Buchanan

Otter Tail County, Minnesota — DOW #56020900

146 Surveys

Invasive Species Alert

Buchanan has confirmed populations of:

zebra mussel

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

963.59

Acres

42 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Buchanan. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.7 (below normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.78 lb	8
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	2.7 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.09 lb	16
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.1 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.97 lb	1
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.5 – 58.0	1.17 lb	10
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	3.4 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.02 lb	31
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.4 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	2.06 lb	5
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	0.1 (below normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.92 lb	1
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	10.5 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	1.31 lb	63

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	1.00 lb	1
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.60 lb	5
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.97 lb	2
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	1.07 lb	3
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	4.2 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	1.28 lb	38
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.8 – 7.0	1.83 lb	3
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	1.51 lb	3
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	0.4 (below normal)	0.8 – 7.0	1.14 lb	5
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.85 lb	2
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	5.7 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	1.39 lb	34

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.5 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.11 lb	18
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	22.8 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.12 lb	137
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	4.3 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.14 lb	39
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.13 lb	3
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	31.6 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.10 lb	284
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.14 lb	2
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.10 lb	15
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.07 lb	16
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.24 lb	6
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	11.7 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.15 lb	140
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.15 lb	2
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	3.7 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.09 lb	22

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.93 lb	15
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	3.3 (normal)	1.0 – 7.1	1.27 lb	39
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	14.7 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.78 lb	132
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	7.6 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.75 lb	68
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	7.9 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.72 lb	71
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	10.1 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.83 lb	121
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	43.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.73 lb	519
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	18.9 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.66 lb	227
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	16.0 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.80 lb	192
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	7.9 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.84 lb	79
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	24.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.87 lb	292
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	16.6 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.80 lb	183
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	26.2 (above normal)	0.5 – 5.0	0.79 lb	157
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	11.8 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.1	0.76 lb	141

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	14.0 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.58 lb	84
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	1.09 lb	8
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	10.2 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.48 lb	92
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	1.6	—	1.86 lb	14
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	7.8 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.91 lb	70
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	12.1 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.95 lb	145
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	1.88 lb	7
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	11.2 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.50 lb	134
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	1.66 lb	4
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	11.7 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.85 lb	140
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	1.53 lb	8
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	9.7 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.53 lb	58
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	1.46 lb	5

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	10.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	1.01 lb	60
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	2.7 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	3.85 lb	24
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	6.9 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	1.48 lb	62
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	2.27 lb	4
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	4.9 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	3.72 lb	59
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	6.06 lb	4
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.9 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.97 lb	23
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.8	3.20 lb	1
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	4.2 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.19 lb	50
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.8	6.69 lb	1
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	8.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.15 lb	48

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.25 lb	1
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.25 lb	2
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.7 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.51 lb	15
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	1.1 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	1.52 lb	10
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	0.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.07 lb	7
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.42 lb	6
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.25 lb	18
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.57 lb	6
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.26 lb	6
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	1.18 lb	5
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.39 lb	1
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.54 lb	7
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	1.5 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.6	1.32 lb	9
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	2.1 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.74 lb	25

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	2.8	—	0.21 lb	17
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	12.4 (above normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.30 lb	149
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.1	—	0.22 lb	10
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	6.7 (above normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.26 lb	60
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	8.0	—	0.19 lb	72
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	18.7 (above normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.21 lb	224
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	6.3	—	0.14 lb	75
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	7.0 (above normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.17 lb	84
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	2.9	—	0.16 lb	35
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	8.5 (above normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.23 lb	85
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	1.8	—	0.23 lb	21
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	1.6 (normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.21 lb	18
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	8.5	—	0.22 lb	51
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	6.1 (normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.17 lb	73

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	1.2 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.86 lb	7
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 1.2	4.50 lb	1
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.7 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.76 lb	6
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	2.9 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.52 lb	26
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.6 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.91 lb	7
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.3	3.86 lb	3
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.78 lb	15
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.5 – 2.3	3.01 lb	12

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard gill nets	1.8 (normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.39 lb	11
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.5 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.39 lb	18
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.9 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.30 lb	8
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	5.1 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.27 lb	46
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	1.3 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.23 lb	12
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	1.9 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.27 lb	23
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.20 lb	18
2008-07-07	Special trap nets	2.0	—	0.62 lb	24
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	1.7 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.22 lb	20
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.39 lb	10
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	1.3 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.26 lb	13
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	1.0 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.39 lb	12
1999-07-12	Special trap nets	2.5	—	0.47 lb	69
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	2.7 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.46 lb	30
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	1.8 (normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.29 lb	11
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	2.7 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.10 lb	32

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1981-06-08	Standard trap nets	1.5 (below normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.42 lb	18
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	15.7	—	0.17 lb	141
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	100.1 (above normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.05 lb	901
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	15.8	—	0.16 lb	142
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	146.6 (above normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.15 lb	1759
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	10.9	—	0.13 lb	131
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	55.2 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.07 lb	662
2004-07-07	Standard gill nets	2.4	—	0.11 lb	29
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	34.4 (normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.10 lb	344
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	18.6	—	0.17 lb	223
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	68.8 (above normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.07 lb	757
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	27.8	—	0.17 lb	167
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	102.2 (above normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.16 lb	1226

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2014-07-07	Standard gill nets	3.8	—	0.45 lb	34
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	3.2	—	0.40 lb	29
1987-07-08	Standard gill nets	14.6	—	0.24 lb	131
1987-07-08	Standard trap nets	38.6	—	0.24 lb	463
2008-07-07	Standard gill nets	2.1	—	0.32 lb	25
2008-07-07	Standard trap nets	1.2	—	0.26 lb	14
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	0.26 lb	7
1999-07-12	Standard gill nets	0.1	—	0.32 lb	1
1999-07-12	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.43 lb	1
1991-07-08	Standard gill nets	5.0	—	0.24 lb	30
1991-07-08	Standard trap nets	7.8	—	0.25 lb	93

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2014-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.78 lb	1
2004-07-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.49 lb	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

265th St. RV & Boat Storage

Henning, MN

(218) 210-8874

★ 4.8

Advanced Docks & Lifts

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 495-2811

★ 4.3

Aqua Marine & Storage

Dent, MN

(218) 457-2325

★ 4.9

Ark & Spark

Underwood, MN

(218) 864-5969

★ 4.6

Battle Lake Boat Works

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 864-5567

★ 3.8

Delagoon Park

Fergus Falls, MN

★ 4.4

Resorts & Lodges Near Buchanan

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Buchanan.

Legacy Lakeside Resort & Event Center

Fishing Resort Clitherall

(218) 321-3150

MN Tru North

Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 346-5253

Paul Lake Resort

Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 234-9001

Shoreside at Rush

Fishing Resort Ottertail

(218) 234-2319

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Buchanan. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Crappie Bluegill Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed Yellow Bullhead Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Buchanan

Gene's Sport Shop

Fishing Guide

(218) 346-3355

Lock Jaw Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 640-0158

Minnesota Experience

Fishing Guide

(218) 770-8032

North Country Bowfishing

Fishing Guide

Pit Properties LLC

Fishing Guide

(218) 205-5358

RED HOOKS FISHING ADVENTURES

Red Hooks Fishing Adventures

Fishing Guide

(218) 370-9006

View all 8 guides →

Other Lakes in Otter Tail County

Plan Your Trip to Buchanan

Weather forecast for Buchanan — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 46.4495°N, 95.5554°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Buchanan

Invasive Species Alert

DNR Fish Surveys

Black Bullhead

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Yellow Bullhead

Northern Pike

Walleye

Largemouth Bass

Pumpkinseed

White Sucker

Black Crappie

Bluegill

Hybrid Sunfish

Rock Bass

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Ben's Bait Shop

Carr's Lake Country Super Market

Dunham's Sports

Elizabeth General Store

Flagman Products

JK-Outdoors

Lakeland General Store

Lakes Community Coop - Ottertail Oasis

Nearby Marinas

265th St. RV & Boat Storage

Advanced Docks & Lifts

Aqua Marine & Storage

Ark & Spark

Battle Lake Boat Works

Delagoon Park

Resorts & Lodges Near Buchanan

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Buchanan

Other Lakes in Otter Tail County

Adley

Alice

Anderson

Anna

Annie Battle

Bass

Plan Your Trip to Buchanan