Loon

Waseca County

Near Waseca

DOW: 81001500

Channel CatfishGood · 74BluegillGood · 73Black CrappieAverage · 49

A 125-acre lake near Waseca in Waseca County — best known for catfish and panfish. Last surveyed 2015.

Fish Species (14)

Channel Catfish

Stocked 2020

Good · 74

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.6"

Avg Weight

2.03 lbs

Catch rate: 1.7 per gill net

Stocked with fingerlings irregularly · 1,660 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	0.33	17.6"	1.65 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 27, 2015	1.67	17.6"	2.03 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 3, 1995	0.25	8.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2020	fingerlings	1,500	33.3	-
2016	adults	160	800.0	-

Bluegill

Good · 73

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.0"

Avg Weight

0.37 lbs

Catch rate: 4.6 per trap net · typical 1.2–20 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill63% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 37%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	4.56	7.0"	0.37 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 8, 2009	52.67	4.8"	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 8, 2009	123.44	4.8"	0.02 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Average · 49

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2009

Last surveyed 2009 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.0"

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 70.0 per trap net · typical 1.2–20.5 for a lake like this

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

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 8, 2009	70.00	6.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 8, 2009	44.67	6.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 26, 2004	8.44	7.5"	0.27 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 45

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2009

Last surveyed 2009 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 0.22 per trap net · typical 0.3–4.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 8, 2009	0.22	5.0"	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 3, 1995	0.50	4.0"	0.06 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1992	0.50	-	0.18 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Crappie

Average · 42

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2009

Last surveyed 2009 — treat with caution

Avg Size

8.0"

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 0.44 per trap net · typical 0.3–6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 8, 2009	0.44	8.0"	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 26, 2004	0.11	9.0"	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Stocked 2025

Average · 38

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

16.3"

Avg Weight

1.79 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 2.3–18.1 for a lake like this

Stocked with fry every other year · 218,801 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	1.33	16.3"	1.79 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 8, 2009	0.22	20.7"	3.39 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 8, 2009	0.33	20.7"	3.75 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2025	fry	31,250	0.3	-
2024	fry	31,301	0.3	-
2023	fry	31,250	0.2	-
2021	fry	125,000	1.0	-

Hybrid Sunfish

Poor · 23

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.5"

Avg Weight

0.35 lbs

Catch rate: 0.22 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	0.22	6.5"	0.35 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 8, 2009	0.22	5.0"	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Poor · 17

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.3"

Avg Weight

0.68 lbs

Catch rate: 23.2 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass0% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 100%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	23.21	10.3"	0.68 lbs	Standard electrofishing
Jun 8, 2009	0.22	16.0"	3.36 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 26, 2004	4.00	1.7"	-	Survey seining

Yellow Perch

Stocked 2016

Poor · 14

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2009

Last surveyed 2009 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.8"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 1.7 per gill net · typical 2.7–25 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch0% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Stocked with adults once · 198 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 8, 2009	1.67	5.8"	0.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 8, 2009	0.78	5.8"	0.11 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 26, 2004	0.11	6.0"	0.02 lbs	Standard trap nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2016	adults	198	60.0	-

Northern Pike

Stocked 2019

Poor · 14

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

15.6"

Avg Weight

0.71 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 1.1–8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike0% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 100%Largest sampled 20"

Stocked with adults once · 150 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	2.78	15.6"	0.75 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 27, 2015	1.33	15.6"	0.71 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 8, 2009	0.33	25.1"	3.69 lbs	Standard trap nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2019	adults	150	300.0	-

Green Sunfish

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

0.3"

Catch rate: 1.3 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2004	1.33	0.3"	-	Survey seining

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Black Bullhead

Good · 52

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.8"

Avg Weight

0.02 lbs

Catch rate: 183.3 per trap net · typical 11.5–132.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 27, 2015	183.33	5.8"	0.02 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 27, 2015	122.00	5.8"	0.04 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 8, 2009	276.11	6.5"	0.02 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Average · 29

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.0"

Avg Weight

0.79 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.8–6.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 21, 1993	0.50	12.0"	0.79 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1992	1.00	-	1.94 lbs	Standard gill nets

Fathead Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2004

Last surveyed 2004 — treat with caution

Avg Size

1.0"

Catch rate: 0.33 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 26, 2004	0.33	1.0"	-	Survey seining

See the best channel catfish 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

Southern zone

Angling: 2 (Minimum size 24").

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

Channel Catfish

5, only 1 fish over 24"

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Southern zone

Darkhouse spearing: 2 (Minimum size 24").

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

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

April 19, 2023Three trap nets were set on 19 April 2023 to assess for winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were common and were the only species sampled. Lo…

Three trap nets were set on 19 April 2023 to assess for winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were common and were the only species sampled. Loon Lake appears to have sustained a moderate winterkill.

April 19, 2023Three trap nets were set on 19 April 2023 to assess for winterkill. Yellow Perch and Black Bullheads were common and were the only species sampled. Lo…

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Loon?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, and White Crappie in Loon. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Loon?

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Loon. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

How deep is Loon?

Loon has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Loon last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Loon is from 2015. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Loon have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Loon?

No — Loon has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide channel catfish limit is: 5, only 1 fish over 24". Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.