Holland Lake in Eagan

[Quetico]

Has anyone been fishing on Eagan's Holland Lake this winter? It used to be one of the best spot's in the south Metro for Crappies and Northerns. Too bad people fished it out. Has the lake come back yet?

[Av8er]

Walked down to the lake today...but was on my way to different lake to fish. I am new to this side of the metro and would like to try Holland more. I have all my own gear but not a fishing partner, besides my wife, and my father who lives an hour away. If its warm I can sit on the ice but I like using my 2-3 man portable, which itself almost dictates that two people load/unload and take turns hauling. Id like to try and fish this lake a bunch this winter. I will post how I do. Anybody have any suggestions as I am new to the lake.

[Quetico]

I havent fished it in almost 10 years. The bait guy said its a dead sea. Yesterday there were 4 permanents out there. They all were generally where I used to fish. Back in '96 to '98 you could go 10 yards off cliff road and limit out on 9-12" crappies at noon in less than an hour.

I will let you know when I get a chance to head out there. Its worth a try.

[fisherman-andy]

I have fished this lake since 1989. DNR or City of Eagan no longer stocks the lake with any other fish besides trout. It has been like that for a very long time now. The main attraction is mainly potatoe chip sunnies, trout and occasional Pike. What ever game fish are left are probably reproducing successfully over the years while others diminish. Over harvesting has hurt natural reproduction of previous fish species especially Pike which luckily is still present in the lake but in fewer numbers.

It used to be an excellent Bass, panfish lake before the trout. But to manage the trout they stop stocking other fish species. So don't count on seeing the good old fishing days. They are long now gone without possible return as long as the trout are still there.

The DNR still does stock panfish & bass in other lakes or ponds in Eagan or nearby neighboring city lakes. Give them a try instead if your looking for panfish or crappies.

[MuskieJunkie]

Potato chip sunnies is all you will find out there. I guess there are some pike but they are tough to get.

I think the permenents out there are spear houses.

I drove by on the trout opener and there were about 30 people out there.

[shooter_mcgavin]

 Originally Posted By: Quetico

Too bad people fished it out. Has the lake come back yet?

 Quote:

Back in '96 to '98 you could go 10 yards off cliff road and limit out on 9-12" crappies at noon in less than an hour.

Wouldn't take too many limits of 9-12" crappies to fish it out. It's only 32 acres......

[borg0196]

Its a very small lake for acreage but currently its about 65ft deep. The DNR has stopped stocking it for the most part, until they can get some funding for an aeration system. That and when they do stock it, its fished out immediately. It does still have a couple of large northers, I have caught two 30" and released them (doesn't mean somebody else hasn't kept them). As far as the permanent houses, those are spear houses as far as I know. Technically the park has rules against keeping a house on the lake overnight, but they haven't been ticketed, yet. I fish many of the lakes within that park, I work there so I am right there before and after work to go out. Stop in the visitor center sometime, and I can point you in a good direction.

[Quetico]

Does a spring feed lake really need an aeration system? I know the DNR maps a bad for that lake. I've marked spots that are over 80' on the vex.

[feverpetal]

I've fished this lake many times in the summer and have never caught anything other than the consolation prize sunny just to say I didn't get skunked. I go for the trout, but I've attempted Northern to no avail. The way I see it, Holland is one of a handful of metro lakes that are "deep enough" for stocked stream trout, and while you could say that being spring-fed makes it needless to install an aerator, every extra fish that can be supported by such a system means more chances to catch fish. And because trout stamps are an extra charge beyond a normal fishing license, the more places in the metro that have trout, the more stamps that should be sold, in theory. While I'm not sure if it's in the best interests of the lake for what it could be, it's probably in the best interests of what the lake "should be", which the DNR seems to feel is a trout lake.

[Duffman]

The DNR wired up for the aeration system at my folks old place the year they first started stocking trout. Then they did nothing more towards that project. I'm not sure the junction box is still there or not, or if it was torn down with the house. Deepest part of the lake is 65'.

I've never seen much of a winter kill there, but in the summer the oxy levels must get low in the cooler depths where the trout and bigger pike prefer to roam, hence you get floaters. I found a pike still barely alive once while canoeing around checking out the dozens of dead 4 lb. Brownies. It was the skinniest pike I've ever seen, but I weighed it and it was 14 lbs. It might of gone 20 lbs if it was a healthy fat fish. I tried my best to revive it, but she was to far gone. This was at least ten years ago.

[borg0196]

It was 65 feet, but the hot summer helped lower it. The system would be for the summer oxygen levels, winter is not a problem. I think they might have ripped up the box when they removed the house. The DNR didn't have the funding necessary to complete the system. I know they were able to do it on some other lakes in the area due to some donations for those specific lakes.

[borg0196]

It should be back up to around 65 now.

[Quetico]

Anyone been out there recently? Heard some reports from varying sources. May head out there Friday after my early morning meeting.

[borg0196]

The oxygen is getting really low in the lake, so the fish aren't biting as good.

[borg0196]

DNR might restock again after winter, they are also talking about restocking nearby Schulze lake later on. Schulze has been really slow going this winter.

[crappiefisher26]

The fishing at Holland isnt what it used to be. It used to be a great lake for crappies, pike, as well as stream trout. It has had a lot of pressure the past few years. How have you done out there this year? I might be headin out there this weekend.

[kingspade651]

I wish the DNR could put special restrictions on those lakes, cuz i've fished them a few times, and the amount of pressure over the years is rising dramatically, just like any other lake. If people would practice C&R and selective harvest, this wouldnt be such a problem

[Quetico]

Yeah Holland had its hay days. I never kept anything fro there but the occasional northern. I loved going out there and catching slaps too much to keep them.

I might be out there this weekend just to check out the out honey hole.

[borg0196]

If you would call the DNR and let them know how you feel about the fishing pressure, it would help out a lot. They don't know unless we tell them. I have been in contact with a couple of DNR guys, but the more people they hear it from the better.

[Black_Bay]

I'm curious, what would the DNR do about the fishing pressure?

[bwally]

slot limits,C and R regulations, stock more fish

[bwally]

duuuhhhh....

[MuskieJunkie]

 Originally Posted By: bwally

duuuhhhh....

That was un-called for. The DNR is not going to put slot limits on Holland lake no matter how many calls they get.

[bwally]

probably true. they should have put it on the northerns in there a few years back. maybe some of the pannies wouldnt be so small. i was just being a smart ace like the other guy.

[bwally]

but yeah, it was uncalled for. maybe

[borg0196]

Nothing about the pressure, but they would stock the lake more often. Perhaps some cr restrictions? to help keep the bigger fish in the lake.

[borg0196]

I have no problem with the fishing pressure on the lake, its those that decide to keep the few big fish that are in the lake. Its not a big lake, none of the lakes in the park are big. With every big fish that is taken, that really hurts those lakes. The DNR said they would have no problem restocking many of the lakes in the park, if there is a demand for it. So letting them know is how they find out what the demand in the area is.

[FishOn!]

In my opinion a lake isnt "dead" just because everyone with an auger, pole and "vexilar", isnt catching lots of fish. Believe me, there are plenty of fish in that lake. Trout arent stupid, and they generally cruise right under the ice. They see, and hear and feel vibrations, and avoid those obstacles. ...just trying to shed some "positive" light on the lake.

[Black_Bay]

 Originally Posted By: bwally

probably true. they should have put it on the northerns in there a few years back. maybe some of the pannies wouldnt be so small. i was just being a smart ace like the other guy.

I wasn't being a smart ace. I asked what the DNR would do about the fishing pressure. You answered "slot limits,C and R regulations, stock more fish". Those will not reduce the fishing pressure. The only thing that would reduce the fishing presure is to limit access to the lake, and that is up to Dakota Parks to do.

[fisherman-andy]

 Originally Posted By: FishOn!

In my opinion a lake isnt "dead" just because everyone with an auger, pole and "vexilar", isnt catching lots of fish. Believe me, there are plenty of fish in that lake. Trout arent stupid, and they generally cruise right under the ice. They see, and hear and feel vibrations, and avoid those obstacles. ...just trying to shed some "positive" light on the lake.

Yes there are still fish in that lake, what we are saying is the fish that use to populate that lake is down and not what it used to be. There aren't any shortage of trout as it is stocked yearly with it. I guess most guys on here were reminincing about the past days of nice bass, pike & pannies that use to be in there. Now it mostly potato chip sunnies and occasional trout.

If you fish the lake hard enough you will catch some fish. Just don't expect it to be more than what it is or your may be dissapointed. Anyhow there are much better angling opportunities on other lakes in the Dakota County areas.