Minnesota · Kandiyohi County
Calhoun Lake Fishing guide
Calhoun Lake sits in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, and covers 647 acres, reaching 13 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent11.7per gill net12"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 37 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 37 fish
2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2018Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2013Lengths measured · 242 fish
2008No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeGood numbers13.3per gill net16"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 62 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 62 fish
2023Lengths measured · 31 fish
2018Lengths measured · 52 fish
2013Lengths measured · 43 fish
2008BluegillJust a few23.9per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 231 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 231 fish
2023Lengths measured · 350 fish
2018Lengths measured · 241 fish
2013Lengths measured · 579 fish
2008Yellow perchGood numbers5per gill net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 13 fish
2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2018Lengths measured · 2 fish
2013Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 142 fish
2008Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Calhoun Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 13-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 13-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30" | 24" | 18" |
| 2018 | 30" | 23" | 15" |
| 2013 | 32" | 18" | 17" |
| 2008 | 32" | 21" | 16" |
| 2003 | 31" | 15" | 15" |
| 1999 | 30" | 25" | 12" |
| 1996 | 28" | 14" | 17" |
| 1995 | 29" | — | 15" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Tokyo Rig
Creature bait or craw Texas-rigged on the rig's hook
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,698 fingerlings · 722 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 10,420 fingerlings · 71 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A standard survey of Calhoun Lake was conducted during early July of 2023. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). A spring electrofishing survey for Largemouth Bass was not conducted in 2023 due to time constraints.
Calhoun is a moderately sized (618 acers) And moderately productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. The maximum depth is 13 feet. Residential development (51 homes/cabins-2008 resurvey) has occurred primarily along the north and east shoreline areas. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural row crop drainage into the lake occurs via several inlets/tiles/ditches located along the north, east, and west shore areas. The Middle Fork Crow River enters Calhoun along the southwest corner. Calhoun is connected to Green Lake via a bypass channel of the Middle Fork Crow River and the Green Lake outlet marsh. A dam is located at the outlet on the south shore near the public access. Another dam is on the Middle Fork Crow River downstream of the bypass channel that flows into Calhoun. Water levels were slightly below normal during 2023. A DNR public access is located along the south shore. A township winter access is located on the south shore east of the outlet dam. Early ice out (early-mid march) occurred on area lakes in 2023. Dissolved oxygen was above 9.0 ppm throughout the water column during the 2023 survey. Water nutrient (total phosphorus=0.022 mg/l) results were good during July 23, 2023 (MNPCA). Water clarity (Secchi= 7 feet) was moderate on July 5, 2023. Large emergent vegetation (bulrush, cattails) stands are present along the west and south portions of the lake. Submergent vegetation species are varied and dense (northern milfoil, muskgrass, filamentous algae, water moss, various pondweed species) in Calhoun. Eurasian watermilfoil was first noted in scattered low densities of Calhoun, especially near the Middle Fork Crow River Inlet area, during 2010. Eurasian watermilfoil has been present upstream in nearby Green Lake since 2000. Zebra Mussels were first found upstream if Green Lake in the 2014 fall and are also now present in Calhoun. Shoal water substrates consist mostly of sand, silt, and gravel. Calhoun is a popular Bluegill and Northern Pike fishery but has potential for good Largemouth Bass fishing.
Read the full DNR narrative
Largemouth Bass numbers were excellent in 2023 (11.67 fish/gillnet). Largemouth abundance was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) in 2018. The Largemouth Bass historical average catch rate was 3.56 fish/gillnet. The 2023 Largemouth Bass average size was moderate (1.14 pounds and 12.54 inches) from gillnets. The largest Largemouth Bass captured was 18.11 inches. The 2023 survey showed high numbers of quality size Largemouth Bass.
Black Crappie numbers were low in 2023 (2.0 fish/gillnet). The historical average gillnet catch was 4.32 fish/gillnet for Calhoun. The 2023 Black Crappie average size was slightly below average (0.35 pounds and 8.19 inches) from gillnets. Black Crappie growth rates were slower than average.
Northern Pike numbers were abundant in 2023 (13.33 fish/gillnet) compared to similar lakes. The Northern Pike historical average catch rate is 13.43 fish/gillnet for Callhoun. However, the 2023 Northern Pike average size was small (1.92 pounds and 19.18 inches) from gillnets compared to historical averages (2.33 pounds and 21.01 inches). The largest Northern Pike captured was 30.24 inches. Northern Pike possession limit regulations for Calhoun in the North-central Zone are as follows: 10 (Not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediately released.) by angling; 10 (only 1 Northern Pike between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or 2 over 26") by dark house spearing.
Yellow Perch numbers were moderately low in 2023 (5.00 fish/gillnet). The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 8.54 fish/gillnet for Calhoun. The 2023 Yellow Perch average size was moderately large (0.38 pounds and 9.14 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.20 pounds from gillnets. The largest Yellow Perch captured was 11.14 inches.
Walleye numbers were low in 2023 (1.00 fish/gillnet) compared to similar lakes and the lake average (1.53 fish/gillnet). The 2023 Walleye average size was larger (2.77 pounds and 20.17 inches) than the historical average (2.18 pounds and 17.73 inches). Walleye growth rates were average in Calhoun. The 2019 year class comprised 50% of the 2023 Walleye catch from gillnets and trapnets. The largest Walleye captured was 24.06 inches. Walleye fingerlings, yearlings and adults were stocked recently in Calhoun during 2007 (1,557 yearlings, 150 pounds), 2008 (1,998 adults and yearlings, 687 pounds), 2010 (914 adults, 168 pounds; 5,725 fingerlings, 586 pounds), 2012 (2,505 yearlings, 503 pounds; 1,331 fingerlings, 121 pounds), 2014 (80 adults, 106 pounds; 2,481 yearlings, 541 pounds; 898 fingerlings, 98 pounds) and 2017 (71 adults, 51 pounds; 10,420 fingerlings, 614 pounds), 2019 (722 adults, 487 pounds; 1698 fingerlings, 183 pounds).
Bluegill numbers were moderately abundant in 2023 (23.89 fish/trapnet) compared to similar lakes. Bluegill numbers are lower than historical average catch rate (52.78 fish/gillnet) on Calhoun. The 2023 Bluegill average size was similar (0.14 pounds and 5.40 inches) to the historic average (0.13 pounds and 5.44 inches). The number of Bluegill over 6.00 inches was low in 2023. The largest Bluegill captured was 8.19 inches.
The 2023 Black Bullhead catch rate was moderate (19.67 fish/gillnet). The Black Bullhead average size was large (0.77 pounds and 10.98 inches) in gillnets. There was a dramatic increase in Black Bullhead numbers from the 2018 survey (absent) to the 2023 survey.
Other fish species of special interest captured in 2023 included low numbers of Common Carp (0.11 fish/trapnet), moderate numbers of Pumpkinseed Sunfish (10.67 fish/gillnet), and high numbers of Yellow Bullhead (28.33 fish/gillnet). The historical average catch rates were 0.79 Common Carp/trapnet, 14.05 Pumpkinseed Sunfish/gillnet, and 19.37 Yellow Bullheads/gillnet. The 2023 average weights were 12.18 pounds, 0.18 pounds, and 0.53 pounds for Common Carp, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead respectfully.
Current fish management activities on Calhoun Lake include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, operating the outlet dam to prevent winterkill, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Calhoun fishery will be surveyed in the 2028 summer for all fish species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Calhoun Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Calhoun Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Calhoun Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Calhoun Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Green Lake · 5,569 ac · 3.6 mi
- Long Lake · 325 ac · 4 mi
- Bass Lake · 50 ac · 5.6 mi
- Monongalia Lake · 2,290 ac · 5.9 mi
- Nest Lake · 969 ac · 6.4 mi
- Diamond Lake · 1,610 ac · 6.4 mi
- Elkhorn Lake · 79 ac · 6.7 mi
- Koronis (main lake) · 2,968 ac · 7.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Calhoun Lake?
Calhoun Lake reaches 13 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Calhoun Lake?
Calhoun Lake covers 647 acres with about 4.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Calhoun Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Calhoun Lake average 6.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Calhoun Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Calhoun Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2019; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Calhoun Lake have a public access?
Yes. Calhoun Lake has one public access site: Calhoun Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Calhoun Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 30"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Calhoun Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Calhoun Lake in 2023, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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