Calhoun Lake

How big is Calhoun Lake?

How deep is Calhoun Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Calhoun Lake?

What are the closest cities to Calhoun Lake?

Are there boat launches on Calhoun Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Calhoun Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Calhoun Lake?

A standard survey of Calhoun Lake was conducted during early July of 2023. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e. spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trapnets and possibly spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). A spring electrofishing survey for Largemouth Bass was not conducted in 2023 due to time constraints.

Calhoun is a moderately sized (618 acers) And moderately productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. The maximum depth is 13 feet. Residential development (51 homes/cabins-2008 resurvey) has occurred primarily along the north and east shoreline areas. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural row crop drainage into the lake occurs via several inlets/tiles/ditches located along the north, east, and west shore areas. The Middle Fork Crow River enters Calhoun along the southwest corner. Calhoun is connected to Green Lake via a bypass channel of the Middle Fork Crow River and the Green Lake outlet marsh. A dam is located at the outlet on the south shore near the public access. Another dam is on the Middle Fork Crow River downstream of the bypass channel that flows into Calhoun. Water levels were slightly below normal during 2023. A DNR public access is located along the south shore. A township winter access is located on the south shore east of the outlet dam. Early ice out (early-mid march) occurred on area lakes in 2023. Dissolved oxygen was above 9.0 ppm throughout the water column during the 2023 survey. Water nutrient (total phosphorus=0.022 mg/l) results were good during July 23, 2023 (MNPCA). Water clarity (Secchi= 7 feet) was moderate on July 5, 2023. Large emergent vegetation (bulrush, cattails) stands are present along the west and south portions of the lake. Submergent vegetation species are varied and dense (northern milfoil, muskgrass, filamentous algae, water moss, various pondweed species) in Calhoun. Eurasian watermilfoil was first noted in scattered low densities of Calhoun, especially near the Middle Fork Crow River Inlet area, during 2010. Eurasian watermilfoil has been present upstream in nearby Green Lake since 2000. Zebra Mussels were first found upstream if Green Lake in the 2014 fall and are also now present in Calhoun. Shoal water substrates consist mostly of sand, silt, and gravel. Calhoun is a popular Bluegill and Northern Pike fishery but has potential for good Largemouth Bass fishing.

Largemouth Bass numbers were excellent in 2023 (11.67 fish/gillnet). Largemouth abundance was low (2.00 fish/gillnet) in 2018. The Largemouth Bass historical average catch rate was 3.56 fish/gillnet. The 2023 Largemouth Bass average size was moderate (1.14 pounds and 12.54 inches) from gillnets. The largest Largemouth Bass captured was 18.11 inches. The 2023 survey showed high numbers of quality size Largemouth Bass.

Black Crappie numbers were low in 2023 (2.0 fish/gillnet). The historical average gillnet catch was 4.32 fish/gillnet for Calhoun. The 2023 Black Crappie average size was slightly below average (0.35 pounds and 8.19 inches) from gillnets. Black Crappie growth rates were slower than average.

Northern Pike numbers were abundant in 2023 (13.33 fish/gillnet) compared to similar lakes. The Northern Pike historical average catch rate is 13.43 fish/gillnet for Callhoun. However, the 2023 Northern Pike average size was small (1.92 pounds and 19.18 inches) from gillnets compared to historical averages (2.33 pounds and 21.01 inches). The largest Northern Pike captured was 30.24 inches. Northern Pike possession limit regulations for Calhoun in the North-central Zone are as follows: 10 (Not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediately released.) by angling; 10 (only 1 Northern Pike between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or 2 over 26") by dark house spearing.

Yellow Perch numbers were moderately low in 2023 (5.00 fish/gillnet). The Yellow Perch historical average catch rate is 8.54 fish/gillnet for Calhoun. The 2023 Yellow Perch average size was moderately large (0.38 pounds and 9.14 inches) from gillnets. The Yellow Perch historical average weight is 0.20 pounds from gillnets. The largest Yellow Perch captured was 11.14 inches.

Walleye numbers were low in 2023 (1.00 fish/gillnet) compared to similar lakes and the lake average (1.53 fish/gillnet). The 2023 Walleye average size was larger (2.77 pounds and 20.17 inches) than the historical average (2.18 pounds and 17.73 inches). Walleye growth rates were average in Calhoun. The 2019 year class comprised 50% of the 2023 Walleye catch from gillnets and trapnets. The largest Walleye captured was 24.06 inches. Walleye fingerlings, yearlings and adults were stocked recently in Calhoun during 2007 (1,557 yearlings, 150 pounds), 2008 (1,998 adults and yearlings, 687 pounds), 2010 (914 adults, 168 pounds; 5,725 fingerlings, 586 pounds), 2012 (2,505 yearlings, 503 pounds; 1,331 fingerlings, 121 pounds), 2014 (80 adults, 106 pounds; 2,481 yearlings, 541 pounds; 898 fingerlings, 98 pounds) and 2017 (71 adults, 51 pounds; 10,420 fingerlings, 614 pounds), 2019 (722 adults, 487 pounds; 1698 fingerlings, 183 pounds).

Bluegill numbers were moderately abundant in 2023 (23.89 fish/trapnet) compared to similar lakes. Bluegill numbers are lower than historical average catch rate (52.78 fish/gillnet) on Calhoun. The 2023 Bluegill average size was similar (0.14 pounds and 5.40 inches) to the historic average (0.13 pounds and 5.44 inches). The number of Bluegill over 6.00 inches was low in 2023. The largest Bluegill captured was 8.19 inches.

The 2023 Black Bullhead catch rate was moderate (19.67 fish/gillnet). The Black Bullhead average size was large (0.77 pounds and 10.98 inches) in gillnets. There was a dramatic increase in Black Bullhead numbers from the 2018 survey (absent) to the 2023 survey.

Other fish species of special interest captured in 2023 included low numbers of Common Carp (0.11 fish/trapnet), moderate numbers of Pumpkinseed Sunfish (10.67 fish/gillnet), and high numbers of Yellow Bullhead (28.33 fish/gillnet). The historical average catch rates were 0.79 Common Carp/trapnet, 14.05 Pumpkinseed Sunfish/gillnet, and 19.37 Yellow Bullheads/gillnet. The 2023 average weights were 12.18 pounds, 0.18 pounds, and 0.53 pounds for Common Carp, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Bullhead respectfully.

Current fish management activities on Calhoun Lake include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, preventing and educating about the spread of invasive species, operating the outlet dam to prevent winterkill, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Calhoun fishery will be surveyed in the 2028 summer for all fish species.

What is the average air temp for Calhoun Lake?

Are there any state parks near Calhoun Lake?