Pearl Lake

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What kind of fish can you catch in Pearl Lake?

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What aquatic invasive species are found in Pearl Lake?

Pearl Lake is a 117-acre lake located in Jackson County approximately 9 miles southwest of the City of Jackson, near the Iowa-Minnesota border. Pearl Lake is shallow with an average depth of 4.0 ft. and a maximum depth of 6.0 ft. Pearl Lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and secondarily for Black Crappie and Yellow Perch. Stocking is minimal because of the lakes connection to Loon Lake, as it is believed that enough immigration of fish occurs from Loon Lake to Pearl Lake to sustain fish populations, as evidenced from historical catch rates and stocking histories. Walleye are also present in Pearl Lake, but are not managed because of the lakes connection to Loon Lake, a managed Walleye lake. A population assessment was conducted during the week of July 8, 2019 to monitor fish populations using one gill net and 11 trap nets.

The 2019 Northern Pike catch rate was 1.0 per gill net, which is below the expected range of catch rates for similar (1.1 to 8.0 per gill net). Northern Pike catch rates have been very low for decades in Pearl Lake (0.0 to 1.0 per net), likely because recent stockings have been limited to 2014 and 2016, due to unsuccessful production of fingerlings. Lengths of Northern Pike ranged from 17.0 to 28.4 inches and averaged 24.6 inches. Pearl Lake is within the "southern zone" of the new Northern Pike zone regulations, so two Pike longer than 24 inches can be harvested. Northern Pike under 24 inches must be released.

Yellow Perch catch rates have historically been stable in Pearl Lake, varying from 26.0 per gill net in 1993 to 37.0 per gill net in 1988. The trend continued in 2019 as the Yellow Perch catch rate was 26.0 per gill net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes in the Windom management area (3.3 to 30.4 per gill net). Total lengths of Yellow Perch ranged from 7.6 to 11.2 inches and averaged 8.9 inches.

Black Crappie catch rates have varied from 2.3 per trap net in 2013 to 20.4 per trap net in 2001 and have averaged 10.0 per trap net since 1988. In 2019, the Black Crappie catch rate was 16.4 per trap net, exceeding the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes in the Windom management area (0.7 to 15.3 per trap net). Size structure of the Black Crappie population was balanced, as a wide range of lengths were sampled (4.8 to 13.4 inches, mean length of 8.7 inches). At least four different ages of Black Crappie were sampled.

Although not managed for Walleye, Pearl Lake has historically had Walleye present (because of its direct connection to Loon Lake, which is stocked with Walleye), as catch rates have varied from 6.0 per gill net in 2013 to 23.5 per gill net in 1988. In 2019, the Walleye catch rate was 31.0 per gill net, which was the highest catch rate ever observed in Pearl Lake and greatly exceeded the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes in the Windom management area (2.3 to 13.3 per gill net). Walleye lengths ranged from 12.7 to 23.0 inches and averaged 16.0 inches. A hot Walleye bite was reported during the early ice fishing season in December of 2019.

The Black Bullhead catch rate was 76.0 per gill net in 2019, similar to the 2013 catch rate of 79.0 per gill net, and within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes in Minnesota (30.3 to 150.6 per gill net). Total lengths of Black Bullheads ranged from 7.5 to 10.9 inches and averaged 9.0 inches. The Bigmouth Buffalo catch rate was 10.0 per gill net and 5.0 per trap net, with lengths ranging from 8.4 to 29.0 inches with an average of 20.1 inches. Other species sampled include Channel Catfish, Common Carp, White Sucker, Bluegill, Freshwater Drum, Largemouth bass, and Shortnose Gar.

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