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| Nearest Town: Eden Prairie Primary County: Hennepin Survey Date: 06/20/2011 Inventory Number: 27007000 |
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| Ownership | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| City | Concrete |
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Lake Area (acres): 113.92 |
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A |
| Did you know? Much of Minnesota's fisheries program is reimbursed by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program (federal excise tax), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
| Species | Number of fish per net | Average Fish Weight (lbs) |
Normal Range (lbs) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caught | |||||
| Black Bullhead | Gill net | 1.00 | 9.6 - 91.4 | 1.70 | 0.2 - 0.5 |
| Black Crappie | Trap net | 3.56 | 2.4 - 15.1 | 0.20 | 0.2 - 0.4 |
| Gill net | 8.50 | 1.5 - 14.7 | 0.20 | 0.1 - 0.3 | |
| Bluegill | Trap net | 1.44 | 1.9 - 29.5 | 0.27 | 0.2 - 0.3 |
| Northern Pike | Trap net | 0.67 | N/A | 1.38 | N/A |
| Gill net | 20.00 | 1.5 - 7.0 | 2.45 | 1.5 - 3.4 | |
| Pumpkinseed | Trap net | 1.33 | 0.8 - 8.4 | 0.20 | 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 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| black crappie | 3 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 |
| bluegill | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| northern pike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 46 |
| pumpkinseed | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| For the record, the largest River Redhorse taken in Minnesota weighed 12 lbs., 10 oz. and was caught:
When: 5/20/05 Statistics: 28.38" length, 20" girth |
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Walleye | yearlings | 4,599 | 219.0 |
| 2011 | Bluegill | adults | 12 | 3.0 |
| Largemouth Bass | adults | 12 | 24.0 | |
| 2010 | Walleye | fingerlings | 5,378 | 218.0 |
| 2008 | Walleye | adults | 5 | 7.5 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 550 | 86.2 | |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 8,221 | 130.5 | |
| 2007 | Largemouth Bass | yearlings | 540 | 60.0 |
| Largemouth Bass | fry | 5,225 | 0.7 | |
| Walleye | fry | 110,000 | 1.0 | |
| Walleye | adults | 18 | 30.5 | |
| 2006 | Walleye | adults | 131 | 218.0 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 220 | 44.0 | |
| 2004 | Walleye | fingerlings | 2,980 | 233.0 |
| 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. |
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 | |||
| MITCHELL Hennepin Co., 27007000 |
Bluegill Sunfish | All sizes | Mercury | |||
| Bullhead | All sizes | Mercury | ||||
General Population
| LAKE NAME County, DOWID |
Species | Meal Advice | Contaminants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 1 meal/week | 1 meal/month | Do not eat | |||
| MITCHELL Hennepin Co., 27007000 |
Bluegill Sunfish | All sizes | ||||
| Bullhead | 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
Mitchell Lake is a 112 acre lake with a maximum depth of 19 feet, located in the city of Eden Prairie. Mitchell Lake provides considerable recreational opportunities. A city park offers a boat launch, fishing pier, walking paths, sports fields, picnic shelters, a small waterpark for children and ample parking. Water quality in Mitchell Lake is fair, compared to other West Metro lakes. By late summer most species of fish cannot inhabit water deeper than 10 feet for extended periods of time. Anglers should keep this in mind when pursuing crappie, northern pike and walleye. Fishing in water deeper than 10 feet in mid to late summer could yield very few fish. Boaters should also keep in mind that new state laws require the drain plug be removed while traveling on public roadways. A city ordinance prevents operating motors larger than 10 horse power on the lake.
Mitchell Lake experienced a severe winterkill during the 2010-2011 season. A large percentage of both the largemouth and walleye populations were lost. Both species will be restocked. Adult bluegill were also restocked.
The predator community in Mitchell Lake is recovering from the most recent winterkill. No walleye were sampled during the 2011 survey. Fingerling walleye will be stocked in the fall of 2012. Northern pike numbers were high compared to historic averages for Mitchell Lake. Average length was 21.8 inches. No largemouth bass were sampled during the 2011 population assessment. Standard lake survey gear does not consistently provide an accurate estimate of largemouth bass abundance. Adult largemouth were restocked in the spring of 2011 in an effort to repopulate the lake.
Some panfish species were affected by the winterkill. Black crappie abundance is average. Very few large fish were sampled, but growth rates usually increase after winterkills. Average length was 7.2 inches. Bluegill abundance decreased compared to the 2005 survey, but stayed within the historic average range. Abundance is low, but average weight increased. Nearly 50% of sampled bluegill were greater than 7 inches. Pumpkinseed were sampled at an average abundance. Average weight was high and most fish were larger than 6 inches in length.
Very few rough fish are present. Black bullhead were sampled at a very low abundance. The measure of abundance remained the same as the previous survey. Surveys in the 1990's found very high numbers of black bullhead.
Anglers can help the fishery recover from the winterkill by practicing selective harvest. Harvesting large fish reduces the biological incentive to grow large. Larger fish compete for spawning habitat and food more effectively. Thus, fish have more incentive to grow large if large fish are present in a lake. Harvesting smaller fish preserves spawning stock and increases the biological incentive to grow large which promotes big fish genetics. Harvesting smaller black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass would aid the repopulation of Mitchell Lake.
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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 |
