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fish resurvey of Nest Lake was conducted in July of 2003.
Nest is a moderate sized (945 acres) and productive lake
located in Kandiyohi County. The maximum depth is 40 feet.
Residential development has occurred throughout the entire
shoreline area with the exception of the northwest portion
of the lake. Agricultural row crop drainage into the lake
occurs via several inlets/tiles from various locations
throughout the lake. The major inlet is the Middle Fork of
the Crow River, which enters along the north shore of Nest
Lake. The outlet drains into the Green Lake via the Old Mill
Inn Dam. Public access sites include one state access along
the east portion and one along the west portion of the lake.
There are two resorts/campgrounds located along Nest Lake.
Emergent vegetation (bulrush, wild rice) is present in the
west and north portions of the lake. Waterlilies occur
frequently in the east bay areas. Submergent vegetation
densities (coontail, pondweeds, filamentous algae) within
the lake were high in 2003. Curly-leaf pondweed can become a
nuisance for boating and swimming during most years. Water
quality (total phosphorus=0.017 mg/l) and clarity (secchi=15.5
feet on 6/09/03, 4.0 feet on 7/15/03) are good to moderate,
but algae blooms can occur during the late summer months.
Local anglers had good fishing success for walleye and black
crappie during the last several years, especially during the
early winter months. An angler harvested a 28 pound (48
inch) muskellunge from Nest Lake in August of 2003.
Muskellunge have not been intentionally stocked into Nest,
however some muskellunge fingerlings had accidentally
escaped from the New London State Fish Hatchery Ponds into
the Middle Fork of the Crow River.
Northern pike numbers were moderate to high in 2003 (6.3
fish/gillnet) compared to the normal range of similar lakes
and the historical average (4.5 fish/gillnet) for Nest. The
northern pike historical average catch rate is 4.5
fish/gillnet. The 2003 northern pike average size was
moderate (3.27 pounds and 23.8 inches) from gillnets. The
northern pike historical average weight for Nest Lake is
2.79 pounds from gillnets. The 2003 catch rate of quality
size (21.0 inches) and larger northern pike was high (4.6
fish/gillnet) in Nest. Northern pike growth rates in Nest
were within or above the normal ranges for ages 1-5 compared
to area lakes. Approximately 77% of the northern pike
captured in the 2003 summer resurvey were from the 2001 year
class. The largest northern pike captured was 37.9 inches in
the 2003 Nest Lake survey nets.
Walleye numbers were moderate in 2003 (6.1 fish/gillnet)
compared to the normal range of similar lakes, but slightly
below the historical catch rate (7.3 fish/gillnet) for Nest.
The 2003 walleye average size was moderate (1.34 pounds and
14.5 inches) from gillnets. The walleye historical average
weight is 1.38 pounds from gillnets. The 2003 catch rate of
quality size (15.0 inches) and larger walleye in 2003 (1.6
fish/gillnet) was below the Nest historical average (2.2
fish/gillnet). Walleye growth rates were within the normal
ranges for ages 1-3, but above the normal ranges for ages
4-7 compared to area lakes. A large 2001 walleye year class
(from natural reproduction) comprised 65% of the 2003 total
walleye catch from survey nets. The largest walleye captured
was 25.5 inches in the 2003 Nest Lake survey nets.
The walleye population is due to a combination of natural
reproduction and walleye stocking (fry, fingerlings, adults)
in Nest Lake. Nest Lake occasionally receives low numbers of
walleye fry (100,722 fry in 2003) via the Middle Fork of the
Crow River during clean up operations of the walleye
hatching program at the New London State Fish Hatchery.
There were no young of year "YOY" walleye numbers captured
(due to natural reproduction or fry stocking) in 2003 (0.0
YOY/hour). The YOY walleye historical average catch rate is
44.8 YOY/hour for Nest Lake. The area YOY walleye average
catch rate is 73.8 YOY/hour. Nest Lake was last stocked with
substantial walleye fingerling numbers in 1996 (17,340
fish).
Bluegill numbers were moderate in 2003 (26.0 fish/trapnet)
compared to the normal range of similar lakes, but below the
historical average (45.6 fish/trapnet) for Nest. The 2003
bluegill average size was moderate (0.16 pounds and 5.5
inches) from trapnets. The bluegill historical average
weight is 0.17 pounds from trapnets. The catch rate of
quality size (6.0 inches) and larger bluegill was moderate
(9.2 fish/trapnet) in 2003. Bluegill growth rates in Nest
Lake were generally near the low end of the normal ranges
for ages 1-4, but above the normal ranges for ages 5-7
compared to area lakes. The 1999 year class comprised 42% of
the total bluegill catch in the 2003 nets.
Current fish management activities on Nest Lake include
monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis,
protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process,
participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking
various fish species as warranted. The Nest Lake fishery
will be resurveyed in the 2004 fall for YOY walleye and the
2007 spring and summer for all fish species.
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