Dead Coon (Main Lake)
Lincoln County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 41002101
DNR records show 7 stocking entries at Dead Coon (Main Lake) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (277,500 fish).
- Dead Coon (Main Lake) has 7 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2016-2024): walleye (5), northern pike (1), yellow perch (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 1,387,500 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 9 ft; surface area 547 acres, 547 littoral acres, 4.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.1 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, common carp, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Lincoln County, nearest town Arco; DNR lake number (DOW) 41002101.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 277,500 | 2.1 |
| 2023 | Northern Pike | fingerlings | 1,085 | 155.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 277,500 | 2.3 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 277,500 | 2.2 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 277,500 | 2.4 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 277,500 | 2.4 |
| 2016 | Yellow Perch | adults | 4,192 | 200.0 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | STATE OWNED ACCESS ON SOUTH SIDE OF LAKE |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Fall electrofishing | 24.00 | 24 | 0.00 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Dead Coon Lake is a 547-acre, class 43 lake that is located southeast of the Town of Arco in Lincoln County. The lake has a maximum depth of 8.0 ft. and is situated in highly agricultural watershed, resulting in excess siltation and high nutrient levels. Additionally, Dead Coon Lake is positioned towards the bottom of the watershed of Lake Benton and has a watershed to lake ratio of at least 30:1. This has resulted in Dead Coon Lake having poor water quality for much of the year. Dead Coon Lake is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch. A daytime electrofishing event was conducted on September 11, 2025 to determine if natural reproduction occurred in 2025. Young-of-the-year Walleye were sampled at a rate of 24.0 per hour of electrofishing. Analysis of fall electrofishing data by DNR staff indicated that a catch rate greater than 5 per hour can result in a successful year class and greater than 25 per hour often produces a year class. Therefore, potential exists for Dead Coon Lake. The fish appeared healthy and ranged in length from 5.2 to 7.7 inches with an average length of 6.4 inches. Fin clips from those Age 0 Walleye were sent in for genetic analysis. Of those fin clips that were sent in 54% of the genetics were from Lower Mississippi River and 20% were from Spicer Strain genetics. There is some small percentage of assignment error associated with those percentages along with remaining other northern Minnesota genetic strains present. Walleye fry will be stocked in the spring of 2026 to supplement the existing Walleye population.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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