Horseshoe

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Horseshoe Lake was conducted on August 28, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations with 5 stations sampled from the boat. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at three stations. Three other stations were not seined due to deep and soft sediments. Nearshore sampling captured 11 species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (Least Darter) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2025 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Least Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov web site. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Horseshoe Lake is adversely impacted by stressors, as indicated by an FIBI score below the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Horseshoe Lake is impaired for aquatic life use. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Lower St. Croix River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Horseshoe Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Horseshoe Lake is a 197-acre lake in northern Chisago County located seven miles east of Cambridge and is within the Lower St. Croix River Watershed. The lake has a maximum depth is 53 feet and an average depth of 13 feet. The lake is 57% littoral (15 feet or less, 112 acres). Water clarity is low to moderate with Secchi depths to 5 feet. Its color is green due to algae blooms. Horseshoe Lake is connected to Little Horseshoe Lake on its western shore via a culvert under County Road 8 and an outlet (Goose Creek) on the northeast shore that flows into Nelander Lake and eventually the St. Croix River. A Vegetation Survey in 2017 showed that vegetation is dense, growing to a depth of 9 feet. Curlyleaf pondweed, a non-native invasive species, was observed at 22% of locations sampled. Substrates consist primarily of muck, with some sand and gravel. The lake is moderately developed and has approximately 40 homes. A state-owned access is located on the southwest shore of the lake off County Road 8. It has a gravel parking lot that accommodates 5 vehicles with trailers. There have been a total of 9 fish surveys on Horseshoe Lake. These surveys were conducted in 1957, 1971, 1982, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2017,and 2025. The current planned survey frequency is approximately every 10 years. Fish species best suited to Horseshoe Lake include Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill. Anglers fishing Horseshoe Lake can expect high numbers of small to medium size Northern Pike and Black Crappie, moderate numbers of medium size Largemouth Bass, and high numbers of smaller Bluegill. A total of 72 Northern Pike were sampled in gill nets in 2025 which resulted in a catch rate of 12/net, which is twice the average of 6/net. The two highest pike catch rates were in 1995 (20/net) after the winterkill when they were stocked, and in 2025. Research indicates pike catch rates over 7.5/net are undesirable, as they are usually associated with higher density populations having poor size structure and slow growth. Higher pike densities can also have detrimental effects on stocked Walleye survival and perch populations. Perch are often a primary prey species. The 70 pike sampled ranged from 16.6 to 35.0 inches and averaged 22.9 inches. Pike over 28 inches have been sampled in all six surveys since 1990. This pike population has a slightly higher proportion of fish over 21 inches. Overall, anglers that fish Horseshoe Lake for pike can expect to catch high numbers of small to average sized pike with a chance of catching one over 28 inches. Boat electrofishing surveys to evaluate Largemouth Bass relative abundance and size structure were conducted in June of 2025 for the fifth consecutive survey. Electrofishing was not initiated until 1995, but in earlier surveys it is stated that there was a good bass fishery before the winterkill in 1992-93. In 2025, daytime electrofishing was conducted and effectiveness was poor, as only 14 fish were sampled. Due to electrofishing being done during the day instead of at night, the catch rates for bass in 2025 should be compared with caution. In 2025, bass were sampled at a rate of 8/hour which is less than the average of 31/hour. The catch rates had been increasing each of the past four surveys from 1995 through 2017. In 2025, bass ranged from 4.7 to 16.9 inches with an 11.5 inch average. Bass over 20 inches were sampled in 2005 and 2017. Horseshoe Lake has above average proportions of bass greater than 12 and 15 inches. The 2025 Black Crappie gillnet and trap net catches were above and below average in 2025. The gill net catch was 23/net in 2025 and compares to the average of 11/net, while the trap net catch was 3/net in 2025 and compares to the average of 9/net. Crappie caught in 2025 ranged in length from 4.4 to 12.1 inches and had an average length of 6.3 inches. Black Crappies over 10 inches have been sampled in 5 of 6 surveys, while a crappie over 12 inches were sampled for the first time in 2025. Black Crappies have been sampled in trap nets more consistently than gill nets. This population currently has a high proportion of fish over eight inches and a low proportion of fish over ten inches. Overall, anglers that fish Horseshoe Lake for crappies can expect to catch high numbers of 8-inch fish and below average numbers of 10-inch fish. Bluegill catch rates remained high in trap nets in 2025. Horseshoe Lake has a history of high Bluegill numbers, as catch rates have exceeded 20/net in 7 of 9 surveys. The 2025 Bluegill trap net catch rate of 26/net compares to the average of 37/net. Bluegill over 8 inches have only been sampled in 3 of 9 surveys, and none were sampled in 2025. The most Bluegill over 8 inches were sampled in 1995 and 2000, where 82 and 29 Bluegill were sampled. In 2025, Bluegill ranged from 3.4 to 7.9 inches with a 6.0 inch average. This population has average proportions of fish over 6 inches, but below average proportions of fish over 8 inches. Anglers targeting Bluegill on Horseshoe Lake can expect to catch high numbers of 6 to 7 inch fish. No Yellow Perch were sampled in the 2025 survey. Gill net catch rates have varied from 0/net in 2025 to 74/net in 1957. Yellow Perch gill net catch rates have consistently been low (< 9/net) in 7 of 9 surveys. There has only been one perch ever sampled over 10 inches in Horseshoe. The current perch population and its average size is likely too low and small to interest angers; however, they can be an important prey source for most gamefish targeted by anglers. Other species sampled in 2025 were Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Pumpkinseed, Hybrid Sunfish, and Common Carp.

Horseshoe Lake is a fertile, hard water basin of 197 acres assigned to lake class 24. The lake is primarily managed for Northern Pike. All populations are self-sustaining. Electrofishing targeting Largemouth Bass was conducted in May and gill and trap nets were set in June 2017. The previous survey was conducted in 2005. The Northern Pike gill net catch of 3.67 fish per net was a decrease from the previous survey but typical for the lake class. Average fish size was slightly larger than the lake class median with individuals ranging from 18 to 35 inches and averaging 23.44 inches. Year classes from 2006 to 2012 were represented. With the exception of two larger fish, growth was fairly slow and may explain why no fish from more recent year classes were sampled (smaller Northern Pike are not as likely to be caught in the gill nets used). The population is very close to the long term management goals for this lake with respect to abundance and surpasses the goal for average size. Bluegill were caught at a rate of 36.7 fish per net, a typical rate for the lake class and the historical catch for the lake. There was an increase in average size putting it near the 75th percentile for the lake class. Bluegill ranged from 3.1 to 8 inches long with a mean of 6.4 inches. The population is meeting the long range management goals set for abundance and size. Black Crappie were sampled below the first quartile in trap nets with 0.67 fish per net. The gill net catch was the higher than the last several surveys however at 5.5 fish per net. The crappie population in this lake has historically been fairly low. Despite low numbers, mean size was quite good with trap net fish averaging 8.3 inches and gill nets averaging 8. Individuals over 11 inches were sampled. Adult crappies may be more oriented to pelagic habitat in this lake resulting in poor sampling by trap nets. White Crappies have been sampled in low numbers in the past but none were detected in this survey. Yellow Perch catch was much lower than the previous surveys 13.6 fish per net with only 3.1 fish per net sampled in this survey. This puts abundance near the first quartile for the lake class. Mean size was much better and exceeded the third quartile for the lake class. Perch ranged from 6.3 to 10 inches and averaged 7.9 inches in length. Night time electrofishing sampled Largemouth Bass at a rate of 73 fish per hour. This was a large increase over the previous survey but the quality size structure was maintained. Bass ranged from 6.1 to 20.2 inches in length and averaged 12.3 inches. This provides plenty of adult sized fish with good recruitment and a few individuals of trophy size. Other species sampled were; Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, White Sucker, and Common Carp.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Hybrid Sunfish 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 53 feet and a mean depth of 13 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Horseshoe is from 2025.

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.