Fishing Mehl Lake

Northern pike dominate Mehl Lake's biomass at 49%, with some reaching 31 inches thanks to limited spawning habitat that prevents overpopulation and low mortality that allows fish to live long. The pike are growing right at the state average (-0.2 growth index) and 51% exceed the 24-inch minimum, making this a solid pike fishery. Bluegill are the most numerous sportfish at 1,102 captured, growing at exactly the state average with fish up to 10 inches present, though only 5% reach the 6-inch acceptable size. The panfish picture is rounded out by pumpkinseed sunfish growing above average (+0.5 growth index) with 64% reaching acceptable size. Yellow perch average 4.6 inches with some reaching 9 inches, but growth is slightly below average (-0.6) and high mortality means the oldest fish are only age 5. Smallmouth bass are growing well below average (-1.5 growth index), likely due to competition from a large year class of age-1 fish, though some reach 19 inches. The lake supports an exceptional diversity of 16 species, well above average for its 91-acre size. Substrates vary from sand and organics nearshore to predominantly organic material in deeper areas, with one island in the southeastern section. The forage base is dominated by bluntnose minnows (64% of all fish captured) plus diverse darters and shiners. Heavy shoreline development has likely reduced critical woody habitat that fish depend on for spawning cover and predator ambush points. Three large walleyes (21-25 inches) were captured, remnants from previous stocking efforts, with new experimental stocking planned at 25 fish per acre.