Wood

Watonwan County

Near Sveadahl

DOW: 83006000

Yellow PerchExcellent · 88Northern PikeGood · 54WalleyeGood · 50

A 559-acre lake near Sveadahl in Watonwan County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1996.

Fish Species (8)

Yellow Perch

Excellent · 88

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.1"

Avg Weight

0.21 lbs

Catch rate: 28.0 per gill net

Size of catchable yellow perch30% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 70%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	16.11	7.1"	0.19 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 13, 1996	162.50	7.1"	-	Survey seining
Jun 13, 1996	28.00	7.1"	0.21 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Good · 54

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

18.1"

Avg Weight

1.27 lbs

Catch rate: 15.5 per gill net

Size of catchable northern pike10% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 90%Largest sampled 38"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	15.50	18.1"	1.27 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 13, 1996	5.56	18.1"	2.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Good · 50

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.9"

Avg Weight

1.41 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Size of catchable walleye100% keeper-size (15"+)

All keeper-sizeLargest sampled 22"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	0.50	17.9"	1.41 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 13, 1996	0.89	17.9"	2.51 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Poor · 6

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.0"

Avg Weight

0.56 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	0.11	9.0"	0.56 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (4)

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

Black Bullhead

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.8"

Avg Weight

0.01 lbs

Catch rate: 321.4 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	321.44	6.8"	0.01 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 13, 1996	42.50	6.8"	0.03 lbs	Standard gill nets

Common Carp

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.7"

Avg Weight

0.18 lbs

Catch rate: 42.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	1.50	12.7"	-	Survey seining
Jun 13, 1996	42.50	12.7"	0.18 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 13, 1996	42.56	12.7"	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.6"

Catch rate: 0.5 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	0.50	12.6"	-	Survey seining
Jun 13, 1996	3.44	12.6"	0.87 lbs	Standard trap nets

Fathead Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jun 1996

Last surveyed 1996 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 212.5 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 13, 1996	212.50	-	-	Survey seining

See the best yellow perch 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").

Crappie

10 combined total

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

June 13, 1996Wood Lake is a shallow prairie lake that offers anglers some good fishing for three main species - yellow perch, northern pike, and bullhead.Yellow pe…

Wood Lake is a shallow prairie lake that offers anglers some good fishing for three main species - yellow perch, northern pike, and bullhead.Yellow perch are common, with better than 50% of the fish sampled exceeding 8 inches. Fish up to 12 inches and 1 pound are possible. Good natural reproduction is maintaining the population.Northern pike are abundant due to the presence of good spawning habitat and ample forage. Pike averaged 18 inches, with fish up to 40 inches possible.Bullhead are also abundant, with good numbers of fish exceeding 10 inches. Anglers can also fish for walleye. They are currently low in abundance, but plans to begin stocking are being considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Wood?

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

Is there public access at Wood?

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

How deep is Wood?

Wood has a maximum depth of 4.3 feet and a mean depth of 2.8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Wood last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wood is from 1996. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Wood have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Wood?

No — Wood 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.