Shields
A 940-acre lake near Shieldsville in Rice County — best known for bass and panfish. Last surveyed 2023.
Fish Species (18)
Typical numbers · large fish
Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 44.4 · Electrofishing survey
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 44.44 | 10.2" | 1.00 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.25 | 10.2" | 2.15 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.09 | 10.2" | 2.43 lbs |
Above-normal numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1985
Last surveyed 1985 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 41.8 per trap net · typical 0.5–6.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 1987 | 11.58 | - | 0.10 lbs |
| Jun 20, 1985 | 41.75 | - | 0.32 lbs |
| Jul 2, 1981 | 14.92 | - | 0.13 lbs |
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 2.6 per gill net · typical 1.5–7.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.55 | 27.0" | 3.65 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 2.62 | 27.0" | 4.79 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 4.67 | 23.5" | 3.18 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 1.1 per gill net · typical 1.2–6.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 1.12 | 23.4" | 5.17 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 2.00 | 19.0" | 2.65 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 0.89 | 13.6" | 1.49 lbs |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 13.1 per gill net · typical 2.5–16.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 13.12 | 7.2" | 0.26 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 1.36 | 7.2" | 0.45 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 32.67 | 5.8" | 0.20 lbs |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 2.9 per gill net · typical 2–27.9 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 2.88 | 6.9" | 0.10 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.64 | 6.9" | 0.10 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 6.44 | 6.4" | 0.10 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · average-size fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 3.1 per trap net · typical 7.5–62.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 5.12 | 5.3" | 0.27 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 3.09 | 5.3" | 0.06 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 12.78 | 6.5" | 0.29 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2017
Last surveyed 2017 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2017 | 0.17 | 3.5" | 0.05 lbs |
| Jul 9, 2012 | 9.88 | - | - |
| Jun 18, 1987 | 0.08 | - | 0.46 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 0.36 per trap net · typical 0.7–4.2 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.36 | 3.8" | 0.07 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 1.08 | 4.4" | 0.11 lbs |
| Jul 9, 2012 | 1.33 | 5.8" | - |
Below-normal numbers
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2017
Last surveyed 2017 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.08 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2017 | 0.08 | 5.0" | 0.14 lbs |
| Jul 9, 2012 | 0.33 | 3.5" | 0.05 lbs |
| Jul 9, 2012 | 0.82 | 3.5" | - |
Other species in this lake (8)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Typical numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2017
Last surveyed 2017 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.5 per trap net · typical 0.7–25.7 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 13.88 | 11.1" | 0.92 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 14.11 | 11.0" | 1.03 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 2.50 | 10.9" | 1.30 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 3.9 per gill net · typical 4–32.3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 10.00 | 17.5" | 2.88 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 3.88 | 17.5" | 2.09 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 14.11 | 16.5" | 2.21 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.3–3 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.25 | 28.3" | 8.40 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.73 | 28.3" | 11.74 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 1.22 | 25.2" | 7.97 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 0.09 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.4 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.25 | 11.7" | 0.80 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.09 | 11.7" | 1.99 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 0.36 per trap net · typical 0.9–5.7 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.36 | 11.3" | 1.44 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 27.38 | 11.3" | 0.92 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 14.00 | 10.8" | 0.87 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2023
Catch rate: 0.12 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.12 | 6.5" | 0.19 lbs |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 0.09 | 6.5" | 0.09 lbs |
| Jul 20, 2020 | 0.56 | 6.2" | 0.11 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1992
Last surveyed 1992 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net · typical 0.4–2.2 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2006 | 0.10 | 22.0" | 4.95 lbs |
| Jul 2, 1992 | 0.08 | - | 2.62 lbs |
| Jun 18, 1987 | 0.08 | - | 2.62 lbs |
Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2012
Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.6 · Electrofishing survey
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2012 | 1.00 | - | - |
| Jul 9, 2012 | 1.65 | - | - |
| Jul 16, 2001 | 0.33 | 2.0" | - |
Biologist Notes
September 13, 2023Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the proto…
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There were a total of 75.3 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 18.5 acres of emergent dominated plant communities and 56.8 acres of floating leaf plant communities. The following taxa were noted during the survey: bulrush (round-stem group) (Schoenoplectus spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), and yellow waterlily (Nuphar variegata). For more information see map and summary table below.
September 13, 2023Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the proto…
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There were a total of 75.3 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 18.5 acres of emergent dominated plant communities and 56.8 acres of floating leaf plant communities. The following taxa were noted during the survey: bulrush (round-stem group) (Schoenoplectus spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), and yellow waterlily (Nuphar variegata). For more information see map and summary table below.
September 13, 2023Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the proto…
Minnesota DNR Fisheries IBI program staff delineated the floating leaf and emergent aquatic vegetation of Shields lake 09/13/2023, following the protocols listed in the MN DNR Lake Plant Mapping Manual. There were a total of 75.3 acres of floating and emergent plants mapped. This consisted of 18.5 acres of emergent dominated plant communities and 56.8 acres of floating leaf plant communities. The following taxa were noted during the survey: bulrush (round-stem group) (Schoenoplectus spp.), cattail (Typha spp.), white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), and yellow waterlily (Nuphar variegata). For more information see map and summary table below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Shields?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Black Crappie in Shields. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Shields?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Shields. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Shields?
Shields has a maximum depth of 42 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Shields last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Shields is from 2023.
Does Shields have any invasive species?
Yes — Shields has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 940.49 acres
- Max Depth
- 42 ft
- Shoreline
- 8.99 mi
- Public Access
- Yes
Invasive Species Alert
- Eurasian watermilfoil
Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to prevent spread.
Location
44.3697°N, 93.4412°W
Depth contours: Minnesota DNR, digitized from lake surveys of varying vintage. Water levels change — verify on the water.
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