Nelson
A 86-acre lake near Holmes City in Douglas County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1990.
Fish Species (10)
Hybrid Sunfish
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 3.1 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 3.12 | - | 0.20 lbs |
Northern Pike
Above-normal numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 16.0 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 16.00 | - | 1.33 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 0.38 | - | 1.13 lbs |
Bluegill
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 23.1 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 23.12 | - | 0.08 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 11.00 | - | 0.27 lbs |
Black Crappie
Typical numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 1.50 | - | 0.47 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 0.75 | - | 0.32 lbs |
Pumpkinseed
Below-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.88 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 7.00 | - | 0.27 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 0.88 | - | 0.09 lbs |
Largemouth Bass
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.1 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 1.12 | - | 0.32 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 0.50 | - | 1.70 lbs |
Other species in this lake (4)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Common Carp
Above-normal numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 5.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 5.50 | - | 1.39 lbs |
Yellow Bullhead
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.3 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 43.50 | - | 0.54 lbs |
| Jul 23, 1990 | 2.25 | - | 0.41 lbs |
Black Bullhead
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 0.50 | - | 0.30 lbs |
Brown Bullhead
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1990
Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 1990 | 1.00 | - | 1.80 lbs |
Biologist Notes
July 23, 1990The 31 year gap in population assessments make analyzing gradual trends impossible. However some very noticeable changes in the fish populations have…
The 31 year gap in population assessments make analyzing gradual trends impossible. However some very noticeable changes in the fish populations have occurred. The Yellow Perch index was 103.5 fish/gillnet in 1959. No Yellow Perch were sampled in the 1990 assessment. No Bluegill were observed in trapnets in 1959. In 1990, Bluegill were captured in trapnets at an average of 23.1 fish/net night. Bluegill exhibited slow growth and PSD was only 6.0%. Northern Pike abundance has increased significantly (2.75 fish/gillnet to 16.00 fish/gillnet), and correspondingly mean weight has decreased from 3.32 to 1.33 pounds each. PSD decreased from 73.0% to 19.0%. No Walleye were captured in either survey. Largemouth Bass and Black Crappies were sampled in both surveys in numbers too small due to sampling inefficiency to show any definite population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Nelson?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Pumpkinseed in Nelson. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Nelson?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Nelson. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Nelson?
Nelson has a maximum depth of 52 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Nelson last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Nelson is from 1990. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Nelson have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Nelson in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
More lakes in Douglas County
View all14 acres
Hybrid Sunfish · Pumpkinseed
218 acres
Hybrid Sunfish · Black Crappie · Northern Pike
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Largemouth Bass · Northern Pike · Hybrid Sunfish
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Black Crappie · Hybrid Sunfish · Largemouth Bass
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Muskellunge · Black Crappie · Largemouth Bass
Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 85.96 acres
- Max Depth
- 52 ft
- Shoreline
- 1.6 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed