Island

St. Louis County

Near Side Lake

DOW: 69091100

BluegillGood · 57Black CrappieGood · 51PumpkinseedAverage · 46

A 133-acre lake near Side Lake in St. Louis County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (8)

Bluegill

Good · 57

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.95 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 2.3–7.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1977	0.33	-	0.95 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 51

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.90 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net · typical 0.8–3.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 3, 1977	0.17	-	0.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 46

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net · typical 0.7–3.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	4.25	-	0.22 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 26, 1987	0.75	-	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Average · 45

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.37 lbs

Catch rate: 5.5 per gill net · typical 3–8.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	0.25	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 26, 1987	5.50	-	1.37 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1977	3.00	-	1.23 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 44

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per gill net · typical 4.5–19 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 26, 1987	5.25	-	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1977	22.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Brown Bullhead

Good · 63

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1977

Last surveyed 1977 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.42 lbs

Catch rate: 4.3 per trap net · typical 0.4–3.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	4.25	-	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1977	4.33	-	0.42 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Average · 46

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.16 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 2–11.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	1.25	-	2.16 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1977	2.00	-	2.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 26, 1987	1.50	-	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 26, 1987	106.00	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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

August 26, 1987NORTHERN PIKE, BLACK BULLHEAD, YELLOW PERCH, AND PUMPKINSEEDS APPEARS TO BE THE PREDOMINATE SPECIES IN THE LAKE. ALL SPECIES CONSIST OF MOSTLY SMALL S…

NORTHERN PIKE, BLACK BULLHEAD, YELLOW PERCH, AND PUMPKINSEEDS APPEARS TO BE THE PREDOMINATE SPECIES IN THE LAKE. ALL SPECIES CONSIST OF MOSTLY SMALL SIZED FISH AND ARE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE AREA ANGLERS AND RESIDENTS. THE BLUEGILL AND BLACK CRAPPIE, WHICH HAVE BEEN CAPTURED IN PREVIOUS TESTNETTING STUDIES, WERE NOT CAPTURED IN THIS STUDY EXCEPT FOR 1 YOUNG-OF-YEAR BLUEGILL IN SHORELINE SEINING. BLUEGILL AND BLACK CRAPPIES WERE LAST STOCKED IN 1975. FREQUENT WINTERKILLS APPEAR TO HAVE REDUCED THESE TWO SPECIES IN THIS LAKE.

August 3, 1977(1976 winterkill. Fish population is indicative of periodic winter- kill lake.

(1976 winterkill. Fish population is indicative of periodic winter- kill lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Island?

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

Is there public access at Island?

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

How deep is Island?

Island has a maximum depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Island last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Island is from 1987. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Island have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Island?

No — Island 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.