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| Nearest Town: Grand Marais Primary County: Cook |
Survey Date: 08/25/2008 Inventory Number: 16022800 |
| Ownership | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| US Forest Service | Carry-In | |
| DNR | Gravel |
|
Lake Area (acres): 493 |
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A |
| Did you know? Ongoing habitat improvement and maintenance work is conducted on trout streams that have publicly owned land or easements. |
| Species | Number of fish per net | Average Fish Weight (lbs) |
Normal Range (lbs) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caught | |||||
| Bluegill | Trap net | 1.50 | 0.4 - 2.7 | 0.13 | 0.1 - 0.4 |
| Golden Shiner | Trap net | 0.08 | 0.1 - 1.6 | 0.06 | N/A |
| Green Sunfish | Trap net | 1.33 | 0.1 - 0.8 | 0.11 | 0.1 - 0.1 |
| Gill net | 1.22 | 0.1 - 2.5 | 0.07 | N/A | |
| Lake Trout | Gill net | 3.44 | 0.8 - 4.3 | 2.39 | 1.2 - 3.1 |
| Northern Pike | Gill net | 0.22 | 0.3 - 1.0 | 7.06 | 2.7 - 5.3 |
| Rainbow Smelt | Gill net | 7.11 | N/A | 0.10 | N/A |
| Smallmouth Bass | Trap net | 0.92 | 0.6 - 3.5 | 0.81 | 0.2 - 0.6 |
| Gill net | 0.78 | 0.3 - 2.2 | 0.87 | 0.7 - 1.4 | |
| White Sucker | Gill net | 0.11 | 1.7 - 5.0 | 2.36 | 1.6 - 2.4 |
| 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 | |
| bluegill | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| golden shiner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| green sunfish | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| lake trout | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| northern pike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| rainbow smelt | 1 | 62 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
| smallmouth bass | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| white sucker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| For the record, the largest Rock Bass (tie) taken in Minnesota weighed 2 lbs. and was caught:
When: 5/10/98 Statistics: 12.6" length, 12.4" girth |
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,574 | 275.3 |
| Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,527 | 269.6 | |
| 2007 | Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,550 | 223.0 |
| Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,579 | 256.1 | |
| 2005 | Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,594 | 225.9 |
| Lake Trout | yearlings | 2,575 | 258.0 | |
| 2003 | Lake Trout | yearlings | 5,055 | 491.3 |
| 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. |
These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelin es enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish.
Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15
| LAKE NAME County, DOWID |
Species | Meal Advice | Contaminants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 1 meal/week | 1 meal/month | Do not eat | |||
| BEARSKIN Cook Co., 16022800 |
Lake Trout | All sizes | Mercury | |||
| Smallmouth Bass | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
General Population
| LAKE NAME County, DOWID |
Species | Meal Advice | Contaminants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 1 meal/week | 1 meal/month | Do not eat | |||
| BEARSKIN Cook Co., 16022800 |
Lake Trout | All sizes | Mercury | |||
| Smallmouth Bass | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.
Contaminants listed were measured at levels that trigger advice to limit consumption.
Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted.
Dioxin
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate
In 2008 lake trout abundance in West Bearskin Lake was high compared to other lake trout lakes in the area, although it appeared to have been about average for the lake itself. The lake trout population was entirely self-sustained. Lake trout have been stocked regularly since 1970; however, all lake trout stocked since 1970 have been fin clipped, and no fin-clipped fish were included in the 2008 catch. Lake trout growth had been fairly fast due to the presence of large numbers of rainbow smelt, which provided excellent forage.
West Bearskin Lake supported average numbers of smallmouth bass in 2008 compared to other lakes in the area, and compared to historic catches seen in this lake. Most of the smallmouth bass collected were 10 to 12 inches in length, but some larger fish were present as well. Growth rates for bass had been average for the area.
Bluegill have been found occassionally in West Bearskin Lake, but they have not been abundant. The 2008 catch was the highest catch observed to date in this lake, but bluegill abundance may still have been too low to support a satisfactory fishery. Most of the bluegill taken in 2008 were small, under six inches in length.
Northern pike have rarely been found in West Bearskin Lake. The 2008 catch of two fish was actually one of the higher catches seen in this lake, where very little spawning habitat is available for the species. West Bearskin Lake does not support a significant walleye population - since 1970 the species has rarely been taken in assessments.
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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 |
