North Star Lake is a class 25 lake located just south of Marcell, MN. The lake has one public access and moderate shoreline development. The 2015 lake management plan (LMP) indicates Muskellunge, Northern Pike, and Walleye as the primary species of management with Largemouth Bass as a secondary species. The LMP goals were to increase the Walleye gill-net catch to 5.0/net, maintain a Northern Pike gill-net catch of 3.0/net with 30 and 15% of the sample longer than 28 and 34 inches. A special protected slot length limit implemented in 2003 requires all Northern Pike from 24 to 36 inches to be released and only one fish over 36 inches can be in possession.
The 2019 standard survey evaluated the fish community as part of the Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) sampling. The nearshore sampling results for Fish IBI are in a separate report. Night electrofishing for bass was not scheduled or conducted in 2019. Muskellunge are not sampled effectively with our standard summer gears because the population numbers are low relative to other species and the fish are so well distributed. Spring targeted surveys are used to evaluate the population when the fish are concentrated in the shallows to spawn. The last spring Muskellunge survey occurred in 2013.
Musky
Musky fishing on North Star Lake offers an exhilarating challenge for anglers. Multiple year population estimates can sometimes reduce the potential for biases associated with fish movement, particularly related to the timing and seasonal weather patterns within one spring. Estimates from both years were derived for the spring 2022 population because that was the period of the marking. The estimates calculated in 2022 ranged from 199 to 284 and had a mean of 241 adults while the estimates using the 2023 recapture period ranged from 239 to 269 and had a mean of 255 adults. Results from the second year of estimates provides confidence the adult population was near 250 adults or approximately one adult for every 5 acres.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Equipment: Use 30-50 lb braided line, and 6 ½ to 8 ft Medium Heavy to Heavy fishing rods.
- Best Colors: Black with red or orange, white, silver, perch or bluegill color, and black/silver/gold.
- Lures: Try Mepps 3 or larger, inline spinners, ½ oz and up size spinner baits, Pike lures, large stick baits, surface lures, and 3-8 ft diving lures.
- Tips: During spring and fall, sucker minnows and a bobber can be effective. With warmer water in late July and August, consider casting or trolling in deeper, cooler water. Pay attention to moon phases, which can influence Musky strikes.
- Population: The DNR estimates 280-320 adult Musky in North Star Lake, ranging from 36” to 55”.
Walleye
North Star Lake clear waters, 20ft, can make walleye fishing challenging and very rewarding. Clear lakes can test your fishing skills to catch walleye during brighter and or calm water conditions. The Walleye gill-net catch rate of 2.3 fish/net approached the management goal of 3.0 fish/net. Gill-net catch rates have ranged from 2.3 to 5.2 since Walleye stocking began in the 1970s. The sampled fish ranged from 12.5 to 29.1 inches and averaged 19.2 inches. The majority of the fish sampled exceeded 15 inches, which should be desirable to anglers.
Walleye age and growth analysis found eight year-classes were present with fish from 3 to 17 years old. The last five surveys evaluated a period of annual Walleye stocking that began in 2000. Growth has generally been good with the exception of periods of distinctly cooler growing seasons. In 2022, Walleye averaged 16.1 inches after four years of growth, which is faster than the statewide average of 15.1 inches. The prey base, which includes Yellow Perch and Tullibee, appears to be sufficient for good growth but is likely underrepresented in the gill net samples.
- Equipment: Use jigs for casting or vertical jigging (1/16-1/8 oz) in colors like blue, purple, yellow, and brown. Slip bobber setups with red hooks and balsa bobbers with tall stem, work well.
- Line: Use 4 to 8 lb. mono or fluorocarbon.
- Best Times: Late May to mid-June, and mid-September through October. Fish early morning or just before dark. In summer, fish before morning light or after dark.
- Spring, try trolling for Walleye after dark along or at the weed lines.
- Late in the season walleye can be found shallow.
- Bait: Leeches and minnows are effective in spring and fall, while worms are best used after dark.
North Star Lake has a good population of Walleye. Per the DNR study found here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=31065300 North Star lakes has an Walleye population above the average in the larger size walleye category. The Walleye gill-net catch rate of 4.7 fish/net approached the ambitious management goal of 5.0 fish/net. Gill-net catch rates have ranged from 2.3 to 5.2 since Walleye stocking began in the 1970s. In 2019, the sampled fish ranged from 10.4 to 28.7 inches and averaged 17.2 inches. The majority of the fish sampled were longer than 15 inches, which should be desirable to anglers.
Walleye age and growth analysis identified 11 year-classes with fish from 2 to 14 years old present. The last four surveys evaluated a period of annual Walleye stocking that began in 2000. Growth was notably slower in the 2014 survey (age-4 fish averaged 14.1 inches) but has since rebounded to 15.3 inches by age 4. Initially it appeared the reduced growth was related to competition for food since the stocking rates were quite high, but now it appears the shorter and cooler growing seasons prior to the 2014 survey may be a better explanation for the slower growth observed.
Crappie
Crappie fishing on North Star Lake is excellent, especially in early spring and mid-May to mid-June. North Star Lake is very strong 7-9” and 10-11” class. It is not unusual to catch Crappie 12” or larger.
- Best Locations: Crappies stage off their spawning areas, around 30 ft deep, just off the weed line drop-off. In summer, they move deeper during the day but head to the weed line just before dark. . Most are set up close to the Lilly pads to the weed drop off.
- Equipment: Use small jigs (1/32 to 1/8 oz), small hair jigs, jigs tipped with plastic tub, twister tail, or split tail. Small minnows on a bobber with a hook or jig work well too.
- Best Colors: Yellow, white, pink/white, purple/white, and black.
- Cast the jig into the weeds and swim the jig back to the boat, or use a bobber set at 3-5 ft casting to the weed line and slowly working back to the boat.
Summer the Crappie schools move all around the lake generally deeper during the day but move to the weed line just before dark. Searching for them or setting up in key locations just before dark is the best way to catch Crappie in the summer.
Black Crappie numbers have always been low in North Star Lake, but the catches have not been uncharacteristically low for this lake class. In 2019, the gill-net and the trap-net catches were 1.6 and 0.6 fish/net. The fish sampled ranged from 4.8 to 12.2 inches. Age and growth information was not collected in this survey. If anglers can find the crappies, they can at times provide some good fishing.
Perch
Perch are abundant in North Star Lake, the rule is 10-15 minutes in a location, if you’re not catching perch you want to keep moving:
- Best Locations: Look for larger perch in the weeds (4-12 ft deep) and in 18-30 ft of water on the bottom on flats or ridge lines.
- Equipment: Use slip bobbers, Lindy rigs, and vertical jigging setups.
- Bait: Worms, minnows, and leeches are all effective, as well as small plastics and gulp baits.
I have found larger perch in the weeds 4-12 ft deep. You need to fish the holes in the weeds and be able to get your bait through the weeds 6-12inches from the bottom. I have also found larger perch in 18-30 ft of water on the bottom on flats, or ridge lines.