Minnesota · Le Sueur County
Horseshoe Lake Fishing guide
Horseshoe Lake is a 417-acre lake in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, reaching 26 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2per gill net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2024Lengths measured · 28 fish
2018Lengths measured · 57 fish
2013Lengths measured · 9 fish
2008Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers45per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 48 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 48 fish
2024Lengths measured · 48 fish
2018Lengths measured · 2 fish
2013Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 6 fish
2003Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few4.3per gill net25"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 27 fish
2024Lengths measured · 40 fish
2018Lengths measured · 36 fish
2013Lengths measured · 41 fish
2008BluegillJust a few8.7per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 80 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 80 fish
2024Lengths measured · 194 fish
2018Lengths measured · 200 fish
2013Lengths measured · 67 fish
2008CrappieFair numbers13.3per trap net4"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 758 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 758 fish
2024Lengths measured · 183 fish
2018Lengths measured · 60 fish
2013Lengths measured · 248 fish
2008Yellow perchOne of the best around54per gill net5"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 323 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 323 fish
2024Lengths measured · 195 fish
2018Lengths measured · 244 fish
2013Lengths measured · 64 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 Horseshoe Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 3.1 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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 81% 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 3.1 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 81% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27" | 18" | 32" |
| 2018 | 26" | 19" | 32" |
| 2013 | 22" | 16" | 29" |
| 2008 | 20" | — | 37" |
| 2003 | 15" | 3" | 31" |
| 1998 | 25" | 13" | 25" |
| 1993 | 14" | 3" | 20" |
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:
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Spinnerbait
3/8–1/2 oz safety-pin spinnerbait with tandem willow-leaf blades
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 85,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 85,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 85,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 170,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 201,393 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 340,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 340,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 339,652 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Horseshoe Lake is a 393-acre lake located in Le Sueur County northeast of the city of Waterville. A DNR owned public access is located on the south side of the lake off County Road 10. Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. Horseshoe Lake is primarily managed for Black Crappie, Bluegill, and secondarily for Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. The management plan calls for stocking 85,000 Walleye fry yearly. Horseshoe Lake has been designated a Tier-2 lake and will be surveyed every 6 years, including: spring day electrofishing to assess the Largemouth Bass population, gill nets and trap nets to assess the fish community for size structure and abundance.
Horseshoe Lake was surveyed the week of 24 June 2024 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. This survey consisted of deploying 7 trap and 6 gill nets as well as 61 minutes of daytime boat electrofishing to monitor the fish community.
Read the full DNR narrative
Horseshoe Lake has historically produced moderate quality Black Crappies. Since 1983, Black Crappie relative abundance has varied from 0.6/trap net in 1990 to 63.7/trap net in 1988. Relative abundance of Black Crappie in 2024 was moderate at 13.3/trap net, which was an increase from 2018 (7.1/trap net). Black Crappies were also very abundant in gill nets with a catch rate of 110.8/gill net. Five year classes (2019-2023) were present. Age-2 (2022 year class) Black Crappies were the most abundant, accounting for 36% of Black Crappies sampled. Age-1 and age-4 black crappies were also very abundant, each accounting for more than 20 percent of the sample. Black Crappies size structure in trap nets was large. Black Crappie ranged from 3.6 to 12.0 inches and averaged 8.9 inches in trap nets. Black Crappies in gill nets ranged in size from 3.7 inches to 11.5 inches and averaged 5.7 inches.
Bluegill relative abundance has been variable in Horseshoe Lake ranging from 1.3/trap net in 1983 to 60.4/trap net in 1993. Bluegills were sampled at a rate of 8.7/trap net in 2024, which was lower than in 2018 (19.6/trap net). Bluegills ranged from 3.0 to 9.5 inches in length and averaged 7.3 inches. Six year classes of Bluegill were sampled in 2024 (2017-2022). Each age group from age-2 through age-5 made up just over 20 Percent of the sample. This indicates consistent recruitment of Bluegills.
Walleye relative abundance decreased from the 2018 survey, dropping from 4.5/gill net to 2.0/gill net in 2024, but still was within the long term range of catch rates (0.0 to 9.5/gill net). Two year classes of Walleye were present (2019 and 2023). Walleyes ranged from 9.7 to 27.4 inches and averaged 19.0 inches in gill nets.
Largemouth Bass are secondary management species on Horseshoe Lake and were assessed using day-time electrofishing in 2024. Before 2018 Largemouth Bass abundance was only assessed using standard trap netting. Relative abundance of Largemouth Bass was 45.0/hour. Average length of Largemouth Bass sampled in 2018 was 12.1 inches and ranged from 3.5 to 18.2 inches.
Northern Pike relative abundance has historically been stable in Horseshoe Lake, ranging from 0.7/gill net in 1996 to 20.0 in 2003. In 2024 relative abundance was 4.3/gill net. Northern Pike sampled with gill nets ranged from 19.6 to 32.7 inches in length and averaged 25.5 inches. Approximately 65 percent of Northen Pike were larger than the Southern Zone minimum length limit of 24 inches.
The 2024 Yellow Perch relative abundance (54.0/gill net) increased from 2018 (28.5/gill net). Yellow Perch exhibited small size, ranging in length from 5.1 to 11.5 inches and averaging 6.6 inches. Only seven Yellow Perch exceeded 10.0 inches.
Both Black Bullhead and Yellow Bullhead were present in the 2024 sample. Combined, bullheads had a relative abundance of 5.8/gillnet. Bullhead size ranged from 11.2 inches to 15.6 inches and averaged over 13 inches in length.
Other species present in low numbers included: Common Carp, Freshwater Drum (sheepshead), Bowfin (dogfish), Bigmouth Buffalo, and Golden Shiner.
-Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Horseshoe Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Horseshoe 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
- Horseshoe Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Horseshoe Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lower Sakatah Lake · 372 ac · 2.2 mi
- Upper Sakatah Lake · 892 ac · 3 mi
- Sunfish Lake · 121 ac · 3 mi
- Caron Lake · 319 ac · 3.8 mi
- Tetonka Lake · 1,358 ac · 4.6 mi
- Rice Lake · 331 ac · 5 mi
- Cedar Lake · 902 ac · 5 mi
- Sabre Lake · 258 ac · 6.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake reaches 26 ft at its deepest point; about 81% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake covers 417 acres with about 5.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Horseshoe Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Horseshoe Lake average 3.1 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Horseshoe Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Horseshoe Lake have a public access?
Yes. Horseshoe Lake has one public access site: Horseshoe Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Horseshoe Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Horseshoe Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Horseshoe Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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