July 4th Boat Parade & Triathlon winners

Congratulations to all participants in the 2024 Dock Decorating, Boat Parade, and triathlon.

Speedboat: Dianne and Walt Weisser & family, #2

Pontoon: Cathie and Greg Pearson & family, #140

Dock: Judy Skoog & family, #38

Honorable mention pontoon: Koski family, #17

Thanks to the increased participation of Lone Lake boats, (the little ones loved the candy bags), and appreciated the cruising near to those on their docks.

See you Friday, July 4, 2025

Triathlon results

Participation was wayyyyy up in the annual Lone Lake triathlon. Thanks to the VanSlooten family for the organization, the swimmers took off from the public beach to Dance Hall point and back, followed by biking along CR 39 and back in CR 12, finishing up running the CR 81/28/12 triangle.

Everyone to participate gained much endurance and lost calories, but those taking medals home were Hudson, Lizi, Sam N, Eric, Peter, Sam G., Stacy, Summer, Drake, Val, Tom, Bobby, Kyle and Emma.

(Apologies if your name accidentally left out or incorrectly recorded.)

Congratulations to all and also hope to see many more in 2025.

Dates for your calendar

ANNUAL MEETING! July 20. 9:00-11:00 am. New time, new format

Join your neighbors for rolls and coffee/water as the annual LLPOA meeting changes to a morning meeting so you can spend one of the few mid-summer afternoons on or in the lake. Topics include meeting with new Prez Tiffany Frazier and important lake worthy discussions.

Important things to remember for this 2024 annual meeting:

• Bring your leaded tackle to exchange for the unleaded variety. Anything leaded harms not only our loons but other lake creatures and birds.

• Bring your books to trade or find some new ones for you to read at our very own LLLFL….Lone Lake Little Free Library. A one day event (for now….anyone want to build a book box?). If your books aren’t claimed, choose to take them back home or they will be donated to a local charity. Don’t have any to share? Come find some new reads for next January!

• Your lucky day…..free can koozies, floating key chain, or bait bags to choose. Thanks to a grant these are to be shared at the meeting.
  

Board positions needed:

• Online Facebook and website communicator. Someone who enjoys being online. Time involved usually is short spurts to update the pages.

• General board members…..the more representative we can be of our owners the better the organization is

Location: Preiner’s garage

30353 Oak Avenue (North side of Oak)

See you there @9:00 AM

Aitkin Riverboat Heritage Days

Medallion hunt begins August 1 followed by assorted activities and a Saturday downtown Aitkin parade.

Fun for all

Important details to the facts

Thanks to the culvert team, Lone Lake’s level is going down, but slowly. July 2, in the rain, 9 hardy team members moved the debris from the stream and the culverts to allow for the natural, DNR chosen level for our lake. This allows excess water to flow to Ripple Lake.

True, some residents want the lake higher and some want it lower, mostly dependent on your location on the lake. Years ago this was determined by the MN DNR. Receiving over 1.25” additional rain on July 4 and more each of the next days, this water is adjusting many shorelines.

Currently we are 11 INCHES over that high water mark.

What can you do right now?

Join those pictured below to keep an eye on the culverts.

Keep your shoreline safe with:

• Willow wattle with/without shoreline plantings (easier and cheaper)

• Coir logs (soft, easier to walk on, not cheap)

• Rocks and boulders (some profess this is great, others disagree)

Or ??? Join the team. Email us your interest, caring, and concern at lonelakepoa@gmail.com. We need a few more weekday and weekend volunteers.

WHY keep the soil on the land?

Excellent example this year. We started the year with early ice out, Normally spring gives us a higher Secchi disc reading (sometimes as high as 30’,)

June 1, 2024 was 26’.

The DNR measured only 18’ mid June after many rainfalls and more boat traffic. Thanks to Dave and Barb Dusbabek, the July 11 readings are:

Secchi disc (water clarity) has risen to 19.5’

Surface water temperature is 78 degrees. (Only 62 degrees in May).

However, we are currently at 11” OVER the high water mark as determined by the DNR. Too much rain and blocked culverts to blame.

Currently we do send HUGE thanks to:

Those boat captains who use the middle of the lake for their water activities, those cruisers who stay out a bit further, go slower, or are delaying that happy hour cruise for a month, and those personal watercraft drivers who drive slower to the middle of the lake and then don’t need to create the biggest wave ever….this year. Ideas for how to encourage others for prudent use of the very full Lone Lake?

A quick reminder……staying away from the shore includes staying away from personal docks. Are you near a long dock on the east side….instead of estimating your distance from shore from do it to the end of the dock….stay at least 150’ away….half a football field length/ about the width of a football field.

PS…..today I was witness to a boat captain taking his skier out to ski. Yes he did go quickly at a right angle away from his shoreline, but the skier ended the trip in the middle of the lake, and the boat captain headed to shore…more rapidly to begin with and then slowed down when within 300’ or so.

Thanks to all who are driving their boats aware of the high waters. 

Aitkin County Sheriff on Lone Lake

Friday, July 5 an Aitkin County Sheriff’s patrol joined those on the public beach as well as meeting a few boat riders with positives for their boat usage, life jackets on/or available, and other boating issues. Many children at the beach received stickers promoting positive choices. Hopefully if you met with the deputy it was a positive experience for all!

Aitkin Soil and Water info

This local division of the statewide office now shares a bimonthly news update.

Click here to read the latest issue and to sign up to receive your own copy.

LOONLETS?

Just recently loon cries came from the lake about 10;30 one evening. Please help all of us keep those babies safe. Watch for them and avoid them. Thanks

MN DNR 2024 Lone Lake fish survey stats

Many details to share about 2024 Lone Lake fish survey. Lone Lake, all 448 acres of it here in Aitkin County, hosted the DNR for some fish counting in May-June 2024.

Lake Facts

• Maximum depth 60’

• 5.64 shoreline miles

• 1st surveyed in 1949

Water temperatures

• surface 65 degrees 

• 21’ down 61 degrees

• 48’ down 48 degrees

Minnesota DNR fish nets on Lone (May 2024)

Focusing on the net catching over 3 days - by the numbers the top 3 fish are:

• Northern Pike 119

• Yellow Bullhead 85

• Rock Bass 42

• (Others 19 or fewer)

Fish by mean weight:

• White sucker 3.34 lbs.

• Bowfin 3.11 lbs.

• Walleye 2.0 lbs.

• (Others 1.91lb. Or less)

BIGGEST FISH…..for those fish stories by any residents:
FISH, (number caught), longest length

• Black crappie. (5) 13.98” 

• Bluegill (10) 7.68“ 

• Bowfin (dogfish) (1). 20.87” 

• Brown bullhead (1) 14.25” 

• Hybrid Sunfish (1) 9.53”

• Largemouth Bass (19) 16.5” 

• Northern Pike (119) 33.27” 

• Pumpkin seed (9) 6.89”

• Rock Bass (42) 9.29”

• Walleye (7) 20.94”

• White Sucker (4). 21.46”

• Yellow Bullhead (85) 13.07”

• Yellow Pike. (15). 10.12”

• And of course two curious snapping turtles!

Please remember, the lengths above are not the mean, median, or mode, 

They are a fisherman’s favorite about the one that “got away”……the BIGGEST of each type caught by the DNR. So keep on fishing! The big ones await!

Numbers from MN “on the water boating laws and rules”

That evening boat cruise is a staple for Lone Lake residents. Fishing means—go where the fish are. “Own your wake”, a guideline for all, is vital as that wake washes on the shoreline of all Lone Lake residents.

While personal watercraft have a MN law to stay 150’ from shore, there is no required distance for boats. Suggestions include as far as 200’, but how does the driver “compute” that distance while driving the watercraft? And does that really apply when cruising with little or no wake?

Some possibilities:

• The football playing field is 300 feet. Are you half a football field away?

• Major League Baseball….bases are 90’ apart. Is that where the fish are?

• Check out your shoreline. Is it approximately 50’? 100’? 150’?  
  
  

How far out are you?

• Is your boat about 20’ long? 5 boat lengths gets you 100’.

More DNR numbers:

• Water skiing, tubing, wake-surfing and similar skills are prohibited between 1/2 hour AFTER sunset…. to sunrise of the following day.

• Personal watercraft may operate between 9:30 a.m. and 1/2 hour BEFORE sunset.

• Tow ropes may not be longer than 150’.

To deposit or leave any refuse in or upon the waters of a state lake or at public access areas is illegal. 0 garbage goes overboard.

To chase wildlife with a motorboat, or operate a boat where it is prohibited, including marked spawning beds, is illegal.  

To operate a watercraft within an area legally marked off as a swimming area, or within 150’ of a diver’s warning flag. (Occasionally seen on Lone Lake.)

Summarized, the MN laws and DNR rules expect respect for humans, animals, and nature. Please do your part.

More questions? Click here for the MInnesota Boating Guide 2024.

(Note from a 40+ year boat captain—good to remind you of things you thought you knew.)

Meet the master precipitation observer, Walt Weisser

How many inches? How many feet? Did it rain? Did it snow?

Aitkin County is fortunate to have Walt Weisser living here on Lone Lake. Amazingly, for more than twenty years, Walt has collected precipitation data. DAILY. While at times that seems like “no big deal”, there are many areas of data that take longer than a few minutes.

Each day, Walt records the precipitation here on Lone Lake. Each week, he submits a postcard sharing that information with the Aitkin Soil and Water Conservation District. That data is collected from about 20 other locations in Aitkin County and then given to the MN State Climatology Office, part of the MN DNR.

The more time consuming part comes when it snows. While Walt begins with the snow total in inches (to the hundredth of an inch), he then must melt the snow to determine the water content of that snowfall. (Remember, the heavier the snow, the more water content it has.). He has three different tools at his property to collect the data. Pictures above and below show the collection and measuring tools, including the funnel for the snow to liquid precip conversion.

Some interesting facts about precipitation over the past year:

Throughout 2023, Lone Lake was “average” in Aitkin County. About half the months we were above the Aitkin average, half the months below average.  

2023 ranged from 5.53” (mostly rain) in December (remember the snow would be converted to a liquid measurement) and 0.03” in September.

Looking at January through April 2023, Lone Lake received 72.25” of snow while in 2024, January through April, showed only 15.83”.

But the lake is up? That would be thanks to the 11.25” of total precipitation Lone Lake has received in 2024, capped off by the 4.38” in May. (All that has created the best mosquito hatch in years.). We have all had even more rain these first two weeks of June.

Thanks, Walt, for all your time, effort, and knowledge and sharing it with us.

(Do you have an area of expertise that may be of interest to others on the lake? Email us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com with some details. Thanks!)

2024 Summer Calendar Events

Spring Road Cleanup

Hard to believe this Saturday is already the LLPOA annual spring road clean-up.

May 18, 2024

Meet at 9:00 a.m, at the Lone Lake public beach for rolls and coffee donated by Paulbeck’s store. Deeeeelicious! Dress for a short walk, possibly in wet conditions, along the roadside and ditches surrounding Lone Lake. Meet old neighbors and make new lake friends.

See you there!

Membership Drive

2024 Lone Lake membership drive starts soon. Still want to help? Email your interest to lonelakepoa@gmail.com today!

Want to continue to belong but make it easier? Go to lonelake.org/membership to do it all online. Or click here.

Looking forward to another “Lone Laker” stopping by your door to catch up on lake news? Watch for someone anytime in the next month or so.

Memorial Day Taps Across America event

Monday, May 27, Steve Frazier will be playing “Taps” at the Diamond Lake Cemetery on Memorial Day at 3:00 PM. As part of Taps Across America, this is to celebrate veterans and other loved ones on that important date. Steve will play “We are not Alone” at 2:45 followed by participants naming people they want to remember. “Taps” will be at 3:00 and finishing with “Amazing Grace.” This goes on rain or shine so if it’s raining bring your umbrella and raincoat!

Electronic Recycling

June 1st is the Aitkin County electronics recycling event. Check here for more details.

Rivers and Lakes Fair

June 15th | 9:00am - 2:00pm | Rivers and Lakes Fair at the Long Lake Conservation Center 

Time to start thinking about Rivers and Lakes Fair 2024. Stay tuned for updates on exhibitors and presenters!! 

We are always looking for volunteers! Reach out to Veronica Lundquist at lundquist.aitkinswcd@gmail.com or 218-927-7284 if you are interested in volunteering on the day of the event.

Lone Lake 5 year planning meeting | April 27, 2024

Want to know what happened when you were unable to make it?

Approximately 22 Lone Lake residents registered to attend the Aitkin Public Library on a rainy Saturday morning. The plan for the day had everyone joining a group to discuss how the action goals from five years ago were met and plan new action goals …..sometimes continuing goals….for the next five years. (2029 does seem further away than it really is.)

A quick summary of the five committees:

1. Lakeshore restoration and planting participants agreed that the previous goals had been met but the lake levels clearly determined what issues we face. Low levels these past few years have not helped previous willow wattle plants. Other options need to be researched. Keeping water clarity high is vital to our lake and perhaps more information for those coming to Lone Lake for the day should be shared with a sign at the boat landing.

2. Aquatic and Invasive Species participants reported that the grants available from the county have helped to remind boaters to check their boat when moving from lake to lake. With staffing questionable for the future, perhaps the landing will again need to be staffed by volunteers or LLPOA will need to pay someone to inspect boats so they are coming into our lake clean. (Discussion found many lakeshore owners’ boats stay only on Lone Lake.) Thanks to all who have donated in the past for AIS staffing. Those funds are always earmarked for only AIS use.

3. Zoning and Planning is working with the county to be on top of new construction on the lake. This continues to be an ongoing process with good connections with county staff a must. Disputes arise between lake residents occasionally with a need for open discussion which covers the minor issues over the past few years.

4. Fisheries and wildlife shared updated fish information which is in the article above. Important for neighbors to share any “meetings” with wildlife on their property and vital for all lake users to honor the need for species that use the lake as their home to be a priority for all.

5. Water surface use noted that already five years ago, a goal was to inform all lake residents of the many DNR rules (not suggestions) for proper lake use. It was decided this should be a continuing goal as everyone deserves to use the lake to meet their needs but to use it in a respectful manner, abiding by all MN state laws.

Thanks to those who used that rainy spring morning to look ahead for the best for all lake dwellers. Desiring more details? Email us at lonelakepoa@gmail.com

Want to help make these next five years the best ever? Email us with your proposal, thoughts, abilities and let us know what you can do to keep our lake the best.

We only stay on top with help from all.

2024 DNR Lone Lake Fish and Water Quality Survey

by Zint Kics, LLPOA board member

Conversations with Rick Bruesewitz Minnesota DNR: Update on Lone Lake fish surveys and water quality.  

In 2019 the DNR, for the first time, did a night time back pack electro fishing [Accomplished by placing 2 electrodes, an anode and a cathode, in the water and passing electricity through the water attracting and stunning the fish which can then be counted and studied.] survey for bass in Lone Lake. They plan to do this again sometime in May of 2024. 

October 2023 Minnesota DNR released 148# or approximately 2,200 walleye fingerlings into Lone Lake. [Fingerlings are juvenile fish about the size of a human finger.]

Lone Lake is scheduled to receive walleye fry this May. [Fry are recently hatched fish that have developed scales and fins.] 

A survey to check fish populations and water quality is tentatively scheduled for the week of June 17, 2024, depending on weather. The DNR will perform a standard survey utilizing gill nets, trap nets and will be checking our lake for water quality. The results of this survey will determine how well past stocking of fish have done and if they look good the DNR will continue to stock fry, (more per pound than fingerlings) and if not they will go back to just fingerlings in the fall.  

Later this summer the DNR will be doing near shore seining (with seining nets) and back pack electro fishing for the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) program the DNR has with the Minnesota PCA.  [IBI, Index  of Biotic Integrity is a tool used to classify water pollution problems.]

Great information to know and share about your lake.
Thanks, Zint

Trying to figure out what to plant on your lot?

Take a look at these varieties of milkweed……milkweed is required for Monarch butterflies…..eggs are laid on them so the caterpillars of the next generation can feed only on those milkweed plants. Many other pollinators join them in using milkweed nectar. A great reason to plant some in your yard.

Lone Lake could be the monarch capital of Aitkin County with your help.

Read below for more information. Download PDF version here.