 6-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30+ | Total | |
| black bullhead | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| black crappie | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| bluegill | 80 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118 |
| bowfin (dogfish) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| brown bullhead | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| hybrid sunfish | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| largemouth bass | 0 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| northern pike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 74 |
| pumpkinseed | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| rock bass | 11 | 52 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 |
| walleye | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 34 |
| white sucker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| yellow bullhead | 0 | 11 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 |
| yellow perch | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| For the record, the largest Greater Redhorse taken in Minnesota weighed 12 lbs., 11.5 oz. and was caught:
When: 5/20/05 Statistics: 28.5" length, 18.5" girth |
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Walleye | fingerlings | 3,784 | 204.0 |
| 2010 | Walleye* | fingerlings | 3,133 | 204.0 |
| 2008 | Walleye* | fingerlings | 6,680 | 200.0 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 128 | 4.0 | |
| 2006 | Walleye* | fingerlings | 3,750 | 250.0 |
| Privately Stocked Fish |
|---|
| * indicates privately stocked fish. Private stocking includes fish purchased by the DNR for stocking and fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups. |
| Stocking Fish Sizes |
|---|
| Fry - Newly hatched fish that are ready to be stocked usually called "swim-ups". Walleye fry are 1/3 of an inch or around 8 mm. |
| Fingerling - Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall. |
| Yearling - Yearling fish are at least one year old. A one-year-old fish can range from three to twenty inches depending on the species. Walleye yearlings average from six to twelve inches. |
| Adult - Adult fish are fish that have reached maturity. Depending on the species, maturity can be reached at two years of age. Walleye reach maturity between the ages of four and six years. |
No fish consumption guidelines are available for this lake. For more information, see the "Fish Consumption Advice" pages at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Ponto Lake (DOW # 110234) is a 347-acre lake located east of Backus, MN. A public access is located on the southeast shore just north of State Highway 84. Ponto Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet, and 29% of the surface area is littoral (less than 15 feet). The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesotas lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Ponto Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in this class are generally very clear, very deep, have a low percentage of shallow water area, and have a very irregularly shaped shoreline with many bays or points.
Walleye abundance in the 2009 sampling in Ponto Lake was similar to that found in other lakes of this ecological type. Fish from 8 to 28 inches were sampled in MNDNR test nets. Walleye naturally reproduce in Ponto Lake; however the lake is also currently stocked with walleye fingerlings. Both the number and average size of northern pike in Ponto Lake is good; sampled fish ranged from 12 to 35 inches and had an average length of 20 inches. The bluegill population is comparable to other lakes of this type, and fish up to 8.2 inches were found, however most of the bluegill are small. Black crappie from 7 to 11 inches were collected in DNR test nets. Yellow perch were scarce in the 2009 Ponto Lake sample.
The abundance of largemouth bass in Ponto Lake compared favorably with other lakes of this type, and largemouth from 6 to 18 inches were found. Other species sampled in 2009 included black bullhead, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.
Anglers can help maintain or improve the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for table fare, but encourages release of medium- to large-sized fish. Releasing these fish can help maintain balance in the fish community in Ponto Lake and provide anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future.
Shoreline areas on the land and into the shallow water provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesotas lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines cant support the fish, wildlife, and clean water that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. Shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants and natural lake bottom soils. Plants in the water and at the waters edge provide habitat, prevent erosion and absorb excess nutrients. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.
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For more information on this lake, contact:
Area Fisheries Supervisor | Lake maps can be obtained from: Minnesota Bookstore |
For general DNR Information, contact: DNR Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 TDD: (651) 296-6157 or (888) MINNDNR Internet: www.dnr.state.mn.us E-Mail: info.dnr@state.mn.us |  Turn in Poachers (TIP):Toll-free: (800) 652-9093 |
