Lake information report

Name: Lower Prior

Nearest Town: Grainwood
Primary County: Scott
Survey Date: 07/26/2010
Inventory Number: 70002600

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Public Access Information

Ownership	Type	Description
DNR	Concrete

Lake Characteristics

Lake Area (acres): 956.63
Littoral Area (acres): 373
Maximum Depth (ft): 60
Water Clarity (ft): 9.2 (8-10.5)

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

Did you know? There are 15,000 miles of fishable streams in Minnesota, including 2,600 miles of trout streams.

Fish Sampled for the 2010 Survey Year

Species	Gear Used	Number of fish per net		Average Fish Weight (lbs)	Normal Range (lbs)
Species	Gear Used	Caught	Normal Range	Average Fish Weight (lbs)	Normal Range (lbs)
Black Crappie	Trap net	0.40	0.7 - 3.2	0.25	0.2 - 0.5
	Gill net	0.25	0.5 - 2.7	0.31	0.2 - 0.4
Bluegill	Trap net	22.50	5.6 - 42.3	0.17	0.1 - 0.3
	Gill net	7.00	N/A	0.30	N/A
Green Sunfish	Trap net	0.30	0.2 - 0.9	0.08	0.1 - 0.2
Hybrid Sunfish	Trap net	1.40	N/A	0.17	N/A
	Gill net	0.12	N/A	0.22	N/A
Largemouth Bass	Trap net	0.10	0.3 - 1.1	1.02	0.2 - 0.9
	Gill net	0.88	0.3 - 1.2	0.58	0.5 - 1.1
Northern Pike	Trap net	0.50	N/A	1.82	N/A
	Gill net	2.50	3.1 - 8.5	5.60	1.5 - 2.7
Pumpkinseed	Trap net	4.10	1.7 - 8.2	0.17	0.1 - 0.2
	Gill net	2.62	N/A	0.30	N/A
Walleye	Trap net	1.00	0.2 - 0.7	1.21	0.9 - 2.9
	Gill net	3.12	1.3 - 5.5	1.47	1.2 - 2.4
White Bass	Gill net	1.88	0.7 - 1.7	1.10	N/A
White Sucker	Trap net	0.20	0.2 - 1.0	3.06	1.7 - 2.9
	Gill net	3.62	0.5 - 3.5	2.78	1.6 - 2.4
Yellow Bullhead	Trap net	0.50	1.5 - 7.7	0.75	0.5 - 0.8
	Gill net	10.00	0.9 - 10.0	0.82	0.5 - 0.7
Yellow Perch	Trap net	0.90	0.5 - 2.7	0.23	0.1 - 0.2
	Gill net	2.00	2.5 - 24.2	0.25	0.1 - 0.2

Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.

Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2010 Survey Year

Species	Number of fish caught in each category (inches)
Species	0-5	6-8	9-11	12-14	15-19	20-24	25-29	30+	Total
black crappie	0	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	6
bluegill	102	170	0	0	0	0	0	0	281
green sunfish	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
hybrid sunfish	7	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	15
largemouth bass	0	1	5	1	0	0	0	0	8
northern pike	0	0	0	0	7	7	4	3	25
pumpkinseed	25	35	0	0	0	0	0	0	62
walleye	0	5	2	8	13	5	0	0	35
white bass	0	0	4	8	3	0	0	0	15
white sucker	0	0	1	0	25	2	0	0	31
yellow bullhead	0	2	53	30	0	0	0	0	85
yellow perch	0	18	3	0	0	0	0	0	25

For the record, the largest White Bass taken in Minnesota weighed 4 lbs., 2.4 oz. and was caught:

Where: Mississippi River Pool 5, Wabasha County
When: 5/4/2004

Fish Stocking Activity

Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years

Year	Species	Size	Number	Pounds
2011	Walleye	fingerlings	6,132	219.0
	Walleye	fingerlings	5,697	192.0
2009	Walleye	yearlings	243	58.0
	Walleye	fingerlings	13,102	543.5
	Walleye	adults	119	113.0
2007	Walleye	adults	5	17.0
	Walleye	fingerlings	4,923	567.3
2005	Walleye^*	fingerlings	20,559	743.8
2003	Walleye^*	fingerlings	9,117	745.3

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 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
LAKE NAME County, DOWID	Species	Unrestricted	1 meal/week	1 meal/month	Do not eat	Contaminants
LOWER PRIOR Scott Co., 70002600	Bluegill Sunfish		All sizes			Mercury
	Bullhead		All sizes			Mercury
	Carp		All sizes			Mercury
	Crappie		All sizes			Mercury
	Largemouth Bass		All sizes			Mercury
	Northern Pike			All sizes		Mercury
	Walleye		shorter than 16"	16" or longer		Mercury

General Population

LAKE NAME County, DOWID	Species	Meal Advice				Contaminants
LAKE NAME County, DOWID	Species	Unrestricted	1 meal/week	1 meal/month	Do not eat	Contaminants
LOWER PRIOR Scott Co., 70002600	Bluegill Sunfish	All sizes
	Bullhead	All sizes
	Carp	All sizes
	Crappie	All sizes
	Largemouth Bass		All sizes			Mercury
	Northern Pike		All sizes			Mercury
	Walleye		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

Status of the Fishery (as of 07/26/2010)

Lower Prior Lake is a 956 acre lake with a maximum depth of 60 feet, located in Scott County. Lower Prior provides ample recreational opportunities. Fishing and boating are very popular. Beaches provide swimming opportunities. Lower Prior receives heavy recreational use. This has led to the introduction and establishment of an exotic species: zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). During the 2010 Population Assessment zebra mussels were observed twice. Both times they were attached to a native mussel. One of the native mussels had already perished. Watercraft exiting Lower Prior Lake are required to drain all water from bilges, bait buckets and live wells. Drain plugs should be pulled and trailers should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned. Boaters should also keep in mind, new laws require the drain plug be removed while on public roadways.

Water quality in Lower Prior is fair, compared to other West Metro lakes. By late summer most species of fish cannot inhabit water deeper than 18 feet for extended periods of time. Anglers should keep this in mind when pursuing walleye and crappie. Fishing in water deeper than 18 feet in mid to late summer could yield very few fish.

The predator community in Lower Prior is expanding. Walleye average length was 15.0 inches. Average weight was 1.35 pounds. Both abundance and weight was average for this type of lake. Walleye abundance is low compared to the historic average catch within Lower Prior. Stocking of walleye fingerlings occurs in odd numbered years. Survival of the 2007 year class appears high. These fish averaged 15.3 inches long and accounted for more than half of sampled walleye. Age 1 walleye comprised the second highest proportion of sampled fish. Walleye opportunities could be expanding in the near future. Northern pike numbers were low compared to the historic average and below average compared to similar lakes. Average weight was well above average. Average length was 24 inches. Largemouth bass abundance increased compared to past surveys, but is below average for lakes similar to Lower Prior. Standard lake survey gear does not consistently provide an accurate estimate of largemouth bass abundance. On average largemouth bass length was 10.5 inches. White bass continue to be sampled. This species is typically confined to rivers and reservoirs. The 2010 survey produced the highest catch ever recorded for Lower Prior.

Five species of panfish are present in Lower Prior Lake. Black crappie abundance is low for this type lake and compared to historic catches within Lower Prior. Fish averaged 8.1 inches in length. Bluegill abundance decreased and is also low compared to past surveys. The size of bluegill sampled was excellent for a West Metro lake. Two-thirds of sampled fish were 6 inches or longer. Nearly 40% were 7 inches long. Yellow perch abundance in Lower Prior is low, but sampled fish were large. Mean weight of yellow perch was high. Average length was 7.9 inches, very good for a metro area lake. Yellow perch up to 9.6 inches were sampled. Pumpkinseed were sampled at an average abundance. Hybrid sunfish were also sampled.

Some rough fish species are present in high numbers. No common carp were sampled. Yellow bullhead abundance reached an all time high. White sucker were also numerous and sampled individuals were large.

For more information on this lake, contact: Area Fisheries Supervisor 7050 E Hwy 101, Suite 100 Shakopee, MN 55379 Phone: (952) 496-4141 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 B0291 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