Lake information report

Name: West Battle

Nearest Town: Battle Lake Primary County: Otter Tail Survey Date: 07/09/2007 Inventory Number: 56023900

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Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled for the 2007 Survey Year

Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2007 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 07/09/2007)

West Battle Lake is a 5,624-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County. The city of Battle Lake, Minnesota abuts the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 108 feet; however, 44% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. Water clarity in this lake is excellent; the secchi disk reading for the 2007 survey was 16.3 feet. Secchi disk readings have ranged from 8.0 to 19.5 feet in previous surveys. The MNDNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different lake classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. West Battle Lake is included in lake class 27. Other area lakes in this same class include North Lida, Rush, Pelican, and Big Pine. The majority of the shoreline on West Battle Lake has been extensively developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the development. The 1995 lake resurvey referenced 505 homes/cottages and five resorts. A DNR-owned double concrete public access is located on the east shoreline of the lake and a city-owned double concrete public access is located on the west shoreline. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are scattered along the south and east shorelines of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. A cooperative walleye spawning habitat improvement project between the West Battle Lake Association and DNR-Fisheries was completed in the fall of 1999. Rock was added to Gizzard Creek (inlet from Clitherall Lake) to enhance existing walleye spawning habitat. West Battle Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish-walleye type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, black crappie, and bluegill are the dominant species in the fish community. Walleye is a primary management species in West Battle Lake. The test-net catch rate for walleye declined in 2007 but remains within the normal range for class 27 lakes. Walleye ranged in length from 9.7 to 29.7 inches with an average length and weight of 14.8 inches and 1.4 pounds. Age and catch data indicate that the 2005 and 2001 year classes are strong and should provide consistently good walleye angling for several years. Walleye exhibit good growth with an average length of 14.9 inches at four years of age. Data from recent test-netting assessments indicate that walleye reproduction is limited in West Battle Lake and that walleye stocking is needed to maintain the population. Stocking efforts on West Battle Lake have increased from 1,250 pounds in 1996 to 2,500 pounds in 1998 and 1999, 3,750 pounds in 2001 and 5,000 pounds in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Walleye fingerlings will continue to be stocked at this rate on a biennial basis. In addition, walleye fingerling stocking by the West Battle Lake Association occurred in 2002. Data from future population assessments will determine it this increase in walleye stocking can improve the walleye population in West Battle Lake. The test-net catch rate for northern pike was within the normal range for class 27 lakes. Age and length data indicate that northern pike reproduction is consistently good. Northern pike ranged in length from 12.8 to 33.3 inches with an average length and weight of 21.9 inches and 2.7 pounds. Pike attain an average length of 24.2 inches at five years of age. An experimental size regulation (24.0 to 36.0 inch protected slot limit) was implemented in 2003 in an attempt to create a quality pike fishery. Pike size structure has steadily improved; thirty-one percent of the pike sampled in 2007 were within the protected slot compared to 24% in 2004 and 17% in 2001. West Battle is a designated muskellunge lake and dark house spearing is prohibited. Muskellunge (2,500 fingerlings) are stocked by the DNR on a biennial basis. A spring muskellunge assessment was conducted in 2007. Ninety-one muskellunge, ranging in length from 10.6 to 53.0 inches, were sampled. Most of the fish (77%) were sampled in Napanee Bay, located on the south east side of the lake. Age data indicate that muskellunge reproduction is limited and that stocking is maintaining the population. Test-net catch data indicate that a high-density largemouth bass population exists in West Battle Lake. Bass ranged in length from 7.3 to 16.0 inches. Age and length data indicate that largemouth bass reproduction is consistently good. Bass reach an average length of 11.6 inches at four years of age. Data from recent test-netting assessments indicate that bluegill and black crappie are abundant. Nineteen percent of the bluegills were at least 7.0 inches in length. Both species exhibit moderate growth rates. Yellow perch (a primary forage fish) continue to be abundant in West Battle Lake. The catch rate in 2007 remained consistent with previous surveys. Anglers can maintain or improve the quality of fishing for all species of fish in West Battle Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with opportunities to catch more large fish in the future. ?

For more information on this lake, contact: Area Fisheries Supervisor 1509 1st Ave N Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Phone: (218) 739-7576 Internet: Fergus Falls Fisheries E-Mail: FergusFalls.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 B0218 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