Ball Club

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ball Club Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 5th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Lake Whitefish hold significant cultural importance to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO). This species held such importance that the LLBO started a Lake Whitefish stocking program in 1986. This stocking program supported the Ball Club Lake Fishery for over 30 years. This fishery continues to remain active for those that continue traditional netting. LLBO holds Clean Water Act jurisdiction over waters within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which allows LLBO to establish water quality standards to protect Reservation waters and culturally important aquatic resources. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 65.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 22.6 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 46.5 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 23.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 11.3 degrees C (52.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to August 24th) in four years, between 2007-2024, also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 7.1 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ball Club Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Reservation, on August 5th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Lake Whitefish hold significant cultural importance to the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (LLBO). This species held such importance that the LLBO started a Lake Whitefish stocking program in 1986. This stocking program supported the Ball Club Lake Fishery for over 30 years. This fishery continues to remain active for those that continue traditional netting. LLBO holds Clean Water Act jurisdiction over waters within the exterior boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation, which allows LLBO to establish water quality standards to protect Reservation waters and culturally important aquatic resources. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 65.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 22.6 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 46.5 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 23.8 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 11.3 degrees C (52.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to August 24th) in four years, between 2007-2024, also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 7.1 feet thick. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Ball Club Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Nation, was conducted on August 5 - 15, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 24 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 18 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations. Soft sediments and deep water prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and none that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Fifteen trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured 10 species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (Rock Bass). Bluegill (36%) and Yellow Perch (31%) comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bowfin (46%) and Bluegill (18%) comprised a majority by biomass. Overall, the numbers of fish captured per net was relatively low with only 8 fish and 3 pounds per net. The average length of Bluegill captured was 4.8 inches and ranged from 2.6 to 9.0 inches. There were some larger Bluegills captured during this survey with about 30% being over 7 inches, 22% of Bluegills captured were over 8 inches, and some over 9 inches. There were 40 Yellow Perch sampled via trap nets. They averaged 6.0 inches and ranged from 4.1 to 8.9 inches in length. The trap net catch was light overall with an average of about 3 pounds per trap net. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from an August 2022 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ball Club Lake, which is located wholly within the Leech Lake Nation, on August 5th, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 57.0 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 28.6 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 41.7 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 13.1 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. A lone Cisco was sampled in the gill net survey. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 16.0 degrees C (60.7 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were present for Cisco at the time of the survey, but those conditions are marginal because the layer of suitable habitat was confined to less than 3 feet at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2007, 2014, and 2022, also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in all three years surveyed with an average oxythermal habitat layer of almost 11 feet and average TDO3 of 14.8 degrees C (58.6 degrees F) with the least favorable TDO3 (18.9 degrees C) occurring in the 2007 survey and the thinnest habitat layer (7.1 feet) occurring during the 2022 survey. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Ball Club Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the MNDNR FIBI exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. This is the first survey following FIBI protocols on this lake. You can help protect the fish community in Ball Club Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye, Black Crappie, and Pumpkinseed in Ball Club. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Ball Club has a maximum depth of 85 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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

No — Ball Club has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.