Public Access Information

Fishing Regulations:

Lake Characteristics

Fish Sampled for the 2006 Survey Year

Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.

Length of Selected Species Sampled for the 2006 Survey Year

Fish Stocking Activity
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years

Fish Consumption Guidelines
These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelines enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish.
Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15

General Population

DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.
Contaminants listed were measured at levels high enough to warrant a recommendation to limit consumption.
Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted.
Dioxin
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate

Status of the Fishery (as of 08/14/2006)
Lake Osakis is a 6,270-acre, very productive basin located along the border of Douglas and Todd counties in west-central Minnesota. The City of Osakis is located on the southwest shoreline. Maximum depth is 73.0 ft. Mean depth is 20.0 ft. Productivity is high in response to extensive, well-vegetated shallows and excessive phosphorus levels. Fifty-four percent of the lake area is less than 15.0 ft in depth. Water clarity averages 6.8 ft. during open water months. Aquatic recreational uses can be seasonally or temporarily impaired due to algae blooms.
Lake Osakis supports a diverse fish community and offers a wide range of fishing opportunities. This basin is well known for its quality walleye fishery. It is also one of the few lakes in west-central Minnesota that consistently yields large bluegill and black crappie.
Lake Osakis has historically supported a good naturally recruiting walleye population. Although walleye abundance has decreased slightly from high levels of the 1990's, survey catches remain within the upper range of expected catches for this type of lake. Supplemental fry and fingerling stockings and spawning habitat enhancements have been utilized to sustain this popular fishery. Size distribution of the walleye population is relatively good. Forty-one percent of the 2006 capture sample was greater than 15.0 inches and 20% exceeded 20.0 inches. Mean size was 15.6 inches and 1.6 pounds. Because this basin is highly fertile, walleye and most other species grow relatively fast. Walleye typically exceed 17.0 inches after four growing seasons. Size of walleye harvested is regulated with a 15.0-inch minimum length limit. All walleye less than 15.0 inches in length must be immediately released.
Key sunfish species resident to Lake Osakis include largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie. These populations are not abundant and annual addition of young fish to populations can be inconsistent, but they grow fast and quickly reach harvestable sizes. Average size of bluegill and black crappie captured in surveys has diminished in probable response to heavy, size selective harvest, yet fishing quality remains very good in comparison to most lakes within the Glenwood Fisheries Management Area. Fifty-five percent of largemouth bass caught during the 2006 electrofishing survey exceeded 15.0 inches in length. Nine-inch bluegill and 11.0-inch crappie were fairly common in 2006 survey catches. Fishing pressure directed at bluegill and black crappie can be heavy. Harvest statistics generated from a creel survey conducted during open water fishing season of 2002 indicated over 34,000 bluegill and almost 5,000 black crappie were harvested. Bluegill exceeding 11.0 inches and crappie exceeding 15.0 inches in length were documented in creel records. Other less abundant sunfishes in survey catches include rock bass, smallmouth bass, and pumpkinseed sunfish.
Northern pike are moderately abundant and size structure is fair to good. The largest pike measured during the 2006 surveys was 33.0 inches in length. The majority of the population is comprised of small- to medium-sized fish. Mean size of 2006 captures was 21.9 inches and 2.4 pounds. Growth is slower than anticipated given the population's modest density and the basin's exceptional productivity. The older fish captured in 2006 did not reach 30.0 inches in length until age-9. Yellow perch catch rates increased in the 2006 survey. Expansion in the preferred-prey base should improve pike growth and average size.
Lake Osakis supports other high quality fishing opportunities. Bullhead are moderately abundant and large. Fifteen-inch fish were caught during the 2006 survey. The state record yellow bullhead was caught from Lake Osakis in 2002. Lake Osakis also produced the current state record rock bass
Three public accesses are located around the lake. During low water periods these accesses can be extremely shallow. Launching larger boats can be problematic. Boaters should also be cautious of large rocks located in shallow areas south of Battle Point. These navigation hazards are marked with warning buoys. ?