Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 5, 2024
Horseshoe Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Horseshoe Lake average 16.65 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 5, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. In Cass County, Minnesota, Horseshoe Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 21.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Horseshoe Lake
12 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Horseshoe Lake
No stocking record for Horseshoe Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Horseshoe Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Horseshoe Lake average 16.65 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 5, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Horseshoe Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 56.96 | — |
| Bluegill | 16.65 | 0.16 lb |
| Rock Bass | 15.66 | 0.21 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 13.03 | 0.17 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-08-05 survey
Horseshoe Lake is a 260-acre lake with 3.84 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 51 feet located east of Backus, MN. There is a MNDNR owned public access on the south shore. Horseshoe Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye and secondarily for Yellow…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Horseshoe Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HorseshoeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Horseshoe (1525)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HorseshoePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Horseshoe Lake average 16.65 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 5, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 2–9 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 12 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Horseshoe Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Horseshoe Lake is dated August 5, 2024. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Horseshoe Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Horseshoe Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Horseshoe Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Horseshoe Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Planning a trip to Horseshoe Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Horseshoe Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.