Hand Lake Ponto Lake, MN
46.855166, -94.313483
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hand+Lake,+Ponto+Lake,+MN/@46.848527,-94.329228,2507m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x52b72253a98f3ff1:0x68e441e4d86764fe
Lake Area (acres): 289.21
Littoral Area (acres): 140
Maximum Depth (ft): 57
Water Clarity (ft): 10
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: N/A
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth (ft): N/A
Fish Sampled for the 2013 Survey Year
Species
Gear Used Number of fish per net
Average Fish Weight (lbs)
Normal Range(lbs)
Caught
Normal Range
Black Crappie Trap net 1.44 0.7 - 3.2 0.53 0.2 - 0.5
Gill net 1.33 0.5 - 2.7 0.63 0.2 - 0.4
Bluegill Trap net 19.56 5.6 - 42.3 0.26 0.1 - 0.3
Bowfin (dogfish) Trap net 2.00 0.4 - 1.0 3.82 3.1 - 4.8
Gill net 0.33 0.1 - 0.4 3.21 2.9 - 5.0
Brown Bullhead Trap net 0.44 0.3 - 1.5 0.66 0.6 - 1.0
Largemouth Bass Trap net 0.33 0.3 - 1.1 0.65 0.2 - 0.9
Gill net 0.33 0.3 - 1.2 0.14 0.5 - 1.1
Northern Pike Trap net 0.78 N/A 2.79 N/A
Gill net 7.17 3.1 - 8.5 1.53 1.5 - 2.7
Pumpkinseed Trap net 2.56 1.7 - 8.2 0.30 0.1 - 0.2
Rock Bass Trap net 1.56 0.6 - 2.5 0.29 0.2 - 0.5
Tullibee (cisco) Gill net 2.67 0.7 - 6.5 1.99 0.6 - 1.6
Walleye Gill net 0.17 1.3 - 5.5 3.53 1.2 - 2.4
Yellow Bullhead Trap net 2.78 1.5 - 7.7 0.46 0.5 - 0.8
Gill net 0.17 0.9 - 10.0 0.13 0.5 - 0.7
Yellow Perch Gill net 0.33 2.5 - 24.2 0.08 0.1 - 0.2
Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.
Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2013 Survey Year
SpeciesNumber of fish caught in each category (inches)
0-56-89-1112-1415-1920-2425-2930+Total
black crappie 1 5 15 0 0 0 0 0 21
bluegill 23 153 0 0 0 0 0 0 176
bowfin (dogfish) 0 0 0 0 3 17 0 0 20
brown bullhead 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 4
largemouth bass 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 5
northern pike 0 0 0 4 35 7 1 3 50
pumpkinseed 3 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
rock bass 3 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 14
tullibee (cisco) 0 0 0 2 14 0 0 0 16
walleye 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
yellow bullhead 0 8 18 0 0 0 0 0 26
yellow perch 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
YearSpeciesSizeNumberPounds
2013 Walleye fry 140,000 1.0
2011 Walleye fry 140,000 1.1
2009 Walleye fry 140,000 1.2
Privately Stocked Fish
* indicates privately stocked fish. Private stocking includes fish purchased by the DNR for stocking and fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Stocking Fish Sizes
Fry - Newly hatched fish that are ready to be stocked usually called "swim-ups". Walleye fry are 1/3 of an inch or around 8 mm.
Fingerling - Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall.
Yearling - Yearling fish are at least one year old. A one-year-old fish can range from three to twenty inches depending on the species. Walleye yearlings average from six to twelve inches.
Adult - Adult fish are fish that have reached maturity. Depending on the species, maturity can be reached at two years of age. Walleye reach maturity between the ages of four and six years.
Status of the Fishery (as of 06/17/2013)
Hand Lake is a 289-acre lake located 11 miles east of Backus, MN. Hand Lake has a state-owned public access with a concrete ramp on the west shoreline. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Hand Lake is in Lake Class 25; lakes in this class are generally deep, clear lakes that have irregular shorelines with many bays or points. The lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass and Secondarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye and Tullibee (Cisco).
Northern Pike were abundant compared to other Lake Class 25 lakes. Northern Pike mean length was 19 inches and fish up to 35 inches were sampled. Large year classes in 2009 and 2010 should provide future opportunities for anglers targeting Northern Pike. Abundance of Black Crappie and Bluegill in Hand Lake was comparable to similar lakes. Black Crappie mean length was 10 inches with fish 12 inches in length present, and Bluegill averaged 6.8 inches long with fish up to 9 inches being sampled. The improved size quality of both Bluegill and Black Crappie populations will provide quality angling opportunities. Anglers may also encounter other species such as Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Hand Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office.
46.855166, -94.313483
Nearest Town: Backus
Primary County: Cass
Primary County: Cass
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hand+Lake,+Ponto+Lake,+MN/@46.848527,-94.329228,2507m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x52b72253a98f3ff1:0x68e441e4d86764fe
Lake Area (acres): 289.21
Littoral Area (acres): 140
Maximum Depth (ft): 57
Water Clarity (ft): 10
Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: N/A
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth (ft): N/A
Fish Sampled for the 2013 Survey Year
Species
Gear Used Number of fish per net
Average Fish Weight (lbs)
Normal Range(lbs)
Caught
Normal Range
Black Crappie Trap net 1.44 0.7 - 3.2 0.53 0.2 - 0.5
Gill net 1.33 0.5 - 2.7 0.63 0.2 - 0.4
Bluegill Trap net 19.56 5.6 - 42.3 0.26 0.1 - 0.3
Bowfin (dogfish) Trap net 2.00 0.4 - 1.0 3.82 3.1 - 4.8
Gill net 0.33 0.1 - 0.4 3.21 2.9 - 5.0
Brown Bullhead Trap net 0.44 0.3 - 1.5 0.66 0.6 - 1.0
Largemouth Bass Trap net 0.33 0.3 - 1.1 0.65 0.2 - 0.9
Gill net 0.33 0.3 - 1.2 0.14 0.5 - 1.1
Northern Pike Trap net 0.78 N/A 2.79 N/A
Gill net 7.17 3.1 - 8.5 1.53 1.5 - 2.7
Pumpkinseed Trap net 2.56 1.7 - 8.2 0.30 0.1 - 0.2
Rock Bass Trap net 1.56 0.6 - 2.5 0.29 0.2 - 0.5
Tullibee (cisco) Gill net 2.67 0.7 - 6.5 1.99 0.6 - 1.6
Walleye Gill net 0.17 1.3 - 5.5 3.53 1.2 - 2.4
Yellow Bullhead Trap net 2.78 1.5 - 7.7 0.46 0.5 - 0.8
Gill net 0.17 0.9 - 10.0 0.13 0.5 - 0.7
Yellow Perch Gill net 0.33 2.5 - 24.2 0.08 0.1 - 0.2
Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.
Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2013 Survey Year
SpeciesNumber of fish caught in each category (inches)
0-56-89-1112-1415-1920-2425-2930+Total
black crappie 1 5 15 0 0 0 0 0 21
bluegill 23 153 0 0 0 0 0 0 176
bowfin (dogfish) 0 0 0 0 3 17 0 0 20
brown bullhead 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 4
largemouth bass 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 5
northern pike 0 0 0 4 35 7 1 3 50
pumpkinseed 3 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 23
rock bass 3 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 14
tullibee (cisco) 0 0 0 2 14 0 0 0 16
walleye 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
yellow bullhead 0 8 18 0 0 0 0 0 26
yellow perch 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years
YearSpeciesSizeNumberPounds
2013 Walleye fry 140,000 1.0
2011 Walleye fry 140,000 1.1
2009 Walleye fry 140,000 1.2
Privately Stocked Fish
* indicates privately stocked fish. Private stocking includes fish purchased by the DNR for stocking and fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Stocking Fish Sizes
Fry - Newly hatched fish that are ready to be stocked usually called "swim-ups". Walleye fry are 1/3 of an inch or around 8 mm.
Fingerling - Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall.
Yearling - Yearling fish are at least one year old. A one-year-old fish can range from three to twenty inches depending on the species. Walleye yearlings average from six to twelve inches.
Adult - Adult fish are fish that have reached maturity. Depending on the species, maturity can be reached at two years of age. Walleye reach maturity between the ages of four and six years.
Status of the Fishery (as of 06/17/2013)
Hand Lake is a 289-acre lake located 11 miles east of Backus, MN. Hand Lake has a state-owned public access with a concrete ramp on the west shoreline. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Hand Lake is in Lake Class 25; lakes in this class are generally deep, clear lakes that have irregular shorelines with many bays or points. The lake is managed primarily for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass and Secondarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye and Tullibee (Cisco).
Northern Pike were abundant compared to other Lake Class 25 lakes. Northern Pike mean length was 19 inches and fish up to 35 inches were sampled. Large year classes in 2009 and 2010 should provide future opportunities for anglers targeting Northern Pike. Abundance of Black Crappie and Bluegill in Hand Lake was comparable to similar lakes. Black Crappie mean length was 10 inches with fish 12 inches in length present, and Bluegill averaged 6.8 inches long with fish up to 9 inches being sampled. The improved size quality of both Bluegill and Black Crappie populations will provide quality angling opportunities. Anglers may also encounter other species such as Bowfin (dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Hand Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office.
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