Shamineau

Shamineau Lake (DOW # 49-0127-00; Lake Class 27) is a 1,434-acre lake located near Motley, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the west shore and a township owned gravel boat ramp is located on the east shore. Shamineau Lake has 10.34 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike, and secondarily for Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Muskellunge. The lake was initially surveyed in 1957, and 47 surveys/investigations have occurred since then with the most recent sampling occurring in 2025. In 2025, an assessment consisted of spring large frame trap nets, spring electrofishing for Muskellunge, and fall nighttime electrofishing for juvenile Walleye. Walleye abundances were not assessed in 2025, but larger Walleye size structure were determined. There was a good representation of larger Walleye ranging in size from 12 to 30 inches in length. The average sized Walleye found in the ice out survey was 20.78 inches and the larger Walleye present should present a good number of spawning individuals for future years to come. The current management plan is to stock Walleye fry on an annual basis and evaluate their survival and growth every fall. The 2024 and 2025 fall electrofishing survey for young-of-year Walleye catch rates were 6.52/hour and 5.92/hour. Both are consistent, but still unsure of what the following years gill nets will show for results. The large frame trap nets can indicate the presence of larger Walleye, that anglers could catch in the immediate years. Northern Pike were found ranged in size from 12.20 to 33.31 inches averaged 21.45 inches in total length. There was about 29% of the pike sampled that measured over 24 inches and 5% of the pike sampled over 30 inches. What would be ideal for Shamineau Lake is to have a few larger fish over 24 and 30 inches and removing just a few larger pike could be a set back from producing a quality pike fishery. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small pike and release large ones as outlined in the 2022 fishing regulations for central Minnesota and Shamineau Lake. There were 1,362 Bluegill captured in the spring large frame trap nets, with a subsample that was measured. Sizes ranged from 3.9 to 8.82 inches and averaged 7.25 inches. There was 408 Black Crappie also captured in the 2025 spring large frame trap nets ranged in size from 4.8 to 14.45 inches, averaged 10.47 inches. Both indicate that there are good recreational angling opportunities for the immediate future. Largemouth Bass is a secondarily managed species on Shamineau Lake and in the large frame trap nets there was a respectable length distribution sampled. Largemouth Bass ranged in size from 8.58 inches to 19.84 inches and averaged 14.11 inches. Quality bass habitat is present and angling opportunities abound for Largemouth Bass and the occasional Smallmouth Bass. There were 5 Smallmouth Bass captured in the trap nets in the ice out survey in 2025. Using large frame trap nets and electrofishing along with mark and recapture techniques, a population estimate to determine the number of Muskellunge in Shamineau Lake was conducted. Muskellunge was sampled from April 14th through May 2nd, 2025. The Muskie population was estimated to be approximately 108 adult individuals over 30 inches present throughout Shamineau Lake in 2025. Individuals ranged from 12.71 to 51.85 inches and averaged 42.73 inches. There were 6 individual fish captured over 50 inches and 84.2% of females over 45 inches. The population is considered low density, but data shows the presence of trophy sized fish. Other species caught in large frame trap nets were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch.

A targeted survey was completed on Shamineau Lake in 2024 and included summer gill nets, and fall night electrofishing for young of year Walleye (YWAE). Gill net sampling is scheduled to take place every three years due to an inclusion in a statewide study designed to assess the impacts of Zebra Mussels on Walleye population dynamics. Fall electrofishing for juvenile Walleye is performed on an annual basis to evaluate Walleye fry stocking success. Walleye abundance in Lake Shamineau is average and about what we'd expect to see in lakes similar in size and character. Walleye relative abundance based on gill net catch rates have not varied appreciably ranging from 3.6 to 6 per lift since 2006. The 2024 catch rate was 4.6 per lift compared to 5.07/lift in 2021. The current management objective is to maintain a gill net catch rate at or above 5.5/lift which is very near the lake's historical average of 5.54/lift. Aging data indicated that Age 2 and Age 3 fish comprised roughly 2/3 of the catch resulting in the considerable presence of fish in the 12 to 20 inch range. By mid-summer Age 2 fish averaged 11.8 inches and Age 3 fish averaged 13.6 inches displaying normal growth rates. T he current management strategy is to stock Walleye fry on an annual basis and evaluate their survival and growth. Fall electrofishing appears to be a good tool to evaluate fry stocking success. A record high fall electrofishing catch rate of 124/hour young-of-year Walleye was observed in 2022 and resulted in a significant catch of 2 year olds in the 2024 gill nets. The 2021 fall electrofishing catch rate was lower at 12/hour but also resulted in a substantial catch in the 2024 gill nets catch so the relationship is not always direct. Fall electrofishing in 2024 produced a moderate catch rate of 6.5 young-of-year Walleye per hour. While there is some uncertainty as to how the 2024 fry stocking will contribute to the population it is suspected that this catch rate will translate into a medium level year class going forward. While low numbers of naturally reproduced Walleye have been evident in the past, the 2020 year class has shown the potential for natural fish to add meaningfully to the population. No Walleye fry were stocked in 2020 but seven (7) Age 4 fish were taken in the 2024 gill nets. Gill net catch rates of Northern Pike have been relatively stable for several decades. This is good news since over-abundant pike populations can cause several problems in the fish community including predatory impacts on Walleye and perch populations. An ideal pike population in Lake Shamineau might look like what already exists now. Changes in pike size structure resulting from the special regulation enacted in 2003 are notable with increased proportions of fish over 24 inches and 30 inches. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small pike and release the large ones. Yellow Perch were captured at a rate of 11.4 per gill net in 2024 which is very near the lake's historical average of 11.6/lift. Higher catch rates were evident in 2017 (18.7/lift) and 2021 (23.3/lift) with 2024 ending the increasing trend apparent since 2014. Average length in 2024 was 7.5 inches and nearly 1/3 of the perch were 8 inches or longer continuing an upward trend in size structure. The DNR's research unit is currently involved in work that may shed more light on why large perch are becoming rarer in many lakes. Bluegill, a species of secondary management importance and typically not effectively sampled by gill nets, nevertheless are captured consistently in Lake Shamineau, offering possible insights into population abundance. Catch rates of Bluegills have shown a declining trend over the last 15 possibly signifying some level of reduced abundance. Size structure improvements have been documented as fish over 7 inches accounted for 31% of the 2021 gill net catch and 35% of the 2024 gill net sample. This has been corroborated by spring trap net data where the percentages of fish exceeding 7 and 8 inches have been higher since 2013. Few fish reach 9 inches. Smallmouth Bass have been sampled in fall electrofishing for several years but 2024 was the first year they were captured in gill nets. A total of four Smallmouth Bass were collected in 2024 all of which were larger adults ranging from 14.3 to 18.7 inches long. The 2024 gill nets also collected 31 Black Crappie and 65 Largemouth Bass. These species are taken in much greater numbers in spring trap nets (crappie) and spring electrofishing (bass) providing better insights into the population dynamics of these species than summer gill nets.

Shamineau Lake (DOW# 49-0127-00; Lake Class 27) is a 1,434 acre lake located near Motley, Minnesota. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) owned concrete boat ramp is located on the west shore and a township owned gravel boat ramp is located on the east shore. Shamineau Lake has 10.34 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Northern Pike and secondarily for Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Black Crappie, and Bluegill. The lake was initially surveyed in 1957 and 44 fish sampling surveys or investigations have occurred since then with the most recent prior sampling in 2022 (Fall Targeted Sampling for young or the year Walleye). Walleye have been stocked in Shamineau Lake since at least 1947. Fry, fingerlings, yearlings, and adults have been stocked in the past and the lake management plan called for fingerling stocking on an annual or biennial basis through 2016. Walleye fry have been stocked in fourteen years since 2000 to determine whether Walleye population goals could be met utilizing fry as a cheaper alternative to fingerling stocking. The current stocking plan calls for annual fry stocking with the potential for future fingerling stocking if fry stocking shows consistently poor results. Fry stocking is favored, as fingerlings have become increasingly difficult to raise due to lack of winterkill in Walleye production ponds. Some Walleye natural reproduction has been documented in non-stocked years, but it has been assumed to be inadequate to maintain the population within management goals. Including 2023, nine fall young of the year Walleye electrofishing assessments have been conducted in years when fry stocking has occurred. In addition, three fall young of the year Walleye electrofishing assessments were completed in 1996, 2011 and 2020 when no stocking occurred to evaluate natural reproduction. No stocking occurred in 2020 due to the shutdown of fisheries Walleye egg take and hatchery operations due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Initially fall Walleye assessments utilized one hour of electrofishing on-time effort in three stations to document abundance. Beginning in 2020, sampling time increased to two hours and six stations, as Shamineau Lake was included as a control lake in a research project aimed at determining Zebra Mussel impacts on Walleye recruitment. Currently, Zebra Mussels have not been detected in Shamineau Lake. This 2023 fall electrofishing assessment was conducted on September 27 to evaluate young of the year Walleye abundance from spring fry stocking. Due to low catches of young of the year Walleye, only 3 of 6 stations were sampled. A total of three young of the year Walleye were captured in one hour of on time during the 2023 survey for a catch rate of 3.0/hour. This catch rate was equal to the median (3.0/hour) established from previous fall electrofishing surveys on Shamineau Lake. Catch rates from previous fry stocking evaluations ranged from 2.0/hour (2004) to 69.7/hour (2022). Individuals captured in 2023 averaged 7.0 inches, which was larger than the mean from all previous assessments and ranged from 6.0 to 7.8 inches in total length. Catch rates from non-stocked years have typically been low ranging from 0.0/hour (1996) to 2.0/hour (2020). Fall electrofishing catches have been an inconsistent predictor of year class strength in future gill net surveys. Past catch rates of 18 or higher young of the year Walleye per hour have produced future gill net catches up to 1.9/net. However, some year classes with low fall juvenile Walleye catch rates have also been well represented in future gill net surveys. It is difficult to predict the 2023-year class's future contribution to future gill net or angler catches. Further examination of the extent of natural reproduction is warranted in non-stocked or fingerling stocked years in the future. Natural reproduction observed in some assessments raises questions regarding the origin of YWAE captured in other recent assessments including fry stocked years. Smallmouth Bass have been sampled in increasing frequency in recent assessments and are particularly common along the north shoreline. Most Smallmouth encountered were juvenile size although one 12-inch fish was observed. Bluegill, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch were observed frequently at most stations. Shiner species and White Suckers were also present. A few Northern Pike were encountered during sampling. Habitat conditions appeared to be good with barren substrates preferred by juvenile Walleye prevalent in all three stations sampled.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, Black Crappie, Walleye, and Northern Pike in Shamineau. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Shamineau has a maximum depth of 52 feet and a mean depth of 17 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Shamineau has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.