Wood

A targeted fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on Wood during September 8, 2025 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Three stations were sampled for a total of 30 minutes. The water temperature was 74.5 F. Water clarity was fair (1 foot). We observed abundant numbers of Black Bullhead and YOY Freshwater Drum; moderate numbers of small Black Crappie and Yellow Perch; low numbers of Bigmouth Buffalo and Common Carp. Wood is a moderate sized (485 acres), shallow (9 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Yellow Medicine County. Wood Lake outlets into Wood Lake Creek via Judicial Ditch #10 and eventually flows into the Minnesota River. A fish barrier has generally prevented fish from moving into Wood Lake from the Minnesota River except during high water or barrier failures. Significant winterkills occurred during the 1996-1997, 2000-2001 and 2021-2022 winters due to heavy snow accumulation and/or problems with the aeration system. Early winter oxygen levels usually drop dramatically in Wood Lake compared to other nearby lakes (i.e., Lady Slipper, School Grove, Cottonwood and Tyson). Adequate oxygen levels (> 3 ppm) were maintained by the aeration system during the 2022-2023 winter which had extreme snow events. The heavy-duty tri-float Aire-O2 aeration system was moved to a harder substrate bottom about 150 yards east of the previous site and away from the access in 2022. No winterkill occurred in Wood or nearby Tyson unlike many other southern Minnesota lakes during the 2022-2023 winter. Winter oxygen levels were adequate during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 winters due to mild winter conditions. The aeration system was not operated during the 2025-26 mild winter due to high oxygen levels (>20 ppm). Walleye natural reproduction in Wood is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous surveys. Walleye fry (102,000 to 433,000 fish) have been stocked recently into Wood during 2016, 2018, 2021-2025. Approximately 153,405 Walleye fry were stocked in 2025. Walleye fingerlings were stocked into Wood during the fall of 2001 (13,359 fish) and 2008 (836 fish). Adult/Yearling Walleye were stocked in 2021 (62 adults, 135 pounds), 2022 (28 adults, 70.5 pounds; 13 yearlings and 10.4 pounds) and 2023 (32 adults, 32 pounds). A combination of yearlings (1,736 fish, 393 pounds) and fingerlings (230 fish, 23 pounds) were stocked in 2024. Currently, Walleye fry are scheduled annually for stocking into Wood. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (176.00/hour, 6.33 inches) were captured in the 2025 fall night electrofishing survey. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers were also captured in 2022 (80.00 YOY/hour, 6.25 inches) and 2023 (123.00 YOY/hour, 6.98 inches) fall night electrofishing surveys. No fall electrofishing surveys were conducted during 2019-2021 and 2024. Moderate yearling Walleye numbers were present in 2023 (9.00 fish/hour, 12.57 inches) and 2025 (8.00 fish/hour, 8.60 inches). Moderate YOY Walleye numbers (54.00 YOY/hour, 6.57 inches) were captured during the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. We observed moderate numbers of YOY Freshwater Drum, Channel Catfish and adult Walleye in the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. Adult Walleye abundance was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) during the 2022 summer gillnet survey likely due to the recent 2022 winterkill. The Walleye historical average catch rate is 22.57 fish/gillnet for Wood. The 2022 Walleye average weight and length were 0.36 pounds and 10.60 inches from gillnets. The 2021 year class (fry stocked) comprised 100% of the 2022 Walleye catch. Walleye fishing has improved for adult fish in recent years per local reports. Current fish management activities on Wood include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the Southwestern Prairie Outdoors Club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Wood Lake fishery will be sampled in 2027 for all fish species. A fall night electrofishing survey will be periodically conducted during Walleye fry stocked years.

A targeted fall night electrofishing survey was conducted on Wood during September 13, 2023 to evaluate young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye numbers due to a fry stocking. Two stations were sampled for a total of 20 minutes. The water temperature was 70 F. Water clarity was fair (1 foot) due to a moderate blue-green algae bloom. We observed abundant numbers of Bigmouth Buffalo, Common Carp and YOY Freshwater Drum. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Wood is a moderate sized (485 acres), shallow (9 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Yellow Medicine County. Significant winterkills occurred during the 1996-97, 2000-01 and 2021-22 winters due to heavy snow accumulation and/or problems with the aeration system. Early winter oxygen levels usually drop dramatically in Wood Lake compared to other nearby lakes (i.e., Lady Slipper, School Grove, Cottonwood and Tyson). Adequate oxygen levels (> 3 ppm) were maintained by the aeration system during the 2022-23 winter which had extreme snow events. No winterkill occurred in Wood or nearby Tyson unlike many other southern Minnesota lakes. Walleye natural reproduction in Wood is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous surveys. Walleye fry are generally stocked into Wood every other year. In the past, if a fry stocking was a failure or a winterkill occurred, then the lake was stocked again with fry the following spring. Walleye fry (150,000 to 433,000 fish) have been stocked recently into Wood during 2009-2011, 2013-2014, 2016, 2018, 2021-23. Approximately 150,400 Walleye fry were stocked in 2023. Walleye fingerlings were stocked into Wood during the fall of 2001 (13,359 fish) and 2008 (836 fish). Adult/Yearling Walleye were stocked in 2021 (62 adults, 135 pounds), 2022 (28 adults, 70.5 pounds; 13 yearlings and 10.4 pounds) and 2023 (32 adults, 32 pounds). Currently, Walleye fry are scheduled annually for stocking of Wood. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (123.00/hour, 6.98 inches) were captured in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers were (80.00 YOY/hour, 6.25 inches) captured in the 2022 fall night electrofishing survey. No fall electrofishing surveys were conducted from 2019-2021. Moderate yearling Walleye numbers (9.00 fish/hour, 12.57 inches) were also caught in 2023. Moderate YOY Walleye numbers (54.00 YOY/hour, 6.57 inches) were captured during the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. Abundant numbers of large sized YOY Walleye (80.00 YOY/hour, 7.82 inches) captured in the 2016 fall night electrofishing survey. No yearling Walleye were captured in 2018 or 2016. YOY Walleye numbers (84.00 YOY/hour, 5.38 inches average length) were also abundant in the 2014 fall night electrofishing survey. Low numbers of yearling Walleye (6.00 fish/hour, 8.72 inches) were also captured in 2014. Low to moderate numbers of small YOY Walleye (33.00 YOY/hour, 4.61 inches) were captured in the 2013 fall electrofishing survey. There were abundant YOY Walleye numbers (153.00 YOY/hour, 6.50 inches average length) captured in the 2011 fall electrofishing survey. There were low YOY Walleye numbers (16.00 YOY/hour, 8.19 inches average length) captured in the 2010 fall electrofishing survey. We observed moderate numbers of YOY Freshwater Drum, Channel Catfish and adult Walleye in the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. Adult Walleye abundance was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) in the most recent 2022 summer gillnet survey due to the recent winterkill. The Walleye historical average catch rate is 22.57 fish/gillnet for Wood. The 2022 Walleye average weight and length were 0.36 pounds and 10.60 inches from gillnets. The 2021 year class (fry stocked) comprised 100% of the 2022 Walleye catch. Current fish management activities on Wood include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the Southwestern Prairie Outdoors Club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Wood Lake fishery will be sampled in 2027 for all fish species. A fall night electrofishing survey will be periodically conducted during Walleye fry stocked years.

A standard survey was conducted during late June 2022 in Wood Lake. A fall night electrofishing was conducted during late August of 2022 for young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye in Wood Lake. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). Wood is a moderate sized (432 acres), shallow (9 feet maximum depth), aerated, and productive lake located in Yellow Medicine County. Residential development is limited to several farm sites/homes along the south shore area. Hardwood trees and agricultural row crops dominate the immediate shoreline. Timm County Park is located on the north side of Wood Lake. A DNR public access is adjacent to the county park. Nutrient runoff into Wood is primarily from agricultural row crops. Significant winterkills occurred during the 1996-97, 2000-01 and 2021-22 winters due to heavy snow accumulation and/or problems with the aeration system. A winterkill check with three single frame ¾" mesh trapnets and electrofishing was conducted from May 10-11, 2022. Dead Common Carp were observed throughout the shoreline areas. Live Common Carp and Bigmouth Buffalo were observed in the shallow bay areas by electrofishing. The winterkill assessment trapnet catch consisted of low numbers (40 fish total) of Black Crappie (mostly 7-8 inches), abundant numbers of Black Bullhead, moderate numbers of small sized Bigmouth Buffalo and 2 small Walleye (10 inches). Early winter oxygen levels usually drop dramatically in Wood Lake compared to other nearby lakes (i.e., Lady Slipper, School Grove, Cottonwood and Tyson). Adequate oxygen levels (> 3 ppm) were maintained by the aeration system during the 2022-23 winter which had extreme snow events. No winterkill occurred in Wood or nearby Tyson unlike many other southern Minnesota lakes. The outlet connects to Wood Lake Creek, which flows into the Minnesota River. A dam and fish barrier is located downstream of the outlet. Water levels were low in 2022. Water clarity was fair (secchi=3.5 feet) during late June of 2022. The water is a brown stained color (similar to the Minnesota River). Blue-green algae blooms are common and often intense in Wood Lake. Submergent vegetation present included sago and small pondweed. Water moss and lesser duckweed vegetation species were also present. Emergent vegetation consisted mainly of bulrush and cattail species scattered throughout the shoreline areas. Shoalwater substrates consisted of sand, gravel, rubble, boulder and silt. Black Bullhead abundance was moderate (30.00 fish/gillnet and 83.33 fish/trapnet) in 2022. Black Bullhead historical average catch rates are 68.85 fish/gillnet and 225.82 fish/trapnet for Wood. The Black Bullhead average size was small (0.18 pounds and 6.7 inches) from gillnets. Black Bullhead average size was moderate (0.39 pounds and 7.9 inches) from trapnets. The Black Bullhead historical average weights are 0.32 pounds and 0.39 pounds respectively from gillnets and trapnets. Black Crappie abundance was low (0.33 fish/trapnet) in 2022 compared to the historical average catch rate (86.26 fish/trapnet). Black Crappie abundance was also low (0.33 fish/gillnet) in 2022 gillnets. Black Crappie average size was moderate (0.39 pounds and 8.7 inches) from trapnets. The Black Crappie historical average weight and length are 0.32 pounds and 7.1 inches from trapnets. Black Crappie growth rates were excellent for ages 1-3. The 2020 Black Crappie year classes comprised 75% of the 2022 Black Crappie survey catch. Bluegill abundance was low (0.33 fish/gillnet and 0.00 fish/trapnet) in 2022. The Bluegill historical average catch rates are 0.04 fish/gillnet and 8.54 fish/trapnet for Wood. The 2022 Bluegill average size was large (0.29 pounds and 6.4 inches) from gillnets. Adult Bluegill (1,840 fish) were last stocked in Wood by the DNR during 2001. Adult Bluegill were purchased by the Southwestern Prairie Outdoors Club (formerly Wood Lake Sportsman's Club) and stocked during mid-June of 2020 (7,000 fish, 700 pounds) and 2021 (6,000 fish, 600 pounds) by a private aqua culturist into Wood Lake. However, most of these fish likely perished during the 2021 winterkill. Channel Catfish abundance was low (0.00 fish/gillnet and 0.67 fish/trapnet) in 2022. The historical average catch rates are 1.85 fish/trapnet and 2.52 fish/gillnet. The Channel Catfish average weight and length were 5.30 pounds and 24.2 inches from trapnets. The largest Channel Catfish captured was 26.1 inches in 2022. Channel Catfish fingerlings (4,000 fish, 25 pounds) and yearlings (86 fish, 21 pounds) were stocked in 2002. Channel Catfish fingerlings (4,347 fish, 23 pounds) were last stocked in 2006. Common Carp were abundant (5.89 fish/trapnet) in 2022 compared to the historical average catch rate (3.93 fish/trapnet). Common Carp abundance was low (2.67 fish/gillnet) in the 2022 gillnets compared to the historical average (16.07 fish/gillnet). The 2022 Common Carp average size was moderate (4.61 pounds and 19.9 inches) from trapnets. The 2022 Common Carp average size was small (1.27 pounds and 13.1 inches) from gillnets. The Common Carp historical average weights were 3.02 pounds from trapnets and 1.61 pounds from gillnets. Freshwater Drum abundance was low (0.33 fish/gillnet) in 2022 gillnets, but abundant (4.33 fish/trapnet) in 2022 trapnets. Freshwater Drum were abundant in 2012 (37.00 fish/gillnet, 4.11 fish/trapnet), but the average size was small (0.18 pounds and 7.7 inches from gillnets and trapnets combined). The 2022 Freshwater Drum average lengths were moderate (10.9 inches and 10.8 inches respectively for gillnets and trapnets). Freshwater Drum were previously captured in commercial nets during the early 1990's, but were not captured after subsequent years following winterkills. However, numerous small Freshwater Drum were observed in Wood Lake during the 2011 fall electrofishing survey. Freshwater Drum were also captured in the summer survey nets of 2012. The outlet fish barrier was temporarily in disrepair during this time period which probably allowed fish passage from Wood Lake Creek and the Minnesota River into Wood Lake. Yellow Perch abundance was low (1.33 fish/gillnet) in 2022, but comparable to the historical average catch rate (1.37 fish/gillnet). The 2022 Yellow Perch average size was moderate (0.14 pounds and 6.9 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical weight and length were 0.22 pounds and 7.6 inches. Yellow Perch growth rates were excellent for age 1. The 2021 year class comprised 100% of the 2022 Yellow Perch survey catch. Yearling Yellow Perch were stocked in the fall of 2022 (5,455 fish and 201 pounds). Walleye natural reproduction has been generally insignificant based on previous surveys for Wood. Walleye fry (218,000 to 433,000 fish) have been stocked recently into Wood during 2009-2011, 2013-2014, 2016, 2018, 2021-22. Walleye fingerlings were stocked into Wood during the fall of 2001 (13,359 fish) and 2008 (836 fish). Adult/Yearling Walleye were stocked in 2021 (62 adults, 135 pounds) and 2022 (28 adults, 70.5 pounds; 13 yearlings and 10.4 pounds). Abundant YOY Walleye numbers were (80.00 YOY/hour, 6.3 inches) captured in the 2022 fall electrofishing survey. No fall electrofishing surveys were conducted in 2020 and 2021. Moderate YOY Walleye numbers (54.00 YOY/hour, 6.6 inches) were captured in the 2018 fall electrofishing survey. Abundant YOY Walleye numbers (80.00 YOY/hour, 7.8 inches average) were captured in the last fall electrofishing survey in 2016. There were also abundant numbers of YOY Walleye captured in the 2011 (153.00 YOY/hour, 6.50 inches average) and 2014 (84.00 YOY/hour, 5.4 inches average) fall electrofishing surveys. There were low to moderate YOY Walleye numbers captured in the 2010 (16.00 YOY/hour, 8.2 inches average length) and 2013 (33.00 YOY/hour, 4.6 inches average) fall electrofishing surveys. The Wood Lake fall electrofishing historical average catch rate and length are 110.37 YOY/hour and 6.1 inches respectively. The highest Wood Lake YOY Walleye catch rate occurred during a 1996 fry stocked year (625.71 YOY/hour, 4.7 inches average length). Walleye abundance was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) in 2022 compared to the historical average catch rate (22.57 fish/gillnet). The 2022 Walleye trapnet catch rate was also low (0.44 fish/trapnet). The 2022 Walleye average size was small (0.36 pounds and 10.6 inches) from gillnets and similar size for trapnets (0.34 pounds and 10.3 inches). The Walleye historical average weights are 1.37 pounds from gillnets and 1.35 pounds from trapnets. Walleye growth rates were excellent for age 1. The 2021 year class (fry stocked) comprised 100% of the 2022 Walleye gillnet and trapnet catch. A significant winterkill occurred during February of 2022. Walleye natural reproduction in Wood is generally infrequent and insignificant based on previous fall and summer surveys. Current fish management activities on Wood include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring winter dissolved oxygen levels, assisting the Southwestern Prairie Outdoors Club with the operation of the aeration system, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for potential invasive species introductions, participating in local watershed initiatives, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Wood Lake fishery will be sampled for YOY Walleye in the 2024 fall. The next standard survey is scheduled for 2027.

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

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

Wood has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wood is from 2022.

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