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Chain of Lakes/Fishing
The Horseshoe Chain of Lakes is a series of 14 interconnected lakes formed by the Sauk
River that consists of over 2,100 acres of water. The Sauk River flows into the Chain just
south of Richmond and it flows through the lakes on its way to Cold Springs. The Sauk River
will eventually flow through St. Cloud where it meets up with the Mississippi River. The
river and lakes create the impressive and very recreationally diverse Horseshoe Chain of Lakes.
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Looking toward the east at Lakeview Resort and Horseshoe Lake in the foreground and the Northeast
lakes of the chain in the background.
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Looking towards the west with Koetter Lake, Cedar Island Lake and East Lake in the foreground and
Horseshoe and Becker Lakes in the background.
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Water Activities
There are many activities that are enjoyed on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes. The variety of
activities shows the diverse water conditions that are found on the Chain. By looking at the map,
you can see that there are large lakes and long waterways for tubing; islands, bays, and river
conditions good for a variety of fish habitats; and quiet waterways and inlets for kayaking while
observing wildlife. With the Chain being so large, all of these diverse activities can co-exist
without disturbing one another.
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The following are activities that are allowed and enjoyed on the Chain:
- Pontooning/boating (no motor size or speed restrictions except the few “no-wake” zones)
- tubing, wake boarding, water skiing
- jet skiing
- canoeing and kayaking (see below for more information)
- fishing
Fishing
The many islands, land points and bays sheltered by wooded rolling hills provide good fishing
opportunities in most weather conditions. The Chain provides excellent habitat for a variety of
crappies, panfish, walleye, northern, small and largemouth bass, and channel cat. The variety
and abundance of the fish population provides a perfect setting several fishing tournaments that
occur through the summer on the Chain.
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#2 Horseshoe Lake
Surface water area: 550 acres
Shoreline length: 10.7 miles
Maximum depth: 57 feet
Secchi disk: 4.5 feet
Fish: Channel catfish, smallmouth bass, bullheads, bluegill, walleye, and northern pike
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#3 Long Lake
Surface water area: 460 acres
Maximum depth: 35 feet
Secchi disk: 2.5 feet
Fish: Black crappie, bluegill, walleye, yellow perch, and northern pike
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#5 Cedar Island Lake
Surface water area: 998 acres
Shoreline length: 19.9 miles
Maximum depth: 75 feet
Secchi disk: 3 feet
Fish: Black crappie, bluegill, walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, and largemouth
bass, with pike and walleye above expected levels.
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#8 Great Northern Lake
Surface water area: 356 acres
Maximum depth: 19 feet
Secchi disk: 2 feet
Fish: Black crappies, walleye, northern pike, channel catfish, and largemouth bass
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The above information on the select lakes is only a portion of what the Chain has to
offer fishing enthusiasts.
The resort’s existing cliental have been returning to the resort, some for decades,
because of the excellent fishing conditions of the Chain. The Sauk River current flows
in front of Lakeview Resort’s docks as it winds its way under the Hwy 22 bridge through
the Chain. Many of the cabin guests that bring their boats to fish, can be found relaxing
on the docks with a pole in the water catching the next day’s meal.
Lakeview Resort offers boat rentals, aluminum fishing boats and pontoons and tackle
and bait. We carry wax worms, angle worms, night crawlers, leeches, crappie minnows,
fatheads, and Pike minnows. We also have an excellent fish cleaning house complete
with a cooler for those that choose to chill their day’s catch before they clean it.
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Canoe / Kayaking
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The 14 lake Chain has much to offer. The most obvious activities are fishing and water
recreation. However, there is also 35 miles of a 93 mile canoe route that flows through
the Chain. The entire 93+ miles route runs the length of the Sauk River from Lake Osakis
to where the Sauk River flows into the Mississippi River. For information go to the
Stearns County Parks and Recreation website.
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Use your left mouse button to zoom in and the right mouse button to zoom out.
Move the mouse from left to right and up or down to pan the map.
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