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| Nearest Town: Sunburg Primary County: Swift Survey Date: 06/21/2010 Inventory Number: 76003300 |
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| Ownership | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DNR | Concrete | Public access in Monson State Park. |
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Lake Area (acres): 207.99 |
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A |
| Did you know? Minnesota has 11,482 lakes 10 acres or larger, of which 5,483 are fishing lakes. Excluding Lake Superior, the state has 3.8 million acres of fishing water. Minnesota's portion of Lake Superior is 1.4 million acres. |
| Species | Number of fish per net | Average Fish Weight (lbs) |
Normal Range (lbs) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caught | |||||
| Black Bullhead | Trap net | 4.22 | 1.5 - 58.0 | 2.12 | 0.2 - 0.5 |
| Gill net | 1.00 | 7.7 - 104.7 | 1.70 | 0.2 - 0.5 | |
| Black Crappie | Trap net | 0.33 | 2.1 - 24.1 | 0.02 | 0.2 - 0.4 |
| Gill net | 0.33 | 1.7 - 17.5 | 0.14 | 0.1 - 0.3 | |
| Bluegill | Trap net | 67.67 | 3.5 - 57.1 | 0.22 | 0.1 - 0.3 |
| Golden Shiner | Trap net | 0.56 | 0.3 - 1.6 | 0.05 | 0.1 - 0.1 |
| Green Sunfish | Trap net | 1.11 | 0.3 - 2.8 | 0.06 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Hybrid Sunfish | Trap net | 0.56 | N/A | 0.46 | N/A |
| Largemouth Bass | Trap net | 0.44 | 0.2 - 0.8 | 0.17 | 0.3 - 1.5 |
| Northern Pike | Trap net | 0.56 | N/A | 4.57 | N/A |
| Gill net | 6.67 | 2.0 - 10.8 | 2.82 | 1.7 - 3.1 | |
| Walleye | Trap net | 1.22 | 0.3 - 0.8 | 4.59 | 0.9 - 3.5 |
| Gill net | 3.00 | 0.8 - 3.8 | 3.86 | 1.4 - 3.0 | |
| White Sucker | Trap net | 0.11 | 0.2 - 1.2 | 3.75 | 1.3 - 2.5 |
| Yellow Bullhead | Trap net | 1.67 | 1.0 - 7.1 | 1.29 | 0.4 - 0.8 |
| Yellow Perch | Trap net | 0.89 | 0.4 - 2.8 | 0.06 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Gill net | 13.33 | 2.0 - 22.3 | 0.10 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 |
| black crappie | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| bluegill | 441 | 96 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 609 |
| golden shiner | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| green sunfish | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| hybrid sunfish | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| largemouth bass | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| northern pike | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 25 |
| walleye | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| white sucker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| yellow bullhead | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| yellow perch | 35 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| For the record, the largest Channel Catfish taken in Minnesota weighed 38 lbs. and was caught:
When: 1975 Statistics: 44" length |
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Walleye | yearlings | 1,253 | 498.0 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 54 | 3.0 | |
| 2010 | Walleye | yearlings | 10,410 | 347.0 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 387 | 102.0 | |
| 2009 | Walleye | adults | 305 | 186.0 |
| 2008 | Walleye | yearlings | 301 | 225.0 |
| 2006 | Walleye | fingerlings | 2,703 | 233.0 |
| Walleye | adults | 46 | 42.0 | |
| 2004 | Walleye | yearlings | 372 | 73.0 |
| Walleye | fingerlings | 261 | 28.1 | |
| Walleye | adults | 219 | 187.0 |
| 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. |
No fish consumption guidelines are available for this lake. For more information, see the "Fish Consumption Advice" pages at the Minnesota Department of Health.
A population assessment was conducted during late June of 2010 in Monson Lake. Monson is a small sized (152 acres), moderately deep (21 feet maximum depth), and moderately productive lake located in Swift County. Monson Lake State Park is located along the east side of the lake. Residential development is limited to 3 homes and 1 recreational vehicle site along the south, north and west shore areas. The public access is located on the east side in the state park. The surrounding watershed is comprised of mostly agricultural row crops with small areas of woodland, grassland, pasture, and wetland areas. The immediate shoreline area consists mostly of undeveloped woodland (hardwood trees) with small to moderate areas of wetlands, row crops, and grassland. Agricultural row crop runoff (via inlets) is the primary source of nutrient pollution into Monson. Nutrient levels were low to moderate (total phosphorus=0.028 ppm) during 2005 in Monson. There are three small sized inlets (northwest, northeast, and south shores) that flow into Monson. The outlet connects to West Sunburg Lake. Water levels have been high in Monson during recent years. Water clarity was fair (secchi= 3.3 feet) during June of 2010. Blue-green algae blooms can be common during the mid to late summer months in Monson Lake. Submergent vegetation is dense and diverse with northern milfoil, various pondweed species (flat-stem, curly-leaf, clasping-leaf, leafy, sago pondweed), coontail, water moss, and filamentous algae present in Monson. Emergent vegetation is also abundant and diverse consisting of various bulrush species, cattail species, duckweed species, burreed, arrowhead, and reed canary grass scattered throughout the bay, shoreline, and island areas. Monson Lake is managed primarily for walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and bluegill. Walleye fingerlings or yearlings are generally stocked into Monson every other year.
Northern pike numbers were moderately abundant in 2010 (6.67 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson and similar lakes. The northern pike historical average catch rate is 4.41 fish/gillnet for Monson. The 2010 northern pike average size was small to moderate (2.82 pounds and 22.86 inches) from gillnets. The northern pike historical average weight is 2.59 pounds from gillnets. The 2010 catch rate of quality size (21.00 inches) and larger northern pike was high (5.00 fish/gillnet) for Monson. Northern pike growth rates in Monson were generally below the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-7. The 2006 and 2003 northern pike year classes comprised 33% and 28% respectively of the 2010 northern pike gillnet and trapnet catch.
Black crappie numbers were low in 2010 (0.33 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson Lake and similar lakes. The black crappie historical average catch rate is 0.83 fish/trapnet for Monson. The 2010 black crappie average size was small (0.02 pounds and 3.95 inches) from trapnets. The black crappie historical average weight is 0.22 pounds from trapnets.
Yellow perch numbers were moderate in 2010 (13.33 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson and similar lakes. The yellow perch historical average catch rate is 10.57 fish/gillnet for Monson Lake. The 2010 yellow perch average size was small (0.10 pounds and 6.06 inches) from gillnets. The yellow perch historical average weight is 0.25 pounds from gillnets.
Bluegill numbers were abundant in 2010 (67.67 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson and similar lakes. The bluegill historical catch rate is 11.91 fish/trapnet for Monson. The 2010 bluegill average size was moderate (0.23 pounds and 5.37 inches) from trapnets. The bluegill historical average weight is 0.27 pounds from trapnets. The 2010 catch rate of quality size (6.00 inches) and larger bluegill was moderate (9.56 fish/trapnet) in Monson. The 2010 catch rate of memorable size (10.00 inches) and larger bluegill was high (2.67 fish/trapnet) in Monson. The largest bluegill captured was 11.81 inches (about 2 pounds) in the 2010 trapnets for Monson.
Walleye numbers were moderate in 2010 (3.00 fish/gillnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson and similar lakes. The walleye historical average catch rate is 4.29 fish/gillnet for Monson. The 2010 walleye average size was large (3.86 pounds and 21.96 inches) from gillnets. The walleye historical average weight is 2.21 pounds from gillnets. Large sized walleye (4.59 pounds average weight) were also caught in the 2010 trapnets (1.22 fish/trapnet). Walleye growth rates for Monson were above the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-8. The 2005 and 2003 walleye year classes comprised 33% and 28% respectively of the 2010 walleye gillnet and trapnet catch. Walleye natural reproduction in Monson is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous fall and summer surveys. Various combinations of walleye fingerlings, yearlings and adults (200-450 pounds per stocking year) have been stocked into Monson during recent years.
Largemouth bass numbers were moderate in the 2010 spring electrofishing survey (40.91 fish/hour) and similar to the Monson historical average (41.68 fish/hour) and Spicer Area average catch rate (46.04 fish/hour). The 2010 largemouth bass average size was moderate (1.30 pounds and 10.84 inches) from spring electrofishing. The largemouth bass historical average weight and length were 1.82 pounds and 13.29 inches from spring electrofishing for Monson. The 2010 catch rate of preferred size (15.00 inches) and larger largemouth bass was high (12.73 fish/hour). Largemouth bass growth rates in Monson Lake were within the Spicer Area normal ranges for ages 1-8. The 2008 and 2007 year classes comprised 23% and 43% respectively of the 2010 largemouth bass spring electrofishing catch.
Black bullhead numbers were low in 2010 (4.22 fish/trapnet) compared to the normal ranges for Monson and similar lakes. The black bullhead historical average catch rate is 26.78 fish/trapnet for Monson. Black bullhead abundance in the 2010 gillnets (1.00 fish/gillnet) was also below the historical average (112.21 fish/gillnet). The 2010 black bullhead average size was large (1.70 pounds and 15.19 inches) from trapnets. The black bullhead historical average weight is 0.80 pounds from trapnets.
Current fish management activities on Monson include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Monson fishery will be sampled in the 2015 summer for all fish species.
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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 |
