Lake information report

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Name: SNELLING

Nearest Town: St. Paul
Primary County: Hennepin
Survey Date: 06/09/2003
Inventory Number: 27-0001-00

Public Access Information

Ownership Type Description
Minnesota DNR Unknown SOUTH END OF THE LAKE. ENTIRE LAKE WITHIN FORT SNELLING STATE PARK.


Lake Characteristics

Lake Area (acres): 103.00
Littoral Area (acres): 103.00
Maximum Depth (ft): 9.50
Water Clarity (ft): 5.90

Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: N/A
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth (ft): N/A


Did you know? Fisheries personnel monitor and regulate aquaculture, fishing tournaments, commercial fishing operations, aquatic plant management, and aeration.

Fish Sampled up to the 2003 Survey Year

Species

Gear Used

Number of fish per net

Average Fish Weight (lbs)

Normal Range (lbs)

Caught

Normal Range

Black Bullhead Gill net 1.0 30.3 - 150.6 0.86 0.2 - 0.4
  Trap net 0.3 11.5 - 132.6 0.73 0.2 - 0.4
Black Crappie Gill net 0.5 1.4 - 13.8 0.24 0.2 - 0.4
  Trap net 0.2 1.2 - 20.5 0.24 0.2 - 0.5
Bluegill Gill net 3.5 N/A - N/A 0.20 N/A - N/A
  Trap net 37.2 1.2 - 20.0 ND 0.1 - 0.4
Bowfin (Dogfish) Trap net 0.2 0.3 - 0.9 6.45 2.7 - 3.8
Common Carp Trap net 0.2 1.0 - 5.5 8.60 1.4 - 4.6
Golden Shiner Trap net 0.1 0.2 - 1.1 0.18 0.1 - 0.1
Green Sunfish Gill net 0.5 0.4 - 6.5 0.04 N/A - N/A
  Trap net 1.1 0.2 - 1.9 0.05 0.1 - 0.2
Hybrid Sunfish Gill net 1.0 N/A - N/A 0.04 N/A - N/A
  Trap net 5.2 N/A - N/A 0.09 N/A - N/A
Largemouth Bass Trap net 0.1 0.2 - 0.7 0.10 0.3 - 1.5
Northern Pike Gill net 6.5 1.1 - 8.0 2.38 1.8 - 3.4
  Trap net 0.8 N/A - N/A 3.13 N/A - N/A
Pumpkinseed Sunfish Gill net 2.0 N/A - N/A 0.13 N/A - N/A
  Trap net 12.4 0.3 - 4.9 0.12 0.1 - 0.2
Yellow Bullhead Gill net 2.0 0.5 - 3.5 0.49 0.3 - 0.7
  Trap net 0.2 0.5 - 2.5 0.64 0.3 - 0.7
Yellow Perch Gill net 2.0 2.7 - 25.0 0.09 0.1 - 0.3
  Trap net 0.6 0.3 - 3.8 0.12 0.1 - 0.3
Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.


Length of Selected Species Sampled for All Gear for the 2003 Survey Year

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 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 5
Black Crappie 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Bluegill 68 128 0 0 0 0 0 0 196
Green Sunfish 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11
Hybrid Sunfish 48 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 49
Largemouth Bass 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Northern Pike 0 0 0 2 3 10 3 0 18
Pumpkinseed Sunfish 116 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 116
Yellow Bullhead 0 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 6
Yellow Perch 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 8


For the record, the largest Rock Bass (tie) taken in Minnesota weighed 2 lbs. and was caught:

    Where: Lake Osakis, Todd County
    When: 5/10/98
    Statistics: 13.5" length, 12.5" girth

Fish Stocking Activity

Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years

Year Species Size Number Pounds
2008 Bluegill adults 20 5.6
2002 Channel Catfish yearlings 2,005 95.0
2000 Channel Catfish fingerlings 2,033 75.0

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.

Fish Consumption Guidelines

These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelines 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
SNELLING
Hennepin Co., 27000100
Bluegill Sunfish   All sizes     Mercury
Carp   All sizes     Mercury
Northern Pike     All sizes   Mercury

General Population

LAKE NAME
County, DOWID
Species Meal Advice Contaminants
Unrestricted 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Do not eat
SNELLING
Hennepin Co., 27000100
Bluegill Sunfish All sizes        
Carp All sizes        
Northern Pike   All sizes     Mercury

DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.

Contaminants listed were measured at levels high enough to warrant a recommendation 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 06/09/2003)

Snelling Lake is located in Fort Snelling State Park, one of the most popular state parks in Minnesota. Many shore-fishing locations exist including a fishing pier on the north end of the lake. The lake is heavily vegetated with a variety of native aquatic vegetation as well as an exotic, curly leaf pondweed. Boating is limited to electric motor propelled and motor-less boats. Snelling Lake is equipped with an aeration system that is run to prevent winterkill in winters when oxygen levels fall low.

Bluegill and largemouth bass are the primary management species in Snelling Lake. Bluegill abundance is at historical lows for this lake, however, the trapnet catch was still 37.1 per net, above the 75th percentile level. Mean length and weight is 6.0 inches and 0.17 pounds. Almost 7 in 10 are larger than 6 inches, but less than 1 in ten is larger than 7 inches. The largest bluegill captured was 7.8 inches. Multiple year-classes were represented in the catch. Growth rates are below average for this lake type. Pumpkinseed sunfish were also sampled in high numbers, 12.4 per trapnet, over twice the 75th percentile level for this lake type.

Largemouth bass are not well sampled in survey nets, only 1 was caught in a trapnet.

No channel catfish were sampled during this survey, as they were in the 1997 survey, despite being stocked in 2002, 2000 and 1999.

Northern pike are Snelling's most abundant predator species sampled in survey nets. The catch of 6.5 pike per gillnet is between the 50th and 75th percentile for lakes of this type. Average length and weight is 21.6 inches and 2.4 pounds. The largest individual was 26.0 inches and 3.6 pounds. The average pike age is 2.6 years. Growth rates are above average.

Yellow perch were sampled in low numbers. Mean length is 6.0 inches. Growth rates are below average. Black crappie were sampled in very low numbers. A total of 2 were caught in trapnets and 1 in gillnets. Yellow and black bullhead, hybrid sunfish, green sunfish, bowfin, carp and golden shiners were also present in trapnet samples.


For more information on this lake, contact:

Area Fisheries Supervisor
9925 Valley View Rd
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (952) 826-6771
Internet: West Metro Fisheries
E-Mail: MetroWest.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
To order, use B0299 for the map-id.


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

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