Coon

Itasca County

Near Bigfork

DOW: 31031800

Yellow PerchExcellent · 88Northern PikeExcellent · 79Black CrappieGood · 69

A 345-acre lake near Bigfork in Itasca County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (9)

Yellow Perch

Excellent · 88

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.22 lbs

Catch rate: 52.0 per gill net · typical 2–21.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	5.67	-	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 31, 1987	52.00	-	0.22 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Excellent · 79

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.73 lbs

Catch rate: 13.0 per gill net · typical 4.8–12.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	13.00	-	2.73 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 31, 1987	0.50	-	1.90 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 69

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.97 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 1–4.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	1.00	-	0.97 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 31, 1987	1.00	-	1.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 50

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 3.2 per trap net · typical 8.3–50.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	3.17	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 31, 1987	30.00	-	0.49 lbs	Standard gill nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Average · 44

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	0.50	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 39

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 2.8–10.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	2.00	-	0.59 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 31, 1987	1.00	-	0.17 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 · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.5–4.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	0.25	-	1.30 lbs	Standard gill nets

Golden Shiner

Average · 44

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 0.4–3.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	1.75	-	0.07 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 31, 1987	0.17	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Poor · 13

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 31, 1987	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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).

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").

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

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 31, 1987THE LAKE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF LARGE SIZED BLUEGILLS THAT WERE CAPTURED MOSTLY IN GILLNETS. THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION FOR BLUEGILLS HAS INCREASED SINCE THE…

THE LAKE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF LARGE SIZED BLUEGILLS THAT WERE CAPTURED MOSTLY IN GILLNETS. THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION FOR BLUEGILLS HAS INCREASED SINCE THE 1977 POPULATION ASSESSMENT. THE NORTHERN PIKE ABUNDANCE IS ALSO HIGHER THAN AVERAGE WITH GOOD AVERAGE SIZE. THE NORTHERN PIKE GILLNET CATCH RATE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY (200%) SINCE THE 1971 POPULATION ASSESSMENT. THE BLACK CRAPPIE NET CATCH RATES ARE LOWER THAN PREVIOUS TEST NETTING RESULTS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Coon?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Hybrid Sunfish in Coon. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Coon?

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

How deep is Coon?

Coon has a maximum depth of 30 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Coon last surveyed?

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

Does Coon have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Coon?

No — Coon has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide perch limit is: 20 daily and 40 in possession. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.