Minnesota · Lincoln County
Shaokotan Lake Fishing guide
Shaokotan Lake is a 996-acre lake in Lincoln County, Minnesota, reaching 10 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 4.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 21 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeElite fishery16.7per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 218 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2025Lengths measured · 13 fish
2024Lengths measured · 160 fish
2024Lengths measured · 419 fish
2023No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few3.8per gill net27"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 33 fish
2021Lengths measured · 88 fish
2018Lengths measured · 17 fish
2015BluegillFair numbers40.8per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 948 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 934 fish
2021Lengths measured · 10 fish
2018Lengths measured · 8 fish
2015Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Yellow perchOne of the best around77.3per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 909 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 422 fish
2024Lengths measured · 487 fish
2021Lengths measured · 732 fish
2018Lengths measured · 886 fish
2015Rates 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 Shaokotan Lake through the year
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 10-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
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 10-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 | Walleye | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9" | — | — |
| 2024 | 27" | 33" | 5" |
| 2023 | 6" | — | — |
| 2021 | 28" | 31" | — |
| 2019 | 13" | — | — |
| 2018 | 27" | 35" | — |
| 2015 | 27" | 36" | — |
| 2014 | 24" | 36" | — |
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
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Lake Shaokotan is a 995-acre, class 41 lake located near the city of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Lake Shaokotan is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Bluegill. Lake Shaokotan has had sporadic natural reproduction by Walleye, but it is believed that the population is maintained mostly through stocking. Historically, excessive nutrient runoff from neighboring agricultural fields and developed shorelines contributed to extensive algae blooms in the lake during the summer. Following decades of improved watershed management, there was a dramatic shift in water quality and clarity in the mid-2010's, shifting from a turbid state to a clear water state with abundant aquatic vegetation. This shift in water clarity resulted in unsuccessful fry stockings in consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. Back-to-back missing year classes can be problematic, so fingerling stocking was started in 2017. Fingerlings were only stocked once. Turbid water returning in some years since 2019 has afforded the ability to stock Walleye fry with some success. Walleye fry (N=497,500 Lower Mississippi Strain) were stocked in 2023 and night electrofishing resulted in 838 fingerling per hour. Genetic analysis revealed that only 16% were from stocking. Natural reproduction was very successful in 2023. Natural reproduction did not occur in 2024, thus a nighttime electrofishing survey was done in 2025 to assess natural reproduction and to determine if fingerling stocking in the fall of 2025 was needed to avoid consecutive missing year classes. The electrofishing survey was done on October 23, 2025.
The 2025 catch rate off Walleye fingerlings in Lake Shaokotan was 49.0 per hour. Age-0 Walleye lengths were variable. Lengths ranged from 5.5 to 8.7 inches and averaged 8.0 inches. Analysis of fall electrofishing data by DNR staff indicated that a catch rate greater than 5 per hour can result in a successful year class and greater than 25 per hour often produces a year class. Therefore, potential exists for a strong year class from the 2025 natural reproduction in Lake Shaokotan. Walleye fingerlings were not stocked in the fall of 2025 because a potential year class was produced from natural reproduction.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Shaokotan Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Shaokotan 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
- Shaokatan Lake (S) (trailer launch)
- Shoakatan Lake (NW) (trailer launch)
- Shaokatan Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Shaokotan Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Hendricks Lake · 1,522 ac · 7.7 mi
- Perch Lake · 246 ac · 8.7 mi
- Steep Bank Lake · 199 ac · 9.7 mi
- Benton Lake · 2,700 ac · 9.8 mi
- Stay Lake · 221 ac · 9.9 mi
- Popowski Lake · 143 ac · 11.6 mi
- Dead Coon (Main Lake) · 547 ac · 13.9 mi
- Goose Lake · 150 ac · 16.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Shaokotan Lake?
Shaokotan Lake reaches 10 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Shaokotan Lake?
Shaokotan Lake covers 996 acres with about 8.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Shaokotan Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Shaokotan Lake average 4.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Shaokotan Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Shaokotan Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Shaokotan Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Shaokotan Lake have a public access?
Yes. Shaokotan Lake has 3 public access sites, including Shaokatan Lake (S) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Shaokotan Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2014.
When was Shaokotan Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Shaokotan Lake in 2025, the most recent of 21 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Shaokotan Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Shaokotan Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report