Status of the Fishery (as of 07/12/2004)
West Battle Lake is a 5,624-acre, mesotrophic (moderately
fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County.
The city of Battle Lake, Minnesota abuts the west shoreline.
The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural
land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum
depth is 108 feet; however, 44% of the lake is 15 feet or less
in depth. Water clarity in this lake is excellent; the
secchi disk reading for this survey was 19.5 feet. Secchi
disk readings have ranged from 8.0 to 17.5 feet in previous
surveys. West Battle Lake is included in lake class 27 of
the Minnesota DNR lake classification scheme. The majority
of the shoreline on West Battle Lake has been extensively
developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the
development. The 1995 lake resurvey referenced 505
homes/cottages and five resorts.
A DNR-owned concrete public access is located on the east
shoreline of the lake and a city-owned concrete public access is
located on the west shoreline. The shoal water substrates
consist primarily of sand and gravel. Stands of hardstem
bulrush and common cattail are scattered along the south and
east shorelines of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such
as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife
habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality.
They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually
absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants
provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike,
largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important
nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their
ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a
DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and
angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to
preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. A cooperative
walleye spawning habitat improvement project between the West
Battle Lake Association and DNR-Fisheries was completed in the
fall of 1999. Rock was added to Gizzard Creek (inlet from
Clitherall Lake) to enhance existing walleye spawning habitat.
West Battle Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish-walleye
type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish
community. Northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, black
crappie, and bluegill are the dominant species in the fish
community. West Battle is a designated muskellunge lake
and dark house spearing is prohibited. Muskellunge are
stocked by the DNR on a biennial basis. A muskellunge
assessment was conducted in 2003. Thirty-one muskellunge,
ranging in length from 34.0 to 49.0 inches, were sampled.
Age data indicate that muskellunge reproduction is limited and
that stocking is maintaining the population.
Walleye is a primary management specie in West Battle Lake.
The test-net catch rate for walleye was within the normal range
for class 27 lakes. Walleye ranged in length from 7.2 to
27.2 inches with an average length and weight of 15.5 inches and
1.5 pounds. Age and catch data show that the 2001 year class is
strong and should provide consistently good walleye angling for
several years. Walleye exhibit good growth with an average
length of 16.3 inches at four years of age. Data from
recent test-netting assessments indicate that walleye
reproduction is limited in West Battle Lake and that walleye
fingerling stocking is maintaining the population. Catch
rate data over the recent series of surveys indicate that an
accelerated walleye fingerling stocking program adopted by the
DNR appears to be improving the walleye population in West
Battle Lake.
The test-net catch rate for northern pike was within the
normal range for class 27 lakes. Age and length data
indicate that northern pike reproduction is consistently good.
Northern pike ranged in length from 13.8 to 28.9 inches with an
average length and weight of 21.5 inches and 2.2 pounds.
Pike attain an average length of 22.2 inches at five years of
age. An experimental size regulation (24.0 to 36.0 inch
protected slot limit) was implemented in 2003 in an attempt to
create a quality pike fishery.
Test-net catch data indicate that a high-density largemouth
bass population exists. Bass ranged in length from 5.6 to
15.2 inches. Age and length data indicate that largemouth
bass reproduction is consistently good. Bass reach an
average length of 12.1 inches at four years of age.
Data from recent test-netting assessments indicate that
bluegill and black crappie are abundant. Age data indicate
that the 2001 year class of black crappie may be strong which
should provide excellent crappie angling for several years.
Nineteen percent of the bluegills were at least 7.0 inches in
length. Both species exhibit moderate growth rates.
Anglers can maintain or improve the quality of fishing for
all species of fish in West Battle Lake by practicing selective
harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of
medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more
abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium
to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough
spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers
with opportunities to catch more large fish in the future. |
