Lake information report

Name: BASS

Nearest Town: Cohasset, MN. Primary County: Itasca Survey Date: 07/18/2005 Inventory Number: 31-0576-00

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Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled up to the 2005 Survey Year

Length of Selected Species Sampled for All Gear for the 2005 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 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

General Population

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 07/18/2005)

Bass Lake is a 2,407-acre lake located five miles northwest of Cohasset, MN. The lake has three public accesses and two distinctly different basins connected by a two-mile long marshy channel. Primary fish species include walleye, northern pike, and panfish. A small dam on the outlet on the south shore controls water levels.

Gill net catch rates for northern pike have been increasing in recent assessments. The catch rate in 2005 was 9.9/net, which was higher than the expected range and higher than any previous assessment. Catch rates in assessments from 1993 and 1998 were 6.9 and 8.1/gill net, respectively. Size structure was very poor with only 5 fish out of 148 (3%) greater than 24 inches. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 22 inches by age 5. Based on past assessments it appears that the northern pike population is trending toward a larger population with poor size structure, which may be a sign of over harvest.

Walleye gill net catch rate increased from past assessments to 5.1/gill net and was similar to the upper end of the expected range. Catch rates in 1993 and 1998 were 3.6 and 2.8/net, respectively. Ten-year classes were determined from scale analysis. The 2001 and 2003 year classes were especially strong representing 54% of the walleye sampled and corresponded to fingerling stocked years. Size structure was good with many fish over 20 inches. Growth was similar to the statewide average with fish averaging 20 inches by age seven. Walleye are currently stocked every other year and surplus fingerlings are stocked when available.

Yellow perch gill net catch rate was 9.3/net, which was similar to the lake class average. Catch rates have declined from the last two assessments when the catch rate was 16.1 and 15.5/gill net. Size structure was poor with few fish greater than 9 inches. Yellow perch are an important prey base for northern pike and walleye. Declining gill net catch rates may be the result of increasing predator species such as walleye and northern pike.

Largemouth bass and black crappie were sampled in very low numbers and smallmouth bass were sampled for the first time in this assessment.

Other species sampled include black bullhead, bluegill, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, tullibee, and yellow bullhead.

For more information on this lake, contact: Area Fisheries Supervisor 1201 East Hwy 2 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 Phone: (218) 327-4430 Internet: Grand Rapids Fisheries E-Mail: GrandRapids.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 B0148 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	Turn in Poachers (TIP):     Toll-free: (800) 652-9093