Lake information report

Name: Saganaga

Nearest Town: Grand Marais Primary County: Cook Survey Date: 08/08/2011 Inventory Number: 16063300

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Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled for the 2011 Survey Year

Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2011 Survey Year

Fish Stocking Activity

Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years

Fish Consumption Guidelines

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

General Population

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

Status of the Fishery (as of 08/08/2011)

In 2011 Saganaga Lake continued to support a good mixed fishery. Although walleye abundance appeared to have been down, anglers willing to accept a mixed bag could still find excellent fishing by pursuing lake trout, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and lake whitefish.

The 2011 walleye gill net catch was the lowest seen in this lake since 1964, although it still fell within the normal range for a lake of this type (Ecological Class 1). The 2011 catch in shallow gill net sets (2.54 fish/set) fell well short of the walleye catch goal in the 2008 lake management plan (6.0 fish/shallow gill net set). The 2011 catch was dominated by a strong natural year class produced in 2007. Year classes supplemented by stocking (2009 and 2010) accounted for 21% of the walleye catch. Other year classes sampled had all been produced naturally, and it is likely that the two stocked year classes also had a significant natural component. Growth rates for young walleye had been average for the area. Walleye reached an average length of 14.2 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an average of 14.6 inches for similar lakes in the Grand Marais area. Few walleye older than four years of age were taken in the 2011 assessment.

One of the purposes of this assessment was to begin evaluating walleye fry stocking that had resumed in 2009. Prior to 2009, anglers had expressed concerns for several years about the scarcity of small walleye. Assessment and creel survey data supported their perceptions. The 2008 assessment indicated that while natural reproduction continued to occur in Saganaga Lake, abundance of small walleye continued to be low, as indicated by low gill net catch rates for walleye under 12 inches in length. As a result, walleye fry stocking resumed in 2009, as outlined in the 2008 lake management plan.

Walleye fry stockings in 2009 and 2010 did not appear to have increased the number of small walleye present. Despite the presence of those two stocked year classes, the 2011 assessment yielded the lowest gill net catch rate seen to date in this lake for walleye smaller than 12 inches.

The 2011 assessment also yielded a lower-than-usual catch of large walleye. The catch of walleye 20 inches or larger in 2011 was 0.05 fish/set, the lowest catch of fish in that size range seen in this lake since 1964. Catches of 20-inch or larger fish had ranged from 0.43 to 0.68 fish/set in 1989-2004. Concern over low walleye catches in general in recent years had been tempered by the lake's continued ability to produce relatively high catches of fish larger than 20 inches. That ability appeared to have been eroded by 2008, and did not appear to have been recovering by 2011.

The 2011 lake trout gill net catch fell below the normal range for a lake of this type, but it was similar to catches seen in the past on Saganaga Lake, and the size of lake trout taken continued to be above average. The 2011 catch met the lake trout catch goal in the 2008 lake management plan. All lake trout taken in 2011 had been produced naturally. Several year classes were represented in the catch, with the strongest apparently produced in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Growth rates for young lake trout had been close to average for the area. Five-year-old fish reached an average length of 15.0 inches at the end of their fifth year.

The northern pike gill net catch continued to improve from a low observed in the 2004 assessment. The 2011 catch was above the normal range for a lake of this type, although the size of northern pike taken was below average (but still within the normal range). Several naturally produced year classes were represented in the catch, which included fish as old as nine years. Northern pike growth rates had been close to average for the area; three-year-old fish reached an average length of 19.7 inches at the end of their third year.

The smallmouth bass catch in 2011 was low for a lake of this type; however, it was similar to catches seen in the past on this lake. At an average weight of 1.66 lb, smallmouth bass taken in 2011 were considerably larger than average for a lake of this type. The low gill net catch is misleading - anglers have had no trouble finding excellent smallmouth bass fishing in this lake. No strong year classes were identified in this assessment, but several contributed to the catch. Smallmouth bass growth had been fast (at least among young fish), with fish reaching an average length of 9.0 inches at the end of their third year, compared to an area average of 7.0 inches.

Yellow perch have never been abundant in Saganaga Lake, and the 2011 catch was fairly typical. It fell within the normal range for a lake of this type, and was similar to past catches in this lake. Most of the yellow perch taken may have come from a single fairly strong year class, and all were small.

Lake whitefish and cisco populations, which provide excellent forage for walleye, northern pike, and lake trout, appear to have been holding their own in 2011, despite the continued presence of rainbow smelt. Catches for both were within normal ranges for the lake type. The lake whitefish population appeared to have been dominated by large adults, although fish of all sizes were present.

Saganaga Lake is infested with spiny waterflea, an exotic invertebrate. Anglers leaving the lake should take extra care to drain all live wells, bait buckets, and bilges, and thoroughly dry their boat and all ropes, lines, and other equipment before using them in another lake.

For more information on this lake, contact: Area Fisheries Supervisor 1356 Hwy 61 E Grand Marais, MN 55604 Phone: (218) 387-3056 Internet: Grand Marais Fisheries E-Mail: GrandMarais.Fisheries@state.mn.us	Lake maps can be obtained from: Minnesota Bookstore 660 Olive Street St. Paul, MN 55155 (651) 297-3000 or (800) 657-3757 No depth map available.
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