Slough (Lincoln County)
Lincoln County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 41002200
DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Slough (Lincoln County) since 2017, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (81,000 fish).
- Slough (Lincoln County) has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2024): walleye (5).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 405,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 13 ft; surface area 160 acres, 160 littoral acres, 2.2 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.0 ft.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Lincoln County, nearest town Arco; DNR lake number (DOW) 41002200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 81,000 | 0.6 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 81,000 | 0.7 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 81,000 | 0.7 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 81,000 | 0.7 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 81,000 | 0.7 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| O | Minnesota DNR | - Wildlife Management Area on the northwest corner of the lake. |
DNR fish survey, 2014
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 169.50 | 339 | 0.23 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 24.00 | 48 | 0.23 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 8.00 | 16 | 4.59 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 2.00 | 12 | 2.91 |
| Black bullhead | Standard trap nets | 1.67 | 10 | 0.44 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.50 | 3 | 0.02 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 1 | 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.
INTRODUCTION Slough Lake (West Dead Coon) is a 162.0-acre located 3.5 miles to the southeast of the City of Arco in Lincoln County. Historically, Slough Lake was a wetland, but water levels began to increase in the mid-1980's, similar to other lakes in that area (Lake Wilson, Wood, and East Twin). Since the increase in water level, Slough Lake has a maximum depth of 13.0 feet and has decent water quality with a secchi depth of 5.0 feet in September of 2014. Slough Lake is managed primarily for yellow perch and secondarily for walleye and black crappie. Slough Lake has not been stocked since 2003, when adult walleyes were stocked. Boat access to the lake is through the Wildlife Management Area on the northwest side, but is difficult because it is not concrete and is shallow. A population assessment was conducted the week of September 9, 2014 to monitor fish populations in Slough Lake. YELLOW PERCH In the initial survey in 2002, yellow perch were captured at a rate of 302.5 per gill net. In 2014, yellow perch were captured at a rate of 24.0 per gill net, which is more realistic, given that the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes is 2.7 to 25.0 per gill net. Yellow perch were small as lengths ranged from 6.3 to 8.6 inches and averaged 7.6 inches. Yellow perch were plump, indicating that forage is abundant. Yellow perch have not been stocked in Slough Lake by the MNDNR, so this appears to be a naturally reproducing population that is able to sustain itself. WALLEYE A population of walleye continues to be present in Slough Lake despite not being stocked since 2003. A catch rate of 1.5 per gill net was observed during the initial survey in 2002. In 2014, the walleye catch rate increased significantly to 8.0 per gill net, which is within the expected range of catch rates for similar lakes (2.3 to 18.1 per gill net). Walleye ages were estimated from otoliths. Five year classes of walleye were sampled including 2013 (age-1), 2011 (age-3), 2009 (age-5), 2008 (age-6) and 2007 (age-7) which means that some degree of natural reproduction is occurring or walleye are being illegally stocked, as it is very unlikely that fish can get into Slough Lake from Dead Coon Lake. Growth of walleye in Slough Lake was similar to growth observed in other class 43 lakes, with mean back calculated lengths at age being 9.3 inches at age-1, 13.5 inches at age-2, 16.1 inches at age-3, 18.4 inches at age-4, 20.2 inches at age-5, 21.2 inches at age-6, and 21.3 inches at age-7. Lengths of walleyes caught in gill nets ranged from 12.7 to 27.6 inches and averaged 22.5 inches…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
Hear when the states we cover post stockings
One email a week in season: which waters in the states we cover were stocked, straight from the state agencies' own postings. No spam, no fishing-gear ads in the mail.
Free · double opt-in · unsubscribe anytime · we store only your email.