Hoot Owl

Clearwater County

Near Elbow Lake Village

DOW: 15012300

Hybrid SunfishExcellent · 100BluegillExcellent · 86Rock BassExcellent · 75

A 84-acre lake near Elbow Lake Village in Clearwater County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (12)

Hybrid Sunfish

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 10.7 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	10.67	-	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 17, 1987	0.50	-	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	13.50	-	0.24 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Excellent · 86

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 180.7 per trap net · typical 5.7–40.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	180.67	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 17, 1987	7.50	-	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	309.00	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Excellent · 75

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.36 lbs

Catch rate: 3.7 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	1.50	-	0.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 17, 1987	3.67	-	0.36 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1983	8.00	-	0.38 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 70

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 8.3 per trap net · typical 1.3–6.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	6.00	-	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 17, 1987	8.33	-	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1983	8.50	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 55

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.29 lbs

Catch rate: 16.5 per gill net · typical 2.8–8.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	1.33	-	0.69 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 17, 1987	16.50	-	1.29 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	1.50	-	0.47 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 54

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 8.5 per gill net · typical 1.5–23 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	0.33	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 17, 1987	8.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	34.00	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Crappie

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.38 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	1.33	-	0.38 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1983	2.50	-	0.80 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.71 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	2.00	-	0.71 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1983	1.50	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	0.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	3.00	-	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	0.50	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Brown Bullhead

Good · 60

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.54 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	2.00	-	0.54 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1983	2.50	-	1.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–11 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1983	0.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Average · 49

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 17, 1987	0.50	-	2.00 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1983	0.50	-	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best hybrid 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

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

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").

Rock Bass

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

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

June 17, 1987FISH POPULATION APPEARS DOMIANTED BY SMALL NORTH- ERN PIKE AND SMALL BLUEGILL. MOST PIKE CAUGHT IN GILLNETS WERE 20 INCHES. GILLNET INDEX FOR YELLOW P…

FISH POPULATION APPEARS DOMIANTED BY SMALL NORTH- ERN PIKE AND SMALL BLUEGILL. MOST PIKE CAUGHT IN GILLNETS WERE 20 INCHES. GILLNET INDEX FOR YELLOW PERCH WAS 1/3 THE LOCAL MEAN. GILLNET INDEX FOR WALLEYE WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN STATE OR LOCAL MEDIAN AND INDEX IN 1983. YOY NORTHERN PIKE, BLUEGILL, AND LARGEMOUTH BASS WERE OBSERVED IN LOW NUMBERS IN 1987 SEINING.

June 20, 1983EXCEPT FOR SIZE RANGE OF WALLEYE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE FISHERY COMPARED TO 1971. PERCH, WALLEYE, NORTHERN PIKE, AND CRAPPIE…

EXCEPT FOR SIZE RANGE OF WALLEYE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE FISHERY COMPARED TO 1971. PERCH, WALLEYE, NORTHERN PIKE, AND CRAPPIE ARE NEAR THE LOCAL CATCH FREQUENCY IN NUM- BERS. WALLEYE SHOW A DECLINE IN AVERAGE SIZE. BLUEGILLS CONTINUE TO BE VERY NUMBEROUS AND SMALL.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Hoot Owl?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Pumpkinseed, and Northern Pike in Hoot Owl. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Hoot Owl?

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

How deep is Hoot Owl?

Hoot Owl has a maximum depth of 78 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Hoot Owl last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Hoot Owl is from 1987. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Hoot Owl have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Hoot Owl?

No — Hoot Owl 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.