Lake information report

Name: Round

Nearest Town: Squaw Lake Primary County: Itasca Survey Date: 06/26/2006 Inventory Number: 31089600

Purchase a walleye stamp. Your voluntary contribution will be used to support walleye stocking.

Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled for the 2006 Survey Year

Length of Selected Species Sampled for the 2006 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 06/26/2006)

Round Lake is a 2,828 acre lake located on the west side of Squaw Lake, MN. The lake has two public accesses and moderate shoreline development. The 2002 lake management plan indicates walleye as the primary species of management with black crappie and yellow perch as secondary species. In the spring of 2005 a special walleye regulation was implemented and in the spring of 2007 a special northern pike regulation will begin. The walleye regulation is a 17 to 26 inch protected slot length limit, with only one fish over 26 inches allowed in possession. The northern pike regulation is a 22 to 36 inch protected slot length limit, with only one fish over 36 inches allowed in possession, and a possession limit of nine northern pike.

Walleye catch rates have varied from 3.3 to 11.2/gill net since 1954. The catch rates in the four assessments prior to 2006 were very stable, ranging from 5.3 to 5.7 fish/gill. In 2006, the walleye gill-net catch rate of 9.7 fish/net exceeded the management goal of 8.0 fish/net. The 2006 catch was also above the upper end of the normal range for lakes similar to Round. The sampled fish ranged from 8.0 to 25.0 inches and had a mean length of 15.6 inches. Approximately 65% of the fish were longer than 15 inches but relatively few walleye were longer than 20 inches.

Twelve year-classes were identified from scale, opercle, and otolith analysis with fish from one to 12 years old sampled. The three most abundant year classes were from 2001, 2002, and 2004. Similar to the 2001 assessment, at least 65% of the fish aged were from years in which no stocking occurred. Since some natural reproduction likely occurred in years with stocking, the natural contribution to the population would be higher than the observed 65%. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages. Walleye averaged 15.7 inches after four years of growth.

Northern pike gill-net catch rates have been consistently high (13.1 to 18.2 fish/net) since 1989. Prior to 1989, catch rates ranged from 6.6 to 10.9 fish/gill net dating back to 1954. The northern pike gill-net catch declined from 17.0 fish/net in 2001 to 13.6 fish/net in 2006, but remained above the 3rd quartile of 9.0 fish/net. The sampled fish ranged from 13.2 to 26.6 inches and averaged 19.1 inches. Of the sampled fish, only 19% were 21 inches or longer. Eight year-classes were identified from cliethra and scales ranging from one to eight years old. Northern pike averaged 19.8 inches after four years of growth, which was near the statewide average of 20.5.

The black crappie trap-net catch was 0.2 fish/net while the gill-net catch was 2.7 fish/net. The catch in trap nets was the lowest on record, while the catch from gill nets was the highest. Most of the fish were small and from the 2005 year class. Growth was generally similar to or above the statewide average for all ages.

The bluegill population has never been very abundant with catch rates typically below the normal range for this type of lake. The 2001 trap-net catch was 4.8 fish/net which was the highest ever recorded. However, in 2006, the catch of 0.6 fish/trap net returned to a level more typical for the lake. Bluegill ranged from 4.3 to 7.7 inches with an average length of 6.3 inches. Only three and four year old fish were sampled. Growth rates were similar to class 27 averages.

Yellow perch gill-net catch rates have fluctuated from a low of 29.7 fish/net in 1954 to a high of 102.7 fish/net in 1983. In 2006, the catch was 23.3 fish/net and just above average for the lake class. Approximately 54% of the fish were longer than 8 inches and 16% were longer than 10 inches. Although the yellow perch population is healthy in terms of numbers and size structure, it may not receive much harvest from anglers due to the frequency of the parasite yellow grub. Seven age-classes were sampled with fish from two to nine years old present. Growth was similar to statewide averages.

Tullibee are a species that can be difficult to sample but are important to fish communities as a prey source. The gill-net catch rate of 2.7 fish/net in this assessment was the highest on record for Round Lake. The catch was above average for class 27 lakes. The fish ranged from 7.8 to 19.8 inches with an average length of 9.4 inches. There was one large fish sampled that was 19.8 inches long and weighed 4.5 pounds.

Other species observed during the lake survey included bowfin, black bullhead, brown bullhead, burbot, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, tadpole madtom, and white sucker. Additional species sampled while shoreline seining included blacknose shiner, common shiner, golden shiner, Johnny darter, and spottail shiner.

To promote and maintain healthy fish populations, pollution needs to be controlled. Fish habitat is directly affected by water quality. Nutrients, sediments and other waste can drastically alter the chemical and physical characteristics of a lake. People often associate water quality problems in a lake with agricultural, forestry or industrial practices within the watershed. Although these can be areas of concern, lakeshore property owners may also contribute to water quality problems. Some examples include putting in sand beaches, removing shoreline trees and vegetation, fertilizing lawns, and mowing their lawns down to the lakeshore. Proper land use practices by everyone will help insure that this fishery can be enjoyed by future generations. ?

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 B3010 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