South Fork Lake
Houston County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 28003100
DNR records show 2 stocking entries at South Fork Lake since 2016, most recently channel catfish fingerlings in 2018 (500 fish).
- South Fork Lake has 2 DNR stocking records across 2 years (2016-2018): channel catfish (2).
- The most-stocked species by count is channel catfish: 1,400 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 15 ft; surface area 35 acres, 38 littoral acres, 1.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 2.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, white sucker.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Houston County, nearest town Freeburg; DNR lake number (DOW) 28003100.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Channel Catfish | fingerlings | 500 | 36.5 |
| 2016 | Channel Catfish | fingerlings | 900 | 17.7 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | TOW | Access is at the mouth of South Fork Crooked Creek. - Township road from base of Link Hill Road to waters edge has been vacated; except for public access by pedestrians or non-motorized use. |
DNR fish survey, 2008
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 106.60 | 533 | 0.07 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 21.80 | 109 | 0.24 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 2.80 | 14 | 0.89 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 18.75 | 25 | 1.03 |
| Channel catfish | Standard electrofishing | 1.50 | 2 | 7.41 |
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.
A lake population assessment was completed on South Fork Lake in September of 2008 as directed by the Operational Planning portion of the 2001 Lake Management Plan. The Operational Plan had listed 2005 as the next assessment date, but due to the increased workload of the Lanesboro Office the assessment was postponed until 2008. The impoundment was sampled with 5 standard trap-net sets that were set on September 2, 2008 and lifted the following day. Largemouth bass and channel catfish populations were sampled during the day with an electrofishing boat on September 4, 2008. Black crappie and bluegill continue to dominate the fish community in South Fork Lake in 2008, as has been the case in the previous 4 assessments (2000, 1996, 1990 and 1986). Black crappie abundance is down compared to the previous assessment; average size however has increased slightly. Bluegill abundance however has more than doubled since 2000; average size also increased slightly since the previous assessment. Abundance of both species remains very good compared to other lakes of similar type. Largemouth bass catch per effort (CPE) has declined slightly in 2008 with the average size of the fish sampled remaining relatively unchanged. The two channel catfish sampled during the electrofishing assessment are the first catfish sampled in South Fork Lake since the 1990 assessment; even though local fisherman report catching channel catfish on a regular basis.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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