Thunder

Cass County

Near Remer

DOW: 11006200

Smallmouth BassExcellent · 99Largemouth BassExcellent · 90Hybrid SunfishExcellent · 88

A 1,347-acre lake near Remer in Cass County — best known for bass and panfish. Last surveyed 2023.

Fish Species (21)

Smallmouth Bass

Excellent · 99

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

14.8"

Avg Weight

1.90 lbs

Catch rate: 36.9 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable smallmouth bass85% keeper-size (12"+)

7–11" · 15%Largest sampled 19"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	20.44	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jul 26, 2023	8.00	-	-	15-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	6.00	-	-	50-ft beach seine

Largemouth Bass

Excellent · 90

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

13.7"

Avg Weight

1.71 lbs

Catch rate: 80.6 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass87% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 13%Largest sampled 18"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.17	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	0.14	-	-	15-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	7.67	-	-	Backpack electrofishing

Hybrid Sunfish

Excellent · 88

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

7.0"

Avg Weight

0.37 lbs

Catch rate: 2.3 per trap net

Size of catchable hybrid sunfish39% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 61%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2023	2.25	7.0"	0.37 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 12, 2023	0.08	7.0"	0.58 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	0.17	6.1"	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Excellent · 88

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per trap net · typical 0.6–2.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass39% keeper-size (8"+)

4–7" · 61%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	5.75	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jun 12, 2023	5.25	6.3"	0.28 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 12, 2023	1.42	6.3"	0.47 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Good · 70

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

27.5"

Avg Weight

5.17 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 3.1–8.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike71% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 29%Largest sampled 37"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2023	1.75	27.5"	5.17 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	1.83	24.6"	3.76 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	0.17	24.6"	4.57 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Stocked 2023

Good · 61

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

13.4"

Avg Weight

1.79 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per gill net · typical 1.3–5.5 for a lake like this

Stocked with fingerlings every other year · 35,862 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 10, 2025	1.50	6.0"	-	Fall electrofishing
Oct 2, 2024	2.56	12.4"	0.77 lbs	Fall electrofishing
Sep 13, 2023	6.15	8.8"	0.29 lbs	Fall electrofishing

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2023	fingerlings	9,800	452.0	Minnesota DNR (purchased)
2021	fingerlings	9,040	452.0	Minnesota DNR (purchased)
2019	fingerlings	9,488	452.0	Minnesota DNR (purchased)
2017	fingerlings	7,534	452.0	Minnesota DNR (purchased)

Black Crappie

Good · 59

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2017

Last surveyed 2017 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.5"

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie33% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 67%Largest sampled 12"

Size from the Jun 2023 survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2023	0.50	8.3"	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 19, 2017	1.67	7.5"	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 19, 2017	0.50	7.5"	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 38

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.19 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net · typical 1.7–8.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.64	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jun 12, 2023	0.17	5.0"	0.19 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 19, 2017	1.92	5.9"	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 35

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

6.2"

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 5.9 per gill net · typical 2.5–24.2 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch5% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 95%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	2.33	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	14.06	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jul 26, 2023	2.14	-	-	15-ft beach seine

Bluegill

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

5.8"

Avg Weight

0.22 lbs

Catch rate: 12.5 per trap net · typical 5.6–42.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill5% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 95%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	2.33	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	19.80	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jul 26, 2023	3.71	-	-	15-ft beach seine

Green Sunfish

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2000

Last surveyed 2000 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.0"

Avg Weight

0.03 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net · typical 0.2–0.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2000	0.08	3.0"	0.03 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (10)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Good · 66

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

17.6"

Avg Weight

2.51 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	1.28	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jun 12, 2023	2.00	17.6"	2.51 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	2.08	14.7"	1.71 lbs	Standard gill nets

Shorthead Redhorse

Average · 39

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2023

Avg Size

18.0"

Avg Weight

2.41 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net · typical 0.2–1.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2023	0.08	18.0"	2.41 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 12, 2000	0.13	21.0"	3.97 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Average · 36

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.80 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1990	0.08	-	0.80 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 24, 1985	9.70	-	0.27 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 24, 1985	2.17	-	0.26 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 32

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2017

Last surveyed 2017 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.4"

Avg Weight

0.55 lbs

Catch rate: 0.83 per trap net · typical 1.5–7.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 12, 2023	0.33	11.0"	0.80 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	0.83	10.4"	0.92 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 2017	0.83	10.4"	0.55 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 25

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1995

Last surveyed 1995 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.0"

Avg Weight

0.69 lbs

Catch rate: 0.07 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 19, 2017	0.08	10.0"	0.62 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 2012	0.17	11.0"	0.79 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 19, 1995	0.07	11.0"	0.69 lbs	Standard trap nets

Golden Shiner

Insufficient

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2023

Catch rate: 3.8 · Electrofishing survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	3.83	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jun 18, 2012	0.14	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jun 18, 2012	0.82	-	-	Backpack electrofishing

Bluntnose Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2023

Catch rate: 0.86 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.86	-	-	15-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	0.17	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	17.25	-	-	Backpack electrofishing

Fathead Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2023

Catch rate: 0.14 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.14	-	-	15-ft beach seine

Johnny Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2023

Catch rate: 0.67 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.67	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	14.06	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jul 26, 2023	0.14	-	-	15-ft beach seine

Iowa Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2023

Catch rate: 0.86 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2023	0.86	-	-	15-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	0.83	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 26, 2023	12.14	-	-	Backpack electrofishing

Biologist Notes

September 10, 2025Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night elec…

Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night electrofishing was conducted on Thunder Lake on September 10th, 2025, to monitor the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleyes and evaluate the contribution of natural reproduction to the Walleye population. The total sample time was 2 hours, which resulted in a YOY Walleye catch rate of 1.5 per hour. Previous catch rates ranged from 0 to 228.3 per hour. Fish ranged in size from 6.1 to 6.7 inches, with a mean length of 6.5 inches. No age 1 and older Walleye were captured.

October 2, 2024Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night elec…

Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night electrofishing was conducted on Thunder Lake on October 2nd, 2024, to monitor the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleyes and evaluate the contribution of natural reproduction to the Walleye population. The total sample time was 2 hours which resulted in no YOY Walleyes being caught. Previous catch rates have ranged from 0 to 228.3/hour run-time. Walleye age 1 and older were sampled at a catch rate of 2.4/hour run-time. These Walleyes ranged in length from 10.2" to 16.1", with a mean length of 12.9".

September 13, 2023Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night elec…

Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked into Thunder Lake in odd numbered years at the rate of two pounds per littoral acre (452 pounds). Night electrofishing was conducted on Thunder Lake on September 13th, 2023, to monitor the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleyes and evaluate the contribution of natural reproduction to the Walleye population. The total sample time was 2 hours, which resulted in a YOY catch rate of 3.0/hour run-time. Previous catch rates have ranged from 0 to 228.3/hour run-time. The length of these fish ranged from 6.6" to 7.5", with a mean length of 7.1". Walleyes age 1 and older were sampled at a catch rate of 3.0/hr. run-time. These Walleyes ranged in size from 9.8" to 16.7", with a mean length of 11.6".

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Thunder?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Northern Pike in Thunder. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.