Hutchinson area darkhouse spearing outlook

Winter 2023-24

Table key

Year: Year survey conducted • Catch: Pike caught per gill net. An asterisk (*) denotes a related comment in the Notes column. • % > ##": Percent of pike netted that were longer than the column's specified inch measurement. • Acres: Lake size • Littoral: Percent of lake less than 15 feet deep • Clarity: Water clarity measured in summer
Lake County Year Catch % > 22" % > 26" % > 30" Acres Littoral Clarity Historical spearing pressure and notes
Arvilla/Arville Meeker 2018 13.5 53 25 8 138 100% 2' Light pressure. Water clarity often poor.
Belle Meeker 2022 1.4 72 24 7 864 44% 3' Light pressure, but heavier in recent years. Water clarity variable.
Betty/Betsy Meeker 2022 9.8 69 24 3 154 58% 2' Light pressure. Winter access via Clearwater River, which can be dangerous.
Big Swan Meeker 2022 6.3 72 25 0 684 49% 2' Moderate pressure. Clarity often decent. Large fish are a possibility.
Big Wolf/Wolf Meeker 2023 5.3 72 6 0 262 100% 4' Heavy pressure. Water clarity often good.
Clear (Watkins) Meeker 2021 4.1 62 46 16 529 91% 5' Moderate pressure. Water clarity often variable.
Dunns Meeker 2018 2.8 53 21 5 152 56% 3' Light pressure. Water clarity variable. Pike numbers usually low.
Francis Meeker 2022 12.2 6 1 1 1,053 83% 6' Light pressure. High numbers of small pike. Water clarity is usually good.
Greenleaf Meeker 2022 10.0 80 27 3 238 76% 3' Light to moderate pressure. Water clarity variable.
Hoff Meeker 2019 7.3 - - - 139 100% 4' Heavy pressure. Water clarity usually good.
Hook McLeod 2015 15.8 31 5 0 330 98% 6' Low to moderate pressure. Water clarity variable.
Jennie Meeker 2022 5.0 87 32 3 1,069 100% 2' Moderate pressure. Water clarity variable. Larger pike occasionally taken.
Long (Grove City) Meeker 2021 15.0 62 19 2 783 100% 2' Light pressure. Water clarity variable, more turbid in recent years.
Manuella Meeker 2021 9.0 40 13 6 292 39% 10' Light pressure. Water clarity often good. More roads plowed in recent years.
Maple Meeker 1991 0.0 - - - 138 100% 4' Light pressure. Water clarity variable. Walk-in off N. road by culvert.
Minnie-Belle Meeker 2020 3.6 59 41 16 596 28% 13' "Light pressure. Clarity good. 24-36"" inches protected slot limit on pike.
Preston Renville 2019 5.4 53 7 2 655 100% 7' Light pressure. Water clarity variable.
Richardson Meeker 2018 2.2 49 22 9 119 38% 6' Light pressure. Water clarity variable.
Ripley Meeker 2021 15.1 26 11 0 614 76% 6' Moderate pressure. Water clarity is often good enough to spear.
Round Meeker 2020 18.2 34 7 1 266 100% 7' High pressure. Water clarity is often good. Many small pike.
Sleepy Eye Brown 2021 8.2 55 8 4 241 84% 8' Heavy pressure. Water clarity often good. Best pike lake in Brown County.
Spring Meeker 2023 10.5 79 16 0 201 82% 4' Light pressure. Water clarity is variable.
Sleepy Eye McLeod 2018 10.0 41 5 2 141 61% 6' Light pressure. Water clarity is usually not good.
Spring Meeker 2023 11.7 67 27 10 553 100% 3' Moderate pressure. Water clarity is variable.
Stahl's Meeker 2023 9.8 53 21 5 599 38% 8' Light pressure. Water clarity good. Pike numbers up in 2023.
Star McLeod 2015 *0.5 - - - 214 100% 3' Light pressure. Water clarity variable. *Ice-out trap net data.

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