Horseshoe

Horseshoe Lake (DOW# 11-0284; Lake Class 37) is a 127-acre lake located near Whipholt, MN. There is a US Forest Service-owned carry-in public access on the north shore off of State Highway 200. Horseshoe Lake has 3.27 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill and secondarily for Yellow Perch. The DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Horseshoe Lake is in Lake Class 37; lakes in this class are generally small, shallow, soft water lakes. Due to limited access Horseshoe Lake is a good lake for anglers looking to get away from the crowds. The highlight of Horseshoe Lake is good numbers of large Bluegill and Pumpkinseed. Bluegill up to 9 inches and Pumpkinseed up to 11 inches were sampled. Largemouth Bass are present in Horseshoe Lake with a few fish around 15 inches. While not in high abundance, large Northern Pike are present in Horseshoe Lake. Pike up to 35 inches were sampled. Other fish species that anglers can expect to encounter include Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Brown Bullhead, and Yellow Perch. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Horseshoe Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Horseshoe Lake (#11-284) is a 124-acre lake located about 12 miles east-southeast of Walker, MN and one mile east of Whipholt, MN. The lake is within the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Most of the lakeshore is publicly owned with only two private cabins located on the northeast corner of the lake. There is a US Forest Service-owned carry-in public access on the north shore. Horseshoe Lake has 3.27 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 12 ft. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classifications based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Horseshoe Lake is in Lake Class 37. Other nearby waters in this class include Three Island and Cedar Lakes. Lakes in this class are generally small, shallow, soft water lakes. The majority of the lakeshore is publicly owned. Species composition in Horseshoe Lake has changed considerably since the mid-1960s. Horseshoe Lake experienced a winterkill in the winter of 1964-65. Following this winterkill, the MNDNR stocked largemouth bass, and bluegill along with some minnow species for forage. However, a number of un-permitted private stockings have apparently been done on this lake. In the 2008 sampling, northern pike were very abundant compared to populations found in other Lake Class 37 lakes. There was a good number of 22 to 25-inch northern pike available for anglers and fish up to 32 inches were sampled. Abundance of largemouth bass is much less than it was in the mid-1990s, before northern pike entered the lake. However, largemouth bass up to 16 inches were sampled in 2008. Numbers of sunfish sampled in this lake was similar to other lake in this class. Though most are small, individuals approaching 10 inches were present. A small number of walleye have been found in DNR sampling nets during the past two most recent surveys in 2000 and 2008. Black crappie were collected for the first time in the 2008 netting. Abundance of this species was similar to the average abundance in other Lake Class 37 lakes, and a number of fish in the 10- to 12-inch range were found. Brown bullhead up to 14 inches were also sampled in 2008. Anglers can help maintain or improve the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for table fare, but encourages release of medium- to large-sized fish. Releasing these fish can help maintain balance in the fish community in Horseshoe Lake and provide anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future.

Horseshoe Lake is one mile east of the town of Whipholt which is on the south side of Leech Lake in northern Cass County. Horseshoe Lake is within both the Chippewa National Forest and Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Access is restricted to carry-in only on public land. The Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 lake classes based on chemical and physical characteristics of the lakes. Horseshoe Lake is in Lake Class 37. Lakes in this lake class are characterized as small shallow lakes that have low water clarity. The watershed (land around the lake) is composed mostly of undeveloped forests and wetlands. Most of the shoreline is publicly owned. There are two summer cabins on the lake. The types of fish found in Horseshoe Lake have changed over the past seven years. Prior to 1993, the only types of fish found in Horseshoe Lake were pumpkinseed, largemouth bass, golden shiner, bullheads, and yellow perch. In 2000, northern pike, bluegill, white sucker, and walleye have also been found in Horseshoe Lake. These species were illegally introduced by the public.Northern pike abundance in Horseshoe Lake is higher than what you would typically find in Lake Class 37 lakes. Northern pike ranged in length from 13 to 33 inches with an average length and weight of 20 inches and two pounds. Along with this increase northern pike abundance, there was a decrease in yellow perch abundance. Northern pike are using yellow perch as food and are reducing their abundance.In 2000, largemouth bass were not as abundant as in 1993 but were still typical of what you would find in Lake Class 37 lakes. Bass larger than 15 inches were sampled.Bluegill were first sampled in 1993. The abundance of bluegill in 2000 was typical of other Lake Class 37 lakes. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.2 to 8.8 inches. To maintain or improve quality, anglers need to use some restraint if large bluegill are really biting. Anglers should release the larger panfish and keep the smaller ones for eating. Quality size bluegill have disappeared from many lakes due to excessive harvest by anglers.Anglers can help maintain or improve the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for table fare, but encourages release of medium to large size fish. Releasing medium to large size fish will provide anglers with opportunities to catch more and larger fish in the future and can help maintain balance in the fish community. Shoreline areas - on the land and into the shallow water - provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or near Minnesota's lakes. Overdeveloped shorelines can't support the fish, wildlife, and clean waters that are associated with natural undeveloped lakes. The combined effects of all lakeshore owners "fixing up" their property can destroy a lake's valuable natural shorelines.A shoreline habitat consists of aquatic plants, woody plants, and natural lake bottom soils. Shrubs, trees, and woody debris such as fallen trees or limbs provide a good habitat both above and below the water and should be left in place. Natural lake bottom materials like silt or gravel is more ecologically productive that pure sand trucked in for a swimming beach. A tidy lawn and a sandy beach make great spots for sunbathing and swimming but do little to provide habitat for fish and wildlife. By leaving a buffer strip of natural vegetation along the shoreline, property owners can reduce erosion, help maintain water quality, and provide habitat and travel corridors for wildlife.Only if more lakeshore owners manage their shoreline in a natural condition can fish and wildlife populations on Minnesota lakes remain healthy and abundant. More specific information on protecting or restoring shorelines and watersheds is available through DNR Fisheries offices.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch in Horseshoe. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Horseshoe. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Horseshoe has a maximum depth of 12 feet and a mean depth of 7.3 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Horseshoe is from 2014. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Horseshoe in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.