Collinwood

Wright County

Near Dassel

DOW: 86029300

Channel CatfishGood · 68Largemouth BassGood · 59White CrappieGood · 55

A 639-acre lake near Dassel in Wright County — best known for catfish and bass. Last surveyed 2024.

Fish Species (20)

Channel Catfish

Good · 68

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2022

Avg Size

15.1"

Avg Weight

1.71 lbs

Catch rate: 1.4 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 11, 2022	1.44	15.1"	1.71 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 11, 2022	1.44	15.1"	1.71 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2020	0.44	23.3"	6.21 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Stocked 2023

Good · 59

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2016

Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.1"

Avg Weight

1.14 lbs

Catch rate: 6.2 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass57% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 43%Largest sampled 12"

Size from the Jul 2024 survey

Stocked with adults once · 15 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	0.71	11.4"	0.86 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.71	11.4"	0.86 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.22	11.4"	0.96 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2023	adults	15	37.7	-

White Crappie

Good · 55

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1991

Last surveyed 1991 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.60 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per gill net · typical 0.7–10.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 15, 1991	0.17	-	1.60 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 15, 1991	0.17	-	1.60 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 17, 1986	1.33	-	0.62 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Good · 51

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

19.1"

Avg Weight

1.66 lbs

Catch rate: 34.0 per gill net · typical 1.5–7.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike6% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 94%Largest sampled 30"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	1.71	19.1"	1.44 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	1.71	19.1"	1.44 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	34.00	19.1"	1.66 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 45

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

5.4"

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 30.0 per gill net · typical 2–27.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch1% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 99%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	0.29	5.4"	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.29	5.4"	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	30.00	5.4"	0.07 lbs	Standard gill nets

Green Sunfish

Average · 35

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.7"

Avg Weight

0.06 lbs

Catch rate: 0.38 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 2020	0.11	5.0"	0.11 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2020	0.11	5.0"	0.11 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 7, 2018	1.85	-	-	50-ft beach seine

Bluegill

Stocked 2023

Average · 34

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

4.0"

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 37.7 per trap net · typical 7.5–62.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill2% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 98%Largest sampled 8"

Stocked with adults once · 129 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	37.71	4.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	37.71	4.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.56	4.0"	0.21 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2023	adults	129	25.8	-

Pumpkinseed

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

3.8"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 2.9 per trap net · typical 0.7–4.2 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	2.86	3.8"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	2.86	3.8"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 2020	0.56	4.8"	0.11 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Stocked 2024

Poor · 16

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

12.0"

Avg Weight

0.67 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per gill net · typical 1.2–6.3 for a lake like this

Stocked with fry every other year · 1,055,233 fish total

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Sep 10, 2024	11.00	5.7"	-	Fall electrofishing
Sep 10, 2024	11.00	5.7"	-	Fall electrofishing
Jul 8, 2024	0.11	12.0"	0.67 lbs	Standard gill nets

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2024	fry	175,500	1.5	-
2022	fry	175,898	1.6	-
2018	fry	351,000	4.1	-
2016	fry	352,835	3.0	-

Hybrid Sunfish

Poor · 15

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

7.0"

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.14 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	0.14	7.0"	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.14	7.0"	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 7, 2018	0.23	-	-	50-ft beach seine

Black Crappie

Poor · 3

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 0.29 per trap net · typical 1.8–21.2 for a lake like this

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

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	0.29	5.0"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.22	5.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 8, 2024	0.22	5.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (9)

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

White Sucker

Excellent · 77

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2022

Avg Size

17.0"

Avg Weight

2.24 lbs

Catch rate: 2.9 per gill net · typical 0.4–2.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 11, 2022	2.89	17.0"	2.24 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 11, 2022	2.89	17.0"	2.24 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2020	1.22	17.5"	2.49 lbs	Standard gill nets

Common Carp

Good · 71

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2022

Avg Size

22.9"

Avg Weight

6.14 lbs

Catch rate: 2.1 per gill net · typical 0.3–3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	8.86	16.2"	2.35 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	8.86	16.2"	2.35 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 11, 2022	2.11	22.9"	6.14 lbs	Standard gill nets

Brown Bullhead

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Avg Size

12.3"

Avg Weight

0.91 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 11, 2022	0.11	13.0"	1.16 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 11, 2022	0.11	13.0"	1.16 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2020	0.22	9.5"	0.90 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Average · 42

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size

6.8"

Avg Weight

0.21 lbs

Catch rate: 9.1 per trap net · typical 0.7–25.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 8, 2024	9.14	6.8"	0.21 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 8, 2024	3.56	6.8"	0.54 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 8, 2024	3.56	6.8"	0.54 lbs	Standard gill nets

Golden Shiner

Poor · 20

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 0.2–0.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 9, 2012	0.11	5.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 9, 2012	0.11	5.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 17, 2006	0.11	5.0"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Poor · 13

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Avg Size

8.7"

Avg Weight

0.31 lbs

Catch rate: 0.12 per trap net · typical 0.9–5.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 11, 2022	0.89	10.1"	0.66 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 11, 2022	0.89	10.1"	0.66 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 2020	0.11	12.0"	1.02 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluntnose Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.14 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 16, 2018	0.14	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 16, 2018	0.14	-	-	50-ft beach seine

Fathead Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Aug 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.08 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 7, 2018	0.08	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 16, 2018	1.25	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Jul 16, 2018	0.43	-	-	50-ft beach seine

Iowa Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Aug 2018

Last surveyed 2018 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.15 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 7, 2018	6.67	-	-	Backpack electrofishing
Aug 7, 2018	0.15	-	-	50-ft beach seine
Jul 16, 2018	29.43	-	-	Backpack electrofishing

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

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

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

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

September 16, 2025A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Collinwood Lake on September 16th, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and ye…

A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Collinwood Lake on September 16th, 2025, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 0 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 0.0 fish/hr., which was below the lake's historical (1993 to 2025) median (16.5 fish/hr.). This indicated that there was no, or very little, natural reproduction in 2025. Fry were not stocked in 2025. In 2025, a total of 0 yearlings were sampled for a catch rate of 0.0 fish/hr., which was below Collinwood's historical (2017 to 2025) yearling median (1.5 fish/hr.) and was tied with the lowest yearling catch rate on record. Fry were stocked in 2024, but there was no evidence that they recruited to the yearling life-stage. Walleye fry are stocked every other year at Collinwood Lake (2024, 2026 etc.) and it will take time for the population to recover following the 2023 partial winterkill. Collinwood Lake is electrofished annually.

September 10, 2024A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Collinwood Lake on September 10th, 2024, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and ye…

A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Collinwood Lake on September 10th, 2024, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and yearling Walleye abundance. A total of 11 YOY were sampled for a catch rate of 11.0 fish/h, which was below the lake's historical (1993-2024) median (16.9 fish/h). This indicated that a small YOY year class was present. Collinwood was stocked with walleye fry in 2024. The average length for YOY in 2024 was 6.3 inches, which was below Collinwood's historical (1993-2024) average (7.0 inches). In this survey, a total of 0 yearlings were sampled for a catch rate of 0.0 fish/h, which was below Collinwood's historical (2017-2024) yearling median (2.0 fish/h) and was tied with the lowest yearling catch rate on record for this lake. Walleye fry are stocked every other year in Collinwood Lake and it will take time for the population to recover following the 2023 partial winterkill. Collinwood is fall electrofished annually.

September 10, 2024A targeted survey (fall nighttime electrofishing) was conducted on Collinwood Lake on September 10th, 2024, to evaluate young of the year (YOY) and ye…

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Collinwood?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch in Collinwood. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Collinwood?

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

How deep is Collinwood?

Collinwood has a maximum depth of 28 feet and a mean depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Collinwood last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Collinwood is from 2024.

Does Collinwood have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Collinwood?

No — Collinwood 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.