Courthouse

Carver County

Near Chaska

DOW: 10000500

Green SunfishGood · 58Lake TroutGood · 50Northern PikeAverage · 47

A 12-acre lake near Chaska in Carver County — best known for panfish and trout. Last surveyed 1994.

Fish Species (18)

Green Sunfish

Good · 58

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Nov 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.04 lbs

Catch rate: 10.8 per trap net · typical 0.3–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	684.00	-	-	Survey seining
Nov 7, 1989	10.80	-	0.04 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	1.75	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Lake Trout

Good · 50

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Oct 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.90 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Oct 10, 1978	0.25	-	1.90 lbs	Standard gill nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.25	-	1.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Average · 47

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

16.3"

Avg Weight

1.35 lbs

Catch rate: 4.5 per gill net · typical 2.5–7.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike13% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 87%Largest sampled 31"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	4.50	16.3"	1.35 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Crappie

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.0"

Avg Weight

0.27 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per trap net · typical 1.8–18.1 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie13% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 87%Largest sampled 10"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	3.33	7.0"	0.27 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	1.75	-	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets
Oct 10, 1978	1.75	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 41

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Oct 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.8–5.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Oct 10, 1978	0.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rainbow Trout

Stocked 2025

Average · 39

Below-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Oct 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.03 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net

Stocked with yearlings every year · 54,230 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Nov 7, 1989	2.80	-	0.84 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.75	-	1.03 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.75	-	1.03 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2025	yearlings	6,000	3.0	-
2024	adults	40	133.3	-
2024	yearlings	6,200	3.0	-
2023	yearlings	6,200	3.0	-
2023	adults	70	280.0	-
2022	yearlings	6,200	4.0	-
2022	adults	45	225.0	-
2021	adults	55	203.7	-
2021	yearlings	6,200	3.0	-
2020	yearlings	6,750	3.0	-
2020	adults	90	405.0	-
2019	adults	110	518.4	-
2019	yearlings	7,000	3.0	-
2018	yearlings	3,000	1.0	-
2018	adults	20	83.3	-
2017	adults	100	508.7	-
2017	yearlings	100	95.2	-
2016	yearlings	6,000	3.0	-
2016	adults	50	169.7	-

Walleye

Average · 33

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

13.0"

Avg Weight

0.65 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	0.50	13.0"	0.65 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Crappie

Average · 26

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.8"

Avg Weight

0.31 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–4.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable white crappie0% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	0.33	6.8"	0.03 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 7, 1994	2.00	6.8"	0.31 lbs	Standard gill nets
Oct 10, 1978	4.75	-	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Poor · 10

Small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Oct 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Oct 10, 1978	0.75	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.75	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

1.0"

Catch rate: 6.0 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	6.00	1.0"	-	Survey seining

Brook Trout

Stocked 2025

Last Stocked

2025

Size Class

adults

Total Fish

6,670

Frequency

every other year

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2025	adults	160	149.8	-
2023	adults	155	164.2	-
2023	yearlings	700	160.2	-
2021	adults	509	919.0	-
2020	yearlings	1,200	1.0	-
2020	adults	136	283.3	-
2019	adults	3,310	2.0	-
2017	yearlings	500	223.2	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Brown Trout

Stocked 2024

Last Stocked

2024

Size Class

adults

Total Fish

3,385

Frequency

every year

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2024	adults	100	250.0	-
2023	yearlings	120	300.0	-
2022	adults	100	200.0	-
2021	adults	85	212.5	-
2021	yearlings	1,400	350.0	-
2020	yearlings	900	240.0	-
2020	adults	150	378.6	-
2019	adults	180	512.3	-
2018	adults	70	205.9	-
2017	adults	190	558.8	-
2016	adults	90	293.7	-

Other species in this lake (6)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Common Carp

Good · 55

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

18.0"

Avg Weight

2.92 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	1.00	18.0"	2.92 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Average · 43

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.4"

Avg Weight

0.22 lbs

Catch rate: 3.7 per trap net · typical 1.3–26 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	8.50	7.4"	0.23 lbs	Standard gill nets
Sep 7, 1994	1.00	7.4"	-	Survey seining
Sep 7, 1994	3.67	7.4"	0.22 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 40

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

8.2"

Avg Weight

0.24 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.8–5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	2.00	8.2"	0.24 lbs	Standard trap nets
Sep 7, 1994	2.50	8.2"	0.58 lbs	Standard gill nets
Nov 7, 1989	0.40	-	0.35 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Average · 40

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Oct 1978

Last surveyed 1978 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.5–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	0.33	16.0"	1.56 lbs	Standard trap nets
Nov 7, 1989	0.20	-	2.60 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 10, 1978	0.25	-	2.00 lbs	Standard gill nets

Golden Shiner

Average · 32

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.0"

Avg Weight

0.09 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.7–3.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	0.50	6.0"	0.09 lbs	Standard gill nets
Nov 7, 1989	0.20	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Oct 3, 1984	1.50	-	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets

Johnny Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Sep 1994

Last surveyed 1994 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 2.0 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 7, 1994	2.00	-	-	Survey seining

See the best green sunfish lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

This lake is near a regulation-zone boundary — verify the zone on the DNR map.

Biologist Notes

September 7, 1994The Courthouse Lake fish population has changed significantly in recent years due to flooding. The 1993 flood allowed many species found in the Minnes…

The Courthouse Lake fish population has changed significantly in recent years due to flooding. The 1993 flood allowed many species found in the Minnesota River to migrate into the lake, including northern pike. Since Courthouse is a designated trout lake, northern pike are not a desirable species to have present. Therefore a total lake reclaimation was deemed nessessary. This was scheduled for the fall of 1994. During the spring of 1995 rainbow trout will be restocked in the lake.

November 7, 1989TROUT CAPTURED REFLECT MOST RECENT STOCKING. OTHER SPECIES WERE REMNANT POPULATIONS FROM CHEMICAL REHABILITATION SURVIVORS OR INTRODUCTIONS BY ANGLERS…

TROUT CAPTURED REFLECT MOST RECENT STOCKING. OTHER SPECIES WERE REMNANT POPULATIONS FROM CHEMICAL REHABILITATION SURVIVORS OR INTRODUCTIONS BY ANGLERS. OTHER SPECIES (EXCEPT FOR GREEN SUNFISH) WERE SAMPLED AT LEVELS BELOW REGIONAL MEDIANS.

October 3, 1984BLACK BULLHEADS WERE FOUND AT ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN NUMBERS. MOST ARE PROBABLY THE PROGENY FROM SURVIVORS OF THE 1981 CHEMICAL REHABILITATION. THE REHABI…

BLACK BULLHEADS WERE FOUND AT ABOVE LOCAL MEDIAN NUMBERS. MOST ARE PROBABLY THE PROGENY FROM SURVIVORS OF THE 1981 CHEMICAL REHABILITATION. THE REHABILITATION WAS APPARENTLY NOT SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING A 100% KILL. SINCE GOLDEN SHINERS, FATHEAD MINNOW, BLACK BULLHEAD AND BROOK STICKLEBACKS WERE SAMPLED. RAINBOW TROUT ARE STOCKED ANNUALLY ALTHOUGH NONE WERE SAMPLED.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Courthouse?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Green Sunfish, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, and Pumpkinseed in Courthouse. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Courthouse?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Courthouse. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Courthouse?

Courthouse has a maximum depth of 57 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Courthouse last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Courthouse is from 1994. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Courthouse have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Courthouse?

No — Courthouse has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.