Horseshoe Lake (Itasca County)
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31046600
Horseshoe Lake (Itasca County) has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Horseshoe Lake (Itasca County) shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 60 ft; surface area 142 acres, 39 littoral acres, 3.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, and 2 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Marcell; DNR lake number (DOW) 31046600.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | Minnesota DNR | Off NE shore, next to Lona Lodge resort. |
DNR fish survey, 2013
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 59.83 | 64 | 0.70 |
| Black crappie | Standard electrofishing | 6.54 | 7 | 0.59 |
| Smallmouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 0.93 | 1 | 1.43 |
| Walleye | Standard electrofishing | 0.93 | 1 | 0.15 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 9.50 | 57 | 1.17 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 3.33 | 20 | 0.56 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.67 | 4 | 0.18 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 3 | 2.79 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 1.86 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 0.27 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 3.53 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 3.11 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 8.11 | 73 | 0.34 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 2.44 | 22 | 0.51 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 2.33 | 21 | 0.82 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 9 | 0.49 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.94 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.38 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 0.32 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.80 |
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.
Horseshoe Lake is located about nine miles east of Marcel, MN, north of County Road 45. The 127 acre lake has 39 littoral acres, a maximum depth of 60 feet, and about 3.6 miles of shoreline. There is a small, earthen, state owned access on the north east side of the lake with very little parking available. Most of the land is in private ownership, yet development appeared minimal. There is one small resort on the north shore. There is one unnamed inlet from Eagle Lake and an unnamed outlet to Oar Lake. Northern pike are the primary management species, although the lake is well suited for panfish. Northern pike were sampled at a rate of 9.5/gill net, at the high end of the expected range for lakes similar to Horseshoe. This catch is higher than the previous assessment in 1983 (4.2/net). Size structure was poor. However, a low number of larger fish have been observed in most assessments. Lengths ranged from 13.4 to 31.7 inches with a mean length of 17.7 inches. Anglers may help the size structure by releasing fish over 24 inches. Scale and bone analysis identified ages 2 to 6 with growth similar to the statewide average. The sample appeared to be relatively young as 66% of the fish were age two or three. Growth slowed by age 6. Northern pike averaged 19.7 inches by age 5. Initial electrofishing sampled largemouth bass at a rate of 59.8/hr on-time. Past netting has documented the presence of largemouth bass. Size structure was moderate. Lengths ranged from 4.1 to 16.9 inches with an average length of 10.3 inches. Scale analysis identified ages 1 to 9, indicating consistent recruitment. Growth was slow early, but similar to the statewide average by age 2 and again slowing by age 8. Largemouth bass averaged 12.5 inches by age 5. One smallmouth bass was sampled while electrofishing, with a length of 14.2 inches. One smallmouth was netted in 1983, suggesting a marginally naturally occurring population. Records indicate fingerling smallmouth bass were stocked once, in 1954. Black crappie were sampled at a rate of 1.0/trap net, similar to the lake class average. Spring electrofishing sampled crappie at a rate of 6.5/hr on-time. Both catches were too small to accurately assess size structure, but both length frequencies were similar and favorable. The trap net sample had lengths from 4.3 to 11.7 inches with an average length of 9.4 inches, while the electrofishing sample had lengths from 7.7 to 12.6 inches with an average length of 10.3 inches. Scale analysis of a combined sample identified ages 2, and 4-8 present. Recruitment appeared to be sporadic as 75% of…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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