Pokegama

Pokegama Lake is in ecological lake class 22 and is located just southwest of Grand Rapids, MN, in the Mississippi River Watershed. The lake is 6,721 acres and has a maximum depth of 112 feet. Area Fisheries staff conducted a targeted survey setting 15 trap nets on 16 June, 2024 and began nearshore fish species sampling on 23 July, 2024. The trap net and nearshore catches will be used with the data from the targeted gill-net survey conducted on 31 July, 2023, to calculate a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score which is indicative of lake health. The surveys will assist the watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Nearshore sampling included 24 sites (100 feet long) evenly spaced around the lake, sampling a variety of habitat types. Each site is sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-ft or 50-ft 1/8th inch mesh seine, depending on habitat condition. Shoreline seining was conducted at six sites using the 15-ft seine and 11 sites with the 50-ft seine. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sites. Nearshore sampling captured 22 different species: 17 species by seining and 18 species by backpack electrofishing. The nearshore sampling captured all but two species observed in the trap nets, Black Crappie and Bowfin. The species can be found in the gear-specific catch tables in this report.

Pokegama Lake is located south of Grand Rapids, MN, within the Mississippi River Watershed. The 6,721 acre lake has 1,978 littoral acres, a maximum depth of 112 feet, and about 57 miles of shoreline. The lake is connected to the Mississippi River through the Jay Gould chain on the north and Little Pokegama on the south, all which is navigable. The 2022 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Bluegill and Walleye are primary management species while bass, Muskie, and Northern Pike are secondary management species. The LMP objective was to maintain a Bluegill population with at least 10% of the sample exceeding 8 inches and some 9-inch fish present. A 5-Sunfish daily bag limit was implemented in 2022 to help maintain the quality size distribution. The spring 2024 targeted Bluegill survey was the first since the regulation went into effect. Catch rates from spring surveys tend to be variable due to spring weather patterns and should be viewed cautiously as they may not correspond to actual changes in abundance. However, spring catches are typically higher than the summer so better information on size, age and growth can be obtained. In early June, 18 nets were set throughout the lake and lifted for two days. Lengths and weights were recorded for Bluegill, Pumpkinseed and Black Crappie while other species only had the number recorded. Aging structures were collected for Bluegill and Black Crappie. The Bluegill population can be characterized as having moderate numbers of quality sized fish. The 822 sampled fish ranged from 3.2 to 10.0 inches and averaged 7.2 inches. Size structure remained favorable and exceeded management goals; nearly 35% exceeded 8 inches and more than 5% were over 9 inches. Fish from age 2 to 10 were estimated from scales with age-4 and -5 fish each representing about 32% of the sample. Growth was similar to lakes with comparable habitat and fish averaged 8.3 inches after seven years of growth. Collecting Black Crappie information was secondary to Bluegill due to survey timing. Only 31 Black Crappie were sampled. The fish ranged from 5.9 to 12.9 inches and averaged 10.0 inches. Seven age-classes from age 2 to 8 were estimated from scales. Age-4 and -5 fish were the most common in the sample. Growth was similar to lakes with comparable habitat and fish averaged 10.3 inches after five years of growth. Other species observed were Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish, hybrid sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumkinseed, Rock Bass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Yellow Bullhead.

The 2022 Lake Management Plan (LMP) identified Bluegill and Walleye as primary management species and bass, Muskie, and Northern Pike as secondary management species. Rainbow Smelt is a non-native species discovered in Pokegama in the early 1980s that has established a naturalized population. The origin of smelt and effect on the fish community are unclear beyond their importance as a prey species. There is a spring spawning run in Sugar Brook that is popular with smelt netters. Early efforts to sample smelt used a variety of methods but were standardized beginning with the 1995 fall survey. The goal of the 2023 smelt survey was to monitor the long-term trends in the population following a widespread die-off in the summer of 2011. Twelve small-mesh gill nets (0.375 and 0.5 inch) were set during the week of October 9th. Caution is advised when interpreting smelt catch rates because they are a schooling species that often suspends over deeper water, resulting in variable catches. Small-mesh gill nets have sampled smelt as high as 99.0/net in 2005 and as low as 0.4/net in 2011. The 2023 catch of 8.8 smelt/net was somewhat lower than the 14.1/net observed in 2015. The sampled fish ranged from 4.1 to 5.4 inches and had a mean length of 4.8 inches. Nearly 98% of the sample were captured in the smaller 0.375 inch mesh. Angler reports of large clouds of presumed smelt on their electronics or in an ice-hole suggests we may be under-sampling the population. No attempt to age the smelt occurred in this survey. Yellow Perch catches have ranged from 15.3/net in 2000 to 193.8/net in 2015. The perch catch of 47.2/net was down from a record high in 2015. The sampled fish ranged from 2.9 to 6.4 inches and had a mean length of 4.5 inches. A total of 348 measured perch were examined for sex and maturity. Of the 51 females sampled, nearly 85% were immature that ranged from 3.0 to 5.4 inches (mean = 4.4 inches) while the remainder were mature that ranged from 4.7 to 6.4 inches (mean = 5.2 inches). In contrast, of the 297 males, only 1.4% were immature that ranged from 3.0 to 5.0 inches (mean = 3.8 inches) while 98.7% were mature ranging from 2.9 to 5.4 inches (mean = 4.4 inches). Sex and maturity data had not been collected from the fall small-mesh gill net surveys prior to 2023 so it is not clear if it reflects any changes in the population. However, it demonstrates earlier maturation of males than previously thought and is consistent with recent research from around the state. Other species sampled included Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch, Walleye, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Walleye, and Black Crappie in Pokegama. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Pokegama. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Pokegama has a maximum depth of 112 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Pokegama is from 2024.

Yes — Pokegama has confirmed starry stonewort and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 1 special rule for Pokegama, covering sunfish. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.