Lower Balsam Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota, USA

Lower Balsam Lake is located in Itasca County about 15 miles north of  Taconite, MN and is within the Mississippi River watershed (#15).  The  lake covers 283 acres, of which 99 are littoral (35%), and has a maximum  depth of 29 feet.  There is one inlet and one outlet.  Water quality  measurements in 1985 showed a total alkalinity of 81 ppm and total  phosphorous of 0.024 ppm, and water clarity has been moderate with  Secchi depths of 6 ft in 2011.  Lower Balsam Lake is in ecological lake  class #31; lakes in this class have average area of 256 acres (42%  littoral), maximum depth of 37 ft, Secchi depth of 9 ft, and total  alkalinity of 148 ppm.  Other area lakes in this class include Little  Ball Club, Gunn, and Rush Island Lakes.  The lake has no designated  public access.
 

 The Fisheries Lake Management Plan (LMP) was last revised in 2001.   Bluegill and black crappie were the primary management species.  The  goals of the plan were maintain a bluegill population with a catch rate  at 10.0 per trap net and a PSD at 80 and maintain a black crappie  population with a catch rate at 2.0 per trap net.  No special or  experimental regulations exist for Lower Balsam but Statewide seasons  and limits apply.
 

 A population assessment was conducted in August of 2011 to evaluate the  status of the fish community.  The assessment consisted of 6 gill net  and 8 trap net sets.  The lake was also included in the Statewide near  shore IBI sampling program.
 

 Black crappie were the most common fish in the gill net and the catch of  12.5/net was high compared to lakes with similar habitats and was the  second highest catch recorded for Lower Balsam Lake.  Lower Balsam has  occasionally produced high gill net catches of crappie, as the catch  exceeded 24/net in 1985.  Gill net caught crappie ranged from 4.4 to  11.8 inches with an average of 8.2 inches.   
 

 The trap net catch was moderate, as the catch of 1.3/net was average  compared to similar lakes but below the LMP goal of 2.0/trap net.  It  appears trap nets are a poor indicator of crappie abundance in lower  Balsam Lake.  Eight year classes were present and recruitment appeared  fairly consistent.  Sampled crappie averaged 4.2 years of age and 41%  were age 5 or older.  Growth was relatively slow, as crappie averaged  8.3 inches at age 5 and did not exceed 10 inches until age 7.   
 

 Northern pike were the second most common fish in the gill net and the  catch of 6.2/net was average compared to similar lakes and to past  assessment of Lower Balsam Lake.  Pike ranged from 14.4 to 35.2 inches  with an average length of 20.6 inches.  Age analysis identified 6 year  classes (ages 1-5 and 7) and recruitment appeared generally consistent.   Most northern pike were relatively young, averaging age 3, and only 8%  of the sampled pike were age 5 or older.  The lack of older pike may  indicate high mortality of older individuals or poor recruitment in the  recent past.  Angler harvest may influence the age distribution.  Growth  was relatively fast as individuals typically exceeded 24 inches by age 4  and 31 inches by age 6.   
 

 Walleye are only occasionally sampled in Lower Balsam Lake and lakes  with similar habitats rarely produce large walleye catches.  The catch  of 1.3/gill net was typical for Lower Balsam Lake.  Walleye ranged from  11.4 to 21.9 inches with a mean of 16.8 inches.  Growth was average with  individuals typically exceeding 14 inches by age 4.  Walleye  reproduction is probably limited in Lower Balsam Lake but immigration  from connected waters appears to maintain a small population, providing  bonus angling opportunities.
 

 Yellow Perch were captured at a rate of 0.5/gill net, low compared to  similar lakes, and below average for Lower Balsam.  Lower Balsam Lake  has a history of poor perch catches.  Yellow perch in Lower Balsam have  typically been too small to interest anglers but provide important prey  for predator species.  Low yellow perch abundance likely contributes to  the low walleye catches.
 

 Tullibee (cisco) were captured at a rate of 2.8/gill net, within the  expected range for similar lakes.  Tullibee were relatively large,  averaging 15.6 inches.  Tullibee sport netting is not allowed on Lower  Balsam.  The tullibee is an important prey item and is especially  valuable in maintaining growth rates required to produce quality sized  northern pike.  
 

 Largemouth bass were captured at a rate of 1.8/gill net, a high rate  compared to similar lakes.  Test nets typically produce inadequate  evaluations of bass abundance, but the high catch in Lower Balsam  suggests that bass are an important component of the fish community.   Bass ranged from 6.6 to 15.2 inches and averaged 13.1 inches.  Four year  classes were present and recruitment appeared inconsistent as the 2005  year class made up 55% of the sample. Growth was relatively slow with  individuals achieving 12 inches in 5 years.
 

 Bluegills were captured at a rate of 7.0/ trap net, an average catch for  Lower Balsam but somewhat low compared to similar lakes.  Size  structure was moderate, as bluegill ranged from 5.6 to 8.2 inches with a  7.0 inch average.  Sampled bluegills were relatively old, with an  average age of 5.4 years.  Eighty percent of the sampled bluegills were  age 5 or older, suggesting limited harvest mortality.  Growth was near  the lake class average, as bluegill exceeded 6 inches by age 6.  It  should be noted the growth rates are relatively slow in ecological lake  class 31.  Slow growth and poor size structure may limit the popularity  of the bluegill fishery.
 

 Test netting also caught bowfin, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass,  shorthead redhorse, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.  Near shore IBI  sampling captured blackchin shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook  stickleback, burbot, golden shiner, Johnny darter, largemouth bass,  logperch, longear sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, spottail  shiner, white sucker, and yellow perch.  The presence of longear sunfish  is of interest as this species is relatively rare in Minnesota.
 

 Anglers and boaters are reminded to help stop the spread of invasive  species by removing all aquatic plants from boats, trailers, and  equipment.  All drain plugs must be removed and live and bait wells must  be drained before leaving the access.  Anglers and boater are  encouraged to power wash and thoroughly dry all equipment prior to use  in another water body.