Norway Lake

How big is Norway Lake?

How deep is Norway Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Norway Lake?

What are the closest cities to Norway Lake?

Are there topographical lake maps available Norway Lake?

We have an topograpical map for online viewing near the top of this page. Lake-Link Pro users can download an print a topograpical map of Norway Lake (.pdf format) along with 2,700 more lake maps. For more information on all the benefits of Lake-Link Pro click here.

Norway Lake

Are there boat launches on Norway Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Norway Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Norway Lake?

A targeted survey was conducted for young of year "YOY" (fingerling sized) Walleye on September 20, 2023. Five stations were sampled for a total of 35 minutes in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. Moderate submergent vegetation densities (Eurasian watermilfoil) were present in the main basin during the 2023 fall electrofishing survey. Clarity was poor (6-12 inches) with a water temperature of 73 F. Blue-green algae bloom was moderate in the West Basin. We observed abundant numbers of Bluegill, Freshwater Drum and Largemouth Bass. Moderate numbers of Yellow Perch, shiners, Common Carp and Black Crappie were also observed in the 2023 fall electrofishing survey. 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).

Norway is a large sized (2,339 acres), moderately deep (33 feet maximum depth), multi basin (West Norway, Big Norway, Little Norway), and productive lake located in Kandiyohi County. West Norway basin (approximately 1,300 acres) is a shallow (<10 feet deep), turbid, and windswept basin with high nutrient levels and limited submergent vegetation. Little Norway basin (150 acres) is a protected and shallow (<10 feet deep) basin with abundant aquatic vegetation. The Big Norway basin (approximately 900 acres) is 33 feet deep maximum with moderate aquatic vegetation densities and moderate water clarity. Water levels were low in 2020-2022. Eurasian watermilfoil was found scattered throughout the West Norway basin in August of 2001 and in the Big Norway basin during 2005. Eurasian watermilfoil is also present in downstream lakes of Games (2014), Andrew (2019) and Florida (2009). Zebra Mussels were found in Norway, Games and Andrew in 2018. Shoalwater substrates consist mostly of sand, silt, gravel, rubble, and boulder in Norway.

Walleye natural reproduction occurs in Norway but is sporadic based on previous surveys. Spicer Strain Walleye fry were recently stocked in Norway during 2012 (1,568,599 fry), 2016 (885,643 Oxytetracycline "OTC" marked fry), 2018 (1,132,151 fry), 2022 (861,474 fry) and 2023 (504,179 fry). OTC marked fry were also stocked in 2009 (2,152,425 fish). OTC marked Walleye frylings were stocked in 2011 (16,779 frylings) and 2014 (33,373 frylings). OTC marked fish accounted for 0%, 42% and 67% respectively of the 2011, 2014 and 2016 fall electrofishing YOY Walleye catch rates. A combination of Walleye fingerlings, adults and yearlings have been stocked in 2008 (85,235 fingerlings, 1,864 pounds), 2009 (11,651 yearlings, 987 pounds; 318 fingerlings, 91 pounds; 360 adults, 287 pounds), 2011 (15,477 fingerlings, 737 pounds; 1,400 yearlings, 200 pounds; 3 adults, 6 pounds), 2012 (16,842 yearlings, 802 pounds) and 2020 (959 yearlings, 442 pounds).

YOY Walleye numbers were moderate (37.71 YOY/hour, 6.15 inches) in the 2023 fall night electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye numbers were abundant (133.20 YOY/hour, 5.82 inches) in the 2022 fall electrofishing survey. YOY Walleye numbers in fall electrofishing surveys were abundant in 2010 (72.00 YOY/hour,) and 2016 (94.00 YOY/hour); moderate in 2012 (32.00 YOY/hour), 2014 (50.00 YOY/hour) and 2018 (56.40 YOY/hour); low in 2011 (14.00 YOY/hour), 2013 (4.00 YOY/hour), 2015 (16.00 YOY/hour) and 2019 (4.00 YOY/hour). No fall electrofishing surveys were conducted in 2017 or 2020. The Norway YOY Walleye historical average catch rate and length are 31.84 YOY/hour and 6.68 inches respectively. Yearling Walleye numbers were moderately abundant (14.00-22.00 fish/hour) in 2010-2012 and 2014, but low in 2013 (0.00 fish/hour), 2019 (4.00 fish/hour), and 2022 (6.00 fish/hour, 11.23 inches) fall electrofishing surveys. Yearling Walleye numbers were abundant (18.86 fish/hour, 10.85 inches) in 2023.

Walleye numbers were abundant in the most recent 2019 standard survey (12.67 fish/gillnet). The Walleye historical average catch rate is 7.33 fish/gillnet. The 2019 Walleye average size was moderate (1.26 pounds and 14.98 inches) from gillnets. The 2019 catch rate of quality size (15.00 inches plus) Walleye was also high (6.83 fish/gillnet) for Norway. Walleye growth rates were fair. The 2016 and 2015 Walleye year classes comprised 35% and 17% respectively of the 2019 Walleye gillnet and trapnet catch.

Current fish management activities on Norway include monitoring the fish population on a periodic basis, monitoring and preventing the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil in connected waters, assisting aquatic plant management and enforcement personnel in educating boaters and monitoring access sites for other potential invasive species introductions, protecting aquatic vegetation through the permit process, participating in the Shakopee Creek Watershed Project, operating the Engen Northern Pike Spawning Area, and stocking various fish species as warranted. The Norway fishery will be sampled in the 2024 summer for all fish species and 2024 for YOY Walleye.

What is the average air temp for Norway Lake?

Are there any state parks near Norway Lake?