Natures

Itasca County

Near Squaw Lake

DOW: 31087700

Yellow PerchExcellent · 100Northern PikeExcellent · 89WalleyeGood · 55

A 2,249-acre lake near Squaw Lake in Itasca County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1990.

Fish Species (9)

Yellow Perch

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 42.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	9.75	-	0.11 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 12, 1990	42.50	-	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Excellent · 89

Above-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.50 lbs

Catch rate: 16.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	16.50	-	2.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 12, 1990	1.50	-	1.63 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Good · 55

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.92 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	2.00	-	2.92 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 12, 1990	0.08	-	1.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Poor · 18

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.44 lbs

Catch rate: 0.42 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	0.42	-	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Poor · 9

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.75 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	0.17	-	0.75 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (4)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Brown Bullhead

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.03 lbs

Catch rate: 6.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	16.50	-	0.60 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 12, 1990	6.50	-	1.03 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.34 lbs

Catch rate: 13.7 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	14.00	-	0.42 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 12, 1990	13.67	-	0.34 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 70

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.79 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	1.83	-	0.79 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Average · 33

Below-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 1990	0.50	-	2.00 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

June 12, 1990FISH SPECIES COMPOSITION OF LAKE IS DOMINATED BY L OW OXYGEN TOLERANT SPECIES: BULLHEADS, YELLOW PER CH & NORTHERN. NORTHERN PIKE GILLNET ABUNDANCE IS…

FISH SPECIES COMPOSITION OF LAKE IS DOMINATED BY L OW OXYGEN TOLERANT SPECIES: BULLHEADS, YELLOW PER CH & NORTHERN. NORTHERN PIKE GILLNET ABUNDANCE IS 16.5 PER LIFT. A WIDE RANGE OF SIZES WERE SAMPLE D, WITH AGE I-VII REPRESENTED. GROWTH IS GOOD, ME AN LENGTH AT LAST ANNULUS FORMATION FOR AGE 1 = 9. 5 = 22.1 (N=1). BULLHEADS ARE ABUNDANT, WITH BLACKS, YELL OWS, AND BROWNS PRESENT IN THE LAKE. THE YELLOW A ND BROWN BULLHEAD POPULATION IS COMPRISED OF LARGE FISH AND WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO COMMERCIAL FISHE RMEN. WALLEYE ABUNDANCE IS LOW AT 2.0/GILLNET. W ALLEYE PROBABLY MOVE THROUGHOUT THE POPPLE RIVER S YSTEM FROM ROUND LAKE TO BIG FORK RIVER DURING SPR ING SPAWNING AND EXIT SQUAW LAKE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. A LIMITED SAMPLE INDICATES THAT GROWTH IS GOOD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Natures?

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

Is there public access at Natures?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Natures. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Natures?

Natures has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Natures last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Natures is from 1990. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Natures have any invasive species?

No invasive species are on record for Natures in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

Are there special fishing regulations on Natures?

No — Natures has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide perch limit is: 20 daily and 40 in possession. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.