Public access
Nelson Lake (Main Lake)
Pope County
Walleye lake, Northern pike lake, Bass lake, Crappie lake, Sunfish lake
Nelson Lake
Public accessStocked 2023
Nelson Lake is a 293-acre lake in Pope County, 15 feet at its deepest. The DNR last surveyed its fish in 2023. Recorded species include walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and crappie.
Details
- DNR lake ID
- 61010100
- County
- Pope
- Surface area
- 293 acres
- Maximum depth
- 15 feet
- Mean depth
- 11 feet
- Shallow water (littoral) area
- 268 acres, 91% of the lake
- Shoreline
- 4.0 miles
- Average water clarity
- 7.8 feet (Secchi disk, 2 readings)
- Nearest town (DNR)
- Terrace
- Latest DNR fish survey
- May 2023, targeted survey
- Surveys on record
- 7, since 1983
- Game fish caught in the 2023 survey
- northern pike 2
- Fish species recorded
- black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, yellow perch, and 7 other species
- Stocked in 2023
- black crappie adults (120); bluegill sunfish adults (61); largemouth bass adults (60)
- Stocked in 2022
- walleye fry (267,000)
- Stocked in 2021
- walleye fry (267,000)
- Stocking years on record
- 6 of the last 10 (2016 to 2023)
- Nelson Lake Public Water Access Site
- trailer launch, gravel ramp, 2 trailer spaces, run by DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Fish consumption
- Follow the statewide guidelines; fish from this lake have not been tested
- Size
- 100 to 499 acres
- Deepest point
- 15 to 29 feet
- Public access
- Yes
- Stocked in the last 3 years
- Yes
Sources
- Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Checked September 24, 2026 - Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites
Checked September 24, 2026
Survey catches show what DNR nets and electrofishing found on the survey date, not how the fishing is today. Check the current regulations and the Department of Health advice before you keep fish, and confirm access conditions before you tow a boat.