Horseshoe

Horseshoe Lake is located near Richmond in south-central Stearns County. A public access is located on the Sauk River one-half mile upstream from the lake; however, navigable channels connect Horseshoe with Cedar Island Lake and the other downstream lakes within the Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL). Horseshoe Lake has a surface area of 550 acres with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Prior to 2001, the Walleye fishery was supported through fingerling stocking during odd-numbered years. In 2001, the stocking strategy switched from fingerling stocking to fry stocking during odd-numbered years and was often supplemented by natural reproduction and fry stocking by the lake association. Fall electrofishing for young of year (YOY) Walleye was only conducted during stocked years until 2015 when annual sampling was initiated due to the documentation of naturally reproduced year classes. Results from fall YOY electrofishing surveys indicated that natural reproduction was strong, and Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2018. Fall electrofishing for YOY Walleye was conducted on October 13, 2025. Since the discontinuance of fry stocking in 2018, fall YOY Walleye catch rates have ranged 0.0 to 203/hr with a long-term average of 68.4/hr. No YOY Walleye were caught in 2025; however, 50 age-1+ Walleye were caught for a catch rate of 62.6/hr. These Walleye ranged in length from 9.5 to 22.1 inches with an average of 14.0 inches. Annual fall YOY electrofishing will continue. However, due to YOY Walleye catches remaining below 25/hr for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), Walleye fry will be stocked in spring 2026 in accordance with the Lake Management Plan.

Horseshoe Lake is located near Richmond in south-central Stearns County. A public access is located on the Sauk River one-half mile upstream from the lake; however, navigable channels connect Horseshoe with Cedar Island Lake and the other downstream lakes within the Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL). Horseshoe Lake has a surface area of 550 acres with a maximum depth of 57 feet. Prior to 2001, the Walleye fishery was supported through fingerling stocking during odd-numbered years. In 2001, the stocking strategy switched from fingerling stocking to fry stocking during odd-numbered years and was often supplemented by natural reproduction and fry stocking by the lake association. Fall electrofishing for young of year (YOY) Walleye was only conducted during stocked years until 2015 when annual sampling was initiated because of documented naturally reproduced year classes. Results from fall YOY electrofishing surveys indicated that natural reproduction was strong, and Walleye stocking was discontinued in 2018. A targeted survey was conducted in 2024 using boat electrofishing to update data on YOY Walleye abundance within Horseshoe Lake. Fall electrofishing for YOY Walleye was conducted on October 7, 2024. Since the discontinuance of fry stocking in 2018, fall YOY Walleye catch rates have ranged 30.1 to 203/ hr with a long-term average of 91.3/hr. No YOY Walleye were caught during the 2024 survey. While no YOY walleye were collected, the age-1+ catch rate in 2024 was 46/hr. These Walleye ranged in length from 7.9 to 24 inches and averaged 12.8 inches. Annual fall YOY electrofishing will continue and if YOY Walleye catches stay below 25/hr for three consecutive years then fry stocking will occur the following spring.

Horseshoe Lake is located near the city of Richmond in south-central Stearns County. A public access is located on the Sauk River about a half mile upstream of the lake; however, navigable channels connect Horseshoe with Cedar Island Lake and the other lakes within the Sauk River Chain of Lakes (SRCL). Horseshoe Lake has a surface area of 550 acres with a maximum depth of 57 ft. Water quality has historically been poor, but more recently has shown improvements. The Sauk River drains a large portion of central Minnesota before flowing through the SRCL and this ultimately influences water quality trends within the lake. Efforts continue to be made to address existing non-point pollution sources and improve the water quality within the SRCL. Water clarity over the past ten years has averaged about six feet; however, it was measured at 4.5 ft during the 2024 survey. Zebra mussels became established within the SRCL in 2018, and Eurasian watermilfoil was found in Horseshoe Lake in 2021. Anglers are encouraged to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) by cleaning, draining, and drying all equipment used in infested waters. The Cedar Island Lake fishery is primarily managed for Walleye, Muskellunge, and Channel Catfish and a targeted survey was conducted in 2024 using boat electrofishing and gillnets to update data last collected in 2021. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were surveyed during the day using boat electrofishing on May 9, 2024. The catch of both species was low at 19/hr and 4/hr compared to the results from 2018 (35/hr and 33/hr) when sampling was conducted at night. The catch results from 2024 were below the management goal for daytime electrofishing (50/hr) and the lowest on record. Largemouth Bass ranged in length ranged from 4 - 19.7 and averaged 11.8 inches while Smallmouth Bass were larger, ranging in length from 10 - 19.3 inches while averaging 14.7 inches. Despite the poor sampling numbers Horseshoe Lake remains a popular bass fishing lake. Walleye is one of the primary managed species within the SRCL and the overall Walleye catch in 2024 (2.2/net) was much lower than that caught in 2021 (5.3/net). The Walleye catch within Horseshoe Lake in 2024 (3.1/net) was lower than that observed in 2021 (4.7/net) but was within the range of expected values for the lake and similar to the long-term average for the lake (3.2/net). Walleye ranged in length from 8 - 24 inches with an average length and weight of 15.8 inches and 1.5 pounds. Anglers can expect decent fishing for quality sized walleye as 57% were longer than 15 inches and 21% were longer than 20 inches. Walleye growth within the SRCL is average with both males and females exceeding 16 inches by age four. Walleye stocking was discontinued after 2017 as significant natural reproduction was documented within the Sauk River during the fall of 2014 and 2016. The observed abundance of young Walleye from fall electrofishing efforts were at or above current levels observed during stocked years. Natural reproduction sampling has been conducted annually ever since. The Northern Pike catch in 2024 was higher than 2021, but similar to the long-term average for the lake. Northern Pike ranged in length from 16 to 33 inches, with an average length and weight of 23.7 inches and 3.1 pounds. Twenty-two percent of the pike sampled were 26 inches or longer and 8% were 30 inches or longer. Anglers are encouraged to harvest small pike (less than 22 inches) to help increase the size structure of the population. Channel Catfish have historically been abundant within the SRCL and catfish abundance in Horseshoe Lake peaked in 2018 at 28/net and has been declining since. The catch in 2024 (3.9/net) was the lowest since 1990. While catfish abundance decreased, the average size of fish caught has increased. Catfish sampled ranged in length from 16 to 26 inches, with an average length and weight of 21.3 inches and 3.3 pounds. Anglers will find many Channel Catfish within the 19 - 24-inch range as this size range made up 77% of the total catfish caught during the survey. Black Crappie gill net abundance continues to be above average. The catch in 2024 (4.3/net) was similar to the past three surveys (range 2.8 - 4.7/net) and above the range of expected values for similar lakes. Black Crappie ranged in length from 5 - 12 inches and averaged 7.1 inches. While the summer surveys indicate that the crappie size structure is poor, targeted sampling during the spring is a better indicator of the overall size structure of the crappie population. A targeted survey conducted during spring 2024 indicated that crappies ranged in length from 4 - 13 inches with an average length of 9.7 inches. Also, 91% of the crappie sampled were longer than eight inches and 7% were longer than 12 inches. Yellow Perch catches have been low the past four surveys but the 2024 survey rebounded significantly with a catch rate of 31.9/net and falling above the expected range of values for the lake. Prior to 2003, gillnet surveys reported above average catch rates for Yellow Perch and the 2024 catch was reminiscent of those results. Yellow Perch lengths ranged from 5 - 10 inches with an average length of 6.5 inches. Other species sampled in low numbers included: Bluegill, Bowfin, Greater Redhorse, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye in Horseshoe. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Horseshoe has a maximum depth of 57 feet and a mean depth of 14.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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