Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest October 23, 2025
Shaokotan Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Shaokotan Lake average 46.87 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 21 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 23, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. In Lincoln County, Minnesota, Shaokotan Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 3.0 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Shaokotan Lake
8 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 Shaokotan Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
2 public boat landings are recorded on Shaokotan 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 Shaokotan Lake average 46.87 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 21 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 23, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shaokotan Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
21 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-10-23 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 258.45 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 111.90 | 0.49 lb |
| Walleye | 46.87 | 2.01 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 41.02 | 0.29 lb |
| Bluegill | 7.03 | 0.32 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.
Black Bullhead
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2025-10-23 survey
Lake Shaokotan is a 995-acre, class 41 lake located near the city of Ivanhoe in Lincoln County. Lake Shaokotan is managed primarily for Walleye and secondarily for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and Bluegill. Lake Shaokotan has had sporadic natural reproduction by Walleye, but it is believed that the population is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shaokotan Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShaokotanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ShaokotanFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ShaokotanPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Shaokotan Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Shaokotan Lake average 46.87 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 21 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated October 23, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–9 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 Shaokotan Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Shaokotan Lake is dated October 23, 2025. 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 Shaokotan Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Shaokotan Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Shaokotan Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shaokotan Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 Shaokotan Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Shaokotan Lake
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