Shaokotan

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.

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 2023. To assess natural reproduction again in 2024, electrofishing was done October,9, 2024. No age-0 (fingerling) walleye were sampled during electrofishing. Vegetation density made sampling difficult, so the lack of age-0 walleye does not mean that there was none present in the lake. There could have been a very low abundance that was undetectable by electrofishing. However, 13 age-1 walleye were sampled from the 2023-year-class. The age-1 walleye ranged from 8.7 to 10.9 inches with an average length of 9.7 inches. These age-1 walleye are very small for southern Minnesota walleye indicating poor growth during 2024. This poor growth could have been due to competition for limited food, or from other unknown factors. An interesting sidenote from this sampling event was that Largemouth Bass were first sampled. During the electrofishing event, those individuals (mainly 5-7 inches with some older 12-inch adults) now present in the lake can also have a negative effect on walleye abundance. Future sampling will focus on this interaction and determine the best management strategy to maintain an abundant walleye population into the future.

Lake Shaokotan is a 995-acre, 10-foot maximum depth lake near the city of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Shaokotan Lake has a small agricultural watershed surrounding the lake. Historically, excessive nutrient runoff from neighboring agricultural fields, as well as developed shorelines, contributed to extensive algae blooms in the lake during the summer. Lake Shaokotan was part of a Clean Water Partnership effort involving the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local groups, and local units of government. After much planning, a watershed restoration program was initiated in late 1991. Actions resulted in a 58% reduction in phosphorus loading into the lake. Lake health improved from the 1990's to the 2000's. During the mid-2010's to early-2020's, aquatic vegetation coverage was nearly 100%. In response to the increase in vegetation, a Lake Vegetation Management Plan was developed with the Lake Shaokotan Lake Association, outlining options to chemically or mechanically control some of the vegetation. Treatment conditions, outlined in an approved plan, have been met several times and chemical was applied via licensed contractor to open areas of the lake to recreation. Currently, Lake Shaokotan continues to be in a "clear water state" with abundant vegetation throughout much of the year. This may impact how anglers fish these populations of fish in the lake but it should not decrease the opportunity. However, some recent evidence indicates that the lake may be shifting back to a turbid water state. Lake Shaokotan is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Northern Pike. A standard survey was conducted during the week of August 5, 2024, to monitor fish populations using gill nets and trap nets. Walleye Walleye gill net catch rate was 25.0 per net with a trap net catch of 7.3 per net. The gill and trap net catch rates were both the second greatest ever observed since a 34.5 walleye per gill net catch in 1983 and an 8.0 per trap net catch in 2000. The size structure of walleye in the gill nets and trap nets favored large fish with 32% of fish over 20 inches and 30% between 15 and 20 inches. Ten different age-groups of walleye were present in the catch with age-3's most numerous (56%), followed by age-2 (23%), age-1 (6%), age-4 (5%), age-5 (3%), and one each of an age-6, age-7, age-10, age-17, and age-19 fish. It's very rare that 10 age-groups are represented in a southern Minnesota lake, and with old walleye greater than age-10. Shaokotan is unique, with healthy walleye in excellent condition indicating prey is plentiful. Walleye angling should be excellent with many 3-year-old fish ranging in length from 17 to 21 inches in August 2024. As the dominant 3-year-old walleye age and the next prevalent age-2 year class grows, anglers should be happy with the amount of harvestable size fish. Yellow Perch Yellow Perch are an important prey species for Walleye and Northern Pike. In Lake Shaokotan, given the simple nature of the fish community, the abundance and health of predator species is closely tied to the abundance and health of Yellow Perch. The gill net catch rate in 2024 was 67 per net. Since 2018, the catch rate has declined from 147 per gill net to current levels. However, 67 per gill net is above the long-term catch rate average of 52.2 per gill net and the normal range of 3.0 to 22.5 per gill net for similar lakes. While the catch rate was still above the long-term average and normal range, the size structure favored smaller individuals. Yellow Perch ranged from 5.2 to 9.9 inches in gill nets and trap nets with 94% ranging from 5.5 to 7.0 inches. This phenomenon of small sized Yellow Perch population size structure seems to be the new normal across the state. These Yellow Perch will not provide much for harvestable size fish to anglers, but they will provide an excellent prey base for Walleye and Northern Pike. Not only will the predator fish thrive with this prey-base, but the remaining Yellow Perch will also grow well and result in some larger harvestable fish over the next 3 or more years. Bluegill Only 14 Bluegill were sampled in gill nets and trap nets in 2024. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.5 to 8.7 inches. An extreme reduction was observed from the 2021 trap net catch rate of 84.4 per net. Bluegill may rebound over the next several years, however, no plans are in place to restock. Northern Pike Northern Pike have a long history in Lake Shaokotan. During poor lake health and water quality prior to the 1990's, Northern Pike were present in very low abundance with gill net catch rates fluctuating from 0 to 3 per net. During recovery from poor conditions in the lake, the catch rates continued to remain low until aquatic vegetation was abundant in the 2010's. From 2014 to 2018 the gill net catch rate increased exponentially from 1.7 per gill net in 2014 to 4.0 per gill net in 2015 and then 22.3 per gill net in 2018. Since the all-time high catch rate was observed in 2018, gill net catch rates have decreased to 7.0 per gill net in 2021 and 0.7 per gill net in 2024. With that, it appears that Northern Pike relative abundance is tied directly to aquatic vegetation and spawning habitat within the lake. Over the past several years, the lake association has been allowed to treat vegetation up to 15% of the area of the lake. This treatment plan, along with a lake-wide decrease in vegetation abundance since 2022 has most likely affected Northern Pike abundance. Northern Pike in the gill nets and trap nets ranged from 22.6 to 33.5 inches, further indicating that younger year classes may be missing from the population because of vegetation declines. This could be direct or indirect causes as the decrease in vegetation may not be enough at this point to totally remove natural reproduction from the lake, it may be due to increased predation upon newly spawned fish by other fish in the lake given less nursery habitat to hide from predators. Regardless, anglers may still be able to harvest a few fish over 24 inches. Additionally, anglers need to remember that Lake Shaokotan is within the southern pike zone and only 2 pike over 24 inches can be harvested and possessed. Other Species Other species sampled were Black Bullhead and Largemouth Bass. Black Bullhead were numerous with 98 per gill net and 19.5 per trap net. Many Black Bullhead were over 10 inches and could allow for excellent bullhead angling. Largemouth Bass were not caught in gill nets and trap nets, but they were sampled in fall electrofishing for walleye. These Largemouth Bass are new for Lake Shaokotan as they have never been sampled prior to 2024. This new addition, not stocked by MN DNR, needs to be monitored to determine the impact of another predator to the lake. Largemouth Bass abundance can have a big impact on walleye and yellow perch.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Green Sunfish in Shaokotan. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Shaokotan has a maximum depth of 10 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Shaokotan is from 2024.

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