Sunshine
A 79-acre lake near Fredenberg in St. Louis County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1991.
Fish Species (11)
Hybrid Sunfish
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 14.0 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 14.00 | - | 0.26 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 2.00 | - | 0.75 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Above-normal numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 9.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 0.50 | - | 0.15 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 9.50 | - | 0.23 lbs |
Rock Bass
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.3 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 1.25 | - | 0.22 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 3.50 | - | 0.23 lbs |
Green Sunfish
Above-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 0.50 | - | 0.05 lbs |
Northern Pike
Typical numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 8.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 8.50 | - | 6.53 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 0.75 | - | 1.03 lbs |
Walleye
Typical numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 1.50 | - | 0.87 lbs |
Black Crappie
Typical numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 1.00 | - | 0.35 lbs |
Pumpkinseed
Below-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 0.75 | - | 0.23 lbs |
Bluegill
Below-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 6.0 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 6.00 | - | 0.23 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 18.50 | - | 0.23 lbs |
Largemouth Bass
Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 0.25 | - | 0.50 lbs |
| Aug 29, 1991 | 4.50 | - | 0.39 lbs |
Other species in this lake (1)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
White Sucker
Typical numbers
Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1991
Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 1991 | 1.50 | - | 2.37 lbs |
Biologist Notes
August 29, 1991ALL FISH POPULATIONS SAMPLED IN SUNSHINE LAKE ARE NATURALLY REPRODUCING NOP GILLNET CATCH RATE OF 8.5 PER LIFT IS WELL ABOVE THE MEDIAN OF 2.7 PER LIF…
ALL FISH POPULATIONS SAMPLED IN SUNSHINE LAKE ARE NATURALLY REPRODUCING NOP GILLNET CATCH RATE OF 8.5 PER LIFT IS WELL ABOVE THE MEDIAN OF 2.7 PER LIFT FOR THIS LAKE CLASS. NOP SIZE STRUCTURE IS EXCELLENT WITH A MEAN LENGTH OF 24.1 INCHES AND 41% OF THE FISH IN OUR SAMPLE LONGER THAN 28.0 INCHES. NOP GROWTH RATES ARE CONSIDERABLY FASTER THAN THE AREA MEANS FOR ALL ANNULI, WITH FISH REACHING 25.0 INCHES IN LENGTH BY AGE III. ALTHOUGH LMB SIZE STRUCTURE FROM THE GILLNET SAMPLE WAS RELATIVELY POOR, REPORTS FROM RESIDENT ANGLERS INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF BASS LARGER THAN THREE POUNDS. LMB GROWTH RATES WERE SLOW, WITH FISH REACHING 12.0 INCHES IN LENGTH AT AGE VIII. YEP GILLNET CATCH RATES WERE THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE MEDIAN FOR THIS LAKE CLASS AND SIZE STRUCTURE WAS GOOD WITH MEAN LENGTH OF 8.8 INCHES AND 29% OF THE SAMPLED FISH LONGER THAN 10.0 INCHES. YEP EXHIBITED SLOW GROWTH, NOT REACHING 8.0 INCHES UNTIL AGE VII. BLG AND HSF CATCH RATES WERE BOTH WELL ABOVE MEDIAN FOR THIS LAKE CLASS. SIZE STRUCTURE FOR BLG SAMPLED IN BOTH GILL AND TRAPNETS WAS GOOD WITH A MEAN LENGTH OF 6.9 INCHES AND 82% OF THE FISH SAMPLED LONGER THAN 6.0 INCHES. HSF SIZE STRUCTURE WAS ALSO GOOD WITH A MEAN LENGTH OF 6.9 INCHES AND 88% OF THE FISH SAMPLED IN TRAPNETS LONGER THAN 6.0 INCHES. GROWTH RATES FOR BOTH BLG AND HSF WERE VERY SLOW. BLG DID NOT EXCEED 6.0 INCHES IN LENGTH UNTIL AGE IX, WHILE HSF EXCEEDED 6.0 INCHES DURING THEIR EIGHTH YEAR OF GROWTH.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Sunshine?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Green Sunfish, and Northern Pike in Sunshine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Sunshine?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Sunshine. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Sunshine?
Sunshine has a maximum depth of 37 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Sunshine last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sunshine is from 1991. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Sunshine have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Sunshine in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
More lakes in St. Louis County
View all1,917 acres
Yellow Perch · Northern Pike
109 acres
Hybrid Sunfish
64 acres
Black Crappie · Pumpkinseed · Yellow Perch
46 acres
Black Crappie · Yellow Perch
37 acres
Rock Bass · Yellow Perch
22 acres
Yellow Perch · Pumpkinseed
Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 79.45 acres
- Max Depth
- 37 ft
- Shoreline
- 1.96 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed