Little Wolf Lake

From the Minnesota DNR:

Little Wolf Lake is in fisheries lake class 31. This classifies it with 141 other similar lakes for comparison purposes. Class 31 lakes are located primarily in north-central Minnesota and typically have a regular shoreline and very hardwater. Other nearby class 31 lakes include Upper LaSalle, Deer and Julia. There are two resorts on the lake and a township public access on the northwest corner. The access has no improved ramp, and launching is in the outlet creek which may cause problems for large boats. The access is closed during night time hours and parking space is limited. Little Wolf is currently stocked every other year with walleye fingerlings (245 lbs.) and Mississippi strain muskellunge (245 fish). Past stocking has included walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, largemouth bass and black crappie. The lake is managed as a brood stock muskellunge lake and has a minimum length limit of 48" to protect mature spawners. Muskellunge were first stocked in 1982 to establish an alternate egg source for Mississippi strain fish. Muskellunge are abundant with an occasional fish over 50" being caught by anglers. One resort recorded 150 released muskellunge in 1997 with more than half the fish caught between 36" and 41" and an average length of 38". Walleye are one of the most popular fish caught and are also abundant. At 8.1 fish per gill net, the catch in the 1997 assessment was higher than most comparable lakes. Half of the fish caught in gill nets were between 11" and 14" long and weighed close to a pound. There was also a good number of 20" to 22" walleye with weights averaging approximately two and a half pounds. Northern pike numbers have always been low and remained the same in the current assessment at less than one pike per gill net. Average weight of 2.2 lbs. is about the same as comparable lakes. Most pike were in the ranges of 17" to 20" or 28" to 33" long. Bluegill abundance is low with a maximum length of 5.6" and an average weight of .10 lb. Most bluegill are probably too small to be acceptable to most anglers. Pumpkinseed are more abundant than bluegill at 2.1 fish per trap net but are lower in number than most comparable lakes. The maximum length of 5 inches is similar to bluegill . Yellow perch numbers are on the increase and at 182 per gill net abundance is four times higher than comparable lakes. Twenty percent of the gill netted perch were over 8" long. The largest perch captured was 10.2". Three-fourths of the perch had either neascus, yellow grub or both. These parasites do not harm people but are aesthetically unappealing. No black crappie or largemouth bass were captured in the current assessment although they have been sampled in most previous surveys. Rock bass were sampled at a rate higher than most comparable lakes averaging nearly two fish per trap net. The average weight was about a half pound. Lake whitefish have not been noted in any assessment since 1969. Other minor species sampled included bowfin (dogfish), white sucker, and yellow bullhead. Brown bullhead have been captured previously but were not seen in this assessment. Little Wolf's abundant muskellunge population makes catching or sighting a muskie a fairly common occurrence among anglers. Most catches will be below the 48" minimum size and must be released. Catch and release is also strongly encouraged on legal fish above 48 inches. Walleye are also quite abundant and quality sizes are available. However, since perch are the primary prey species for walleye, exceptionally high numbers of perch may make walleye difficult to catch at times. Perch are the major panfish species available to anglers in this lake.

Minnesota Fishing

Minnesota Fishing

Minnesota Fishing Reports

Minnesota Fishing Resorts