Hovde Lake

Cass County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 11039400

Hovde Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.

• Hovde Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of September 2, 2026.
• Maximum depth 26 ft; surface area 133 acres, 116 littoral acres, 3.6 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 12.5 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: May 15, 2017 (targeted survey).
• Cass County, nearest town Walker; DNR lake number (DOW) 11039400.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/28/1971 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2017

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.

Hovde Lake is a 133-acre lake located near Walker, Minnesota that has 3.7 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake is entirely within the Chippewa National Forest. There is an earthen boat launch on US Forest Service land on the north shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Hovde Lake is in Lake Class 35. Lakes in this class are generally irregularly shaped lakes with predominately shallow water. Similar Lake Class 35 lakes in the Walker Area include Big Bass, Big Sand, and McKeown. A Largemouth Bass catch-and-release regulation was implemented in 2003. The purpose of this survey was to assess Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass populations and included spring electrofishing and trap netting. Largemouth bass are abundant and fish up to 17 inches long were sampled. Black Crappie and Bluegill were first sampled in 2008. Since then, the numbers of Black Crappie and Bluegill steadily increased and quality-sized fish of both species are present in this lake. Other fish species present are Golden Shiner, Walleye, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Hovde Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, May 15, 2017.

All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder