Minnesota · Stearns County
Horseshoe Lake Fishing guide
Horseshoe Lake covers 629 acres in Stearns County, Minnesota, reaching 57 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 3.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 26 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2017Fair numbers3.9per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 131 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 50 fish
2025Lengths measured · 28 fish
2024Lengths measured · 60 fish
2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2024Largemouth bassJust a few19.3per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 41 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 41 fish
2024Lengths measured · 75 fish
2018Lengths measured · 25 fish
2003Lengths measured · 3 fish
1995Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassJust a few4per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2021Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 77 fish
2018Lengths measured · 2 fish
2011Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few3.8per gill net22"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 155 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 50 fish
2024Lengths measured · 89 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2021Lengths measured · 70 fish
2018Present and managed by the DNR.
BluegillPresent8.2per gill net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 2067 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 132 fish
2024Lengths measured · 280 fish
2024Lengths measured · 1365 fish
2024Lengths measured · 276 fish
2021CrappiePresent4.5per gill net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 383 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2024Lengths measured · 49 fish
2024Lengths measured · 126 fish
2024Lengths measured · 128 fish
2021Yellow perchExcellent numbers16.5per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 296 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 287 fish
2024Lengths measured · 9 fish
2021Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2018Lengths measured · 16 fish
2011Channel catfishExcellent numbers8.1per gill net21"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 144 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 35 fish
2024Lengths measured · 109 fish
2021Lengths measured · 273 fish
2018Lengths measured · 243 fish
2011Rates 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 3.9 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. On a lake that drops to 57 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 3.9 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. On a lake that drops to 57 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | — | — |
| 2024 | 27" | 19" | 19" |
| 2023 | 24" | — | — |
| 2022 | 20" | — | — |
| 2021 | 26" | — | 17" |
| 2020 | 26" | — | — |
| 2019 | 17" | — | — |
| 2018 | 22" | 20" | 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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
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 | Muskellunge | 515 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | 515 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 515 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 515 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Muskellunge | 515 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 275,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Horseshoe Lake is located near Richmond in south-central Stearns County. A public access is located on the Sauk River one-half mile upstream from the lake; however, navigable channels connect Horseshoe with Cedar Island Lake and the other downstream lakes within the Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL). Horseshoe Lake has a surface area of 550 acres with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Prior to 2001, the Walleye fishery was supported through fingerling stocking during odd-numbered years. In 2001, the stocking strategy switched from fingerling stocking to fry stocking during odd-numbered years and was often supplemented by natural reproduction and fry stocking by the lake association. Fall electrofishing for young of year (YOY) Walleye was only conducted during stocked years until 2015 when annual sampling was initiated due to the documentation of naturally reproduced year classes. Results from fall YOY electrofishing surveys indicated that natural reproduction was strong, and Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2018.
Fall electrofishing for YOY Walleye was conducted on October 13, 2025. Since the discontinuance of fry stocking in 2018, fall YOY Walleye catch rates have ranged 0.0 to 203/hr with a long-term average of 68.4/hr. No YOY Walleye were caught in 2025; however, 50 age-1+ Walleye were caught for a catch rate of 62.6/hr. These Walleye ranged in length from 9.5 to 22.1 inches with an average of 14.0 inches. Annual fall YOY electrofishing will continue. However, due to YOY Walleye catches remaining below 25/hr for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), Walleye fry will be stocked in spring 2026 in accordance with the Lake Management Plan.
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
- Becker Lake · 221 ac · 1.3 mi
- Cedar Island Lake · 986 ac · 1.3 mi
- Long Lake · 487 ac · 1.9 mi
- Zumwalde Lake · 128 ac · 2.2 mi
- Big Lake · 458 ac · 2.2 mi
- North Brown's Lake · 312 ac · 2.9 mi
- Schneider Lake · 60 ac · 3 mi
- Bolfing Lake · 109 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake reaches 57 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 14.1 ft; about 44% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Horseshoe Lake?
Horseshoe Lake covers 629 acres with about 13.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Horseshoe Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Horseshoe Lake average 3.9 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Horseshoe Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
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 2018.
When was Horseshoe Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Horseshoe Lake in 2025, the most recent of 26 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Horseshoe Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
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