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Lake information report
Name: Knife
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Nearest Town: Mora
Primary County: Kanabec
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Survey Date: 09/11/2006
Inventory Number: 33002800
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http://www.mnlakeplace.com
for all your lake home needs in Minnesota & Wisconsin call
steve vennemann 651-334-8312
Lake Characteristics
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Caught
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Normal Range
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Black Crappie
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Trap net
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13.50
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1.0 - 12.3
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0.32
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0.2 - 0.5
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Gill net
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108.50
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0.8 - 11.1
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0.15
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0.2 - 0.4
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Bluegill
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Trap net
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18.25
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1.0 - 14.9
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0.18
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0.2 - 0.4
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Gill net
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5.42
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N/A
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0.20
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N/A
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Golden Shiner
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Trap net
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0.42
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0.2 - 1.0
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ND
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0.1 - 0.1
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Gill net
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0.75
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0.1 - 0.7
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0.10
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0.1 - 0.2
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Largemouth Bass
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Trap net
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0.08
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0.1 - 0.8
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1.83
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0.4 - 1.5
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Gill net
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0.25
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0.3 - 1.8
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0.60
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0.3 - 1.1
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Northern Pike
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Trap net
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0.33
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N/A
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3.56
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N/A
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Gill net
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5.17
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1.2 - 7.8
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3.48
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1.5 - 3.0
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Rock Bass
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Trap net
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0.08
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0.1 - 0.3
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0.27
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0.2 - 0.4
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Shorthead Redhorse
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Trap net
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0.08
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0.7 - 2.1
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1.98
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1.7 - 3.5
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Walleye
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Trap net
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0.92
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0.3 - 1.7
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3.50
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0.9 - 2.4
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Gill net
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5.58
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3.2 - 15.3
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2.13
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0.9 - 1.9
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White Sucker
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Gill net
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2.17
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0.8 - 5.9
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2.97
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1.4 - 2.2
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Yellow Bullhead
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Trap net
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0.50
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0.5 - 4.1
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1.63
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0.4 - 0.8
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Gill net
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0.42
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0.3 - 3.6
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0.86
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0.5 - 0.9
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Yellow Perch
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Trap net
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11.42
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0.3 - 2.6
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0.17
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0.1 - 0.3
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Status of the Fishery (as of 09/11/2006)
Comprised of 1,266 acres, Knife Lake is managed primarily for walleye and northern pike. The lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet and an average depth of 9.1 feet. Shoreline length is 18.24 miles and maximum lake fetch is 2.4 miles. An 18 to 24 inch protected slot limit was implemented for walleye as a special regulation in the fall of 2001. A 24 to 36 inch protected slot regulation for northern pike was implemented in the spring of 2003.
Long-range management goals for Knife Lake include maintaining the walleye gillnet catch at 10 per lift with a 1.5 pound average and the northern pike catch at 5 per lift with a 2.5 pound average. Minnesota lakes managed for fishing are grouped into classes based on physical, chemical, and biological similarities. Knife Lake is assigned to lake class 41. In order to compare the present fish communities to others in the lake class and to evaluate management goals, Knife Lake was re-surveyed from September 11-15, 2006. Gear sampling types for fish capture included, standard gill nets, standard trap nets, seines, and night electrofishing.
The walleye gillnet catch (5.6/set) was within the normal range compared to other catches in the lake class but fell well short of the long range management goal. Walleye averaged 2.1 pounds, and exceeded the management goal and the lake class norm. Sampled walleye ranged from 8.9 to 27.1 inches with a 17.3 inch mean. Walleye size structure and abundance has increased from the 2001 survey. Walleye catch rates have improved from (3.8/set) in 2001 to (5.6/set) in 2006. Average length of walleyes is up from 16.8 inches in 2001 to 17.3 inches in 2006. Growth and ageing data analysis from otolith bones displayed 11 year classes from 1996 through 2006. These year classes show a healthy distribution of walleyes of all sizes in Knife Lake. While walleye growth was normal compared to the statewide average. The 2006 and past surveys have shown the walleye population in Knife Lake to be healthy. Although there is some variance in year class strength from year to year the overall status of the walleye fishery in Knife Lake is in good condition
The northern pike gillnet sample exceeded the long range management goals for Knife Lake for both numbers and size. Sampled northerns ranged from 14.0 to 36.6 inches with a 24.0 inch average. Northern pike catch rates improved from (3.5/set) in 2001 to (5.2/set) in 2006. Average length of northern pike is up from 22.5 inches in 2001 to 24.0 inches in 2006. The northern pike maximum length increased 7 inches from 29 in 2001 to 36 in 2006 and is quickly approaching the trophy angling size of 40 inches. Average weight has also increased and is in the 75th quartile for lakes in this class. Growth and ageing data analysis from northern pike scales displayed 11 year classes from 1996 through 2006. The growth rate is within the normal range when compared to other lakes in the same class. By all accounts the northern pike fishery in Knife Lake is presently very healthy and showing great signs of quality angling for years to come.
The black crappie gillnet catch (13.5/set) was high compared to other catches in the lake class while their average weight of 0.15 pounds was considered low. Crappie ranged in length from 4.0 to 11.0 inches and averaged 6.6 inches with 68% of the total black crappie gill net catch were between 5-7 inches. Although black crappie average length has decreased the past few years, there is a good number of fish in the 2004 year class, which are presently 5-7 inches, that will create a good black crappie fishery in Knife Lake for years to come.
Yellow perch numbers increased significantly in the 2006 survey. Yellow perch catch rate increased from (4.6/gillnet) in 2001 to (50.2/gillnet) in 2006, which is well above 75% quartile for the lake class. The average weight, 0.20 pounds fell in the 25% quartile for the lake class. Sampled perch ranged from 5.4 to 9.6 inches, and the average length was 7.1 inches. Historically Knife Lake has supported high yellow perch populations.
The bluegill trapnetting was high, compared to others in the lake class for the catch rate of (18.25/set). An average size of 0.2 pounds has decreased compared to the 2001 survey of .3 pounds. Sampled bluegill ranged from 3.2 to 9.3 inches with a 5.7 inch mean. The bluegill gillnetting sampled (5.2/set) and ranged from 3.7 to 9.2 inches with a 6.0 inch mean. There is a good number and even distribution of bluegill between 3.2 and 9.3 inches in Knife Lake, which will produce a good number of quality size fish for anglers.
Shoreline seining indicated that reproduction was successful in 2006 for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, and yellow perch. A high number (137) of young of the year bluegills were captured in the 2006 survey, which indicates a good year class for future years.
Spring electrofishing resulted in a largemouth bass catch rate 41 fish per hour in 2006, and indicated good numbers of adult size largemouth bass. Average size of largemouth bass was 1.22 pounds.
Other species sampled during the survey included Johnny darter, golden shiner, logperch, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, yellow bullhead, and white sucker.
Knife Lake is a great fishery for anglers in east central Minnesota with many different game species to fish. Anglers have a good opportunity to catch a trophy sized fish or catch smaller fish for table fare. The overall outlook for the Knife Lake fishery is bright. The 2006 survey indicted many positive trends regarding fish health and abundance. Many game fish populations are on the rise and show no signs of slowing down.
http://www.mnlakeplace.com
for all your lake home needs in Minnesota & Wisconsin call
steve vennemann 651-334-8312
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