Redwood

Redwood is a small reservoir (56 acres) located at the City of Redwood Falls in Redwood County. The Redwood River flows through the impoundment and outlets over a large cement dam structure. A city-owned access with paved parking and a single cement boat ramp is present on the north shore at Perks Park. The city park offers a good amount of shore fishing and a fishing pier is planned for construction in 2024. Redwood Reservoir has approximately three miles of shoreline. The maximum depth is now twenty-one feet, following completion of a multi-year dredging project in 2022. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has divided Minnesota's lakes into 44 different classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Redwood Reservoir is a class 40 lake and there are no similar waterbodies in the Hutchinson Fisheries Management Area. Redwood Reservoir's 2023 lake management plan listed Walleye as the primary management species, while Black Crappie and Channel Catfish were recorded as secondary species. The Redwood Reservoir suffered from partial winterkills in the past due to its shallowness, but frequency and severity of winterkill should decrease with the large volume of water now present. A more stable fish community and increased angling opportunity is now expected at Redwood Reservoir following the dredging project. The reservoir was netted in 2023 to observe the immediate response from the fish community following the dredging. Moderate numbers of Walleye were netted, and size was large. Fish averaged 20 inches in length. The maximum length of gill netted Walleye was 23.7 inches, but trap nets sampled fish up to 26.6 inches. A one-time stocking of Walleye fry was completed in 2023, to further enhance the fish population. High numbers of Channel Catfish were netted, with fish averaging 17 inches in length. The longest catfish sampled was almost 25 inches. Channel Catfish were the most abundant fish sampled in the 2023 gill nets. Low numbers of Black Crappie were trap netted in 2023, and average size was small (6.4 inches in length). Maximum crappie length was 9.1 inches. Low numbers of Northern Pike were gill netted this year with fish averaging 20 inches in length. The longest pike captured was 20.5 inches. Northern Pike regulations were revised at a statewide level beginning in 2018 to better accommodate regional differences in pike habitats, population abundances and size structures. Three management zones were established for Northern Pike, with their own bag limit and length limit restrictions. In the southern zone, where Redwood Reservoir is found, anglers can keep two Northern Pike with a minimum size limit of 24 inches. This zone regulation is meant to increase pike abundance and improve the size of fish harvested. Very Low numbers of Bluegill were trap netted, and average size was small (5.9 inches). The longest Bluegill sampled was 7.0 inches. Additional fishes sampled in the nets included Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Redhorse, Orangespotted Sunfish, Silver Redhorse and White Sucker. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Overharvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local MNDNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the MNDNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

A resurvey was conducted on the Redwood Reservoir in 2006 to monitor the physical, chemical and biological charecteristics of the basin. The deepest water found was 7.3 feet, but most of the reservoir was 4.5 feet or less. Several shallow areas made boating difficult during the early August time period. The reservoir's watershed was dominated by row crop agriculture and the most abundant shoalwater substrate was silt. Submergent vegetation was extremely rare and the water was highly turbid. The Redwood reservoir has suffered from partial winterkills in the past but none have been documented in recent years. A variety of species were available to anglers fishing the Redwood Reservoir in 2006. High numbers of channel catfish were trap netted. Channel catfish were 7.3-23.5 inches long averaging 13.8 inches. The 2006 catch rate for channel catfish was 14 times greater than any previous catch rate. Low numbers of northern pike, walleye, and black crappie were trap netted in 2006. Pike were 21.9-25.0 inches long averaging 23.4 inches. Walleye were large, ranging in length from 23.3-24.3 inches. Black crappie were also keeper sized, ranging in length from 8.2-11.5 inches. Carp, golden redhorse, silver redhorse, bigmouth buffalo and white sucker should also provide plenty of action for reservoir anglers.

STATUS OF THE FISHERY: Trapnet catches were compared to similar lakes around the state. Gamefish species sampled in the trapnets included norther pike, bluegill, white crappie, black crappie, and walleye. Abundance was low for most of these species. Northern pike were the most abundant gamefish species sampled. The trapet catch rate was 1.5/net. Over 60% of the northern pike were age 1 fish. Growth of age 1 fish was good, with lengths ranging from 17 to 20 inches. One fish each of ages 2, 3, and 4 were sampled and they ranged in length from 24 to 30 inches. Redwood Reservoir has very little good fish habitat and it is likely that these northern pike recruited from upstream areas. Only one bluegill was sampled. This was a larger individual and may have been the result of recent stockings of adult bluegill. White crappie were taken in the trapnets at a rate of 0.5/net. The white crappie sampled were all age 3 and growth was good, with the fish ranging fin length from 10.5 to 13 inches. Six black crappie were sampled for a catch of 1.0/net. Black crappie from age 1 through 3 were present in the sample and the fish ranged from 5.5 to 11 inches long. Only one walleye was captured for a catch of 0.17/net. Walleye have not been stocked in Redwood Reservoir and this fish probably moved down from upstream. The fish population in Redwood Reservoir was dominated by non-game specie such as redhorse species, carp and black bullhead. The shorthead redhorse catch was 0.8/net. Carp were abundant, with a catch of 11.8/net. Most of the black bullhead were small, with less than 10% of them being over 8 inches in length.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Yellow Perch, White Crappie, Walleye, and Green Sunfish in Redwood. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Redwood has a maximum depth of 21 feet and a mean depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Redwood is from 2023.

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