Thornton

Aitkin County, Minnesota — DOW #01017400

85 Surveys

161.3

Acres

21 ft

Max Depth

7 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.4 (below normal)	1.1 – 17.4	0.38 lb	2
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.1 – 17.4	0.35 lb	2
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	2.8 (normal)	1.9 – 57.5	0.38 lb	11
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.1 – 17.4	0.53 lb	3
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	1.5 (below normal)	1.9 – 57.5	0.49 lb	6

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	15.4 (above normal)	1.5 – 9.8	0.14 lb	77
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	38.5 (above normal)	1.5 – 9.9	0.14 lb	77
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	3.2 (normal)	1.5 – 9.8	0.36 lb	29
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	1.5 – 9.9	0.30 lb	10
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.5 – 9.8	0.42 lb	3
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.5 – 9.9	0.57 lb	2

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.4 (below normal)	0.8 – 4.5	0.25 lb	2
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	1.0 (below normal)	8.0 – 40.3	0.20 lb	2
1994-08-01	Survey seining	0.3	—	—	1
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	8.0 – 40.3	0.08 lb	1
1999-08-02	Survey seining	0.3	—	0.05 lb	1

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	0.6 – 5.0	0.10 lb	1
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	2.4 (normal)	1.8 – 7.2	0.31 lb	12
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	2.5 (normal)	0.6 – 5.0	0.24 lb	10
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	3.3 (normal)	1.8 – 7.2	0.47 lb	30
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	15.5 (above normal)	0.6 – 5.0	0.45 lb	62
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	7.4 (above normal)	1.8 – 7.2	0.61 lb	67
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	13.8 (above normal)	0.6 – 5.0	0.38 lb	55
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	4.2 (normal)	1.8 – 7.2	0.75 lb	38

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	3.0 (below normal)	4.6 – 11.6	1.62 lb	6
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	1.58 lb	3
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	14.0 (above normal)	4.6 – 11.6	1.40 lb	56
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	2.1	—	1.18 lb	19
1994-08-01	Survey seining	0.3	—	—	1
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	8.3 (normal)	4.6 – 11.6	2.30 lb	33
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	2.12 lb	5
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	10.3 (normal)	4.6 – 11.6	1.51 lb	41
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	1.85 lb	3

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	3.0	—	0.27 lb	6
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	24.8 (normal)	2.5 – 25.0	0.11 lb	124
1994-08-01	Survey seining	25.0	—	—	75
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	25.3	—	0.08 lb	101
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	52.6 (above normal)	2.5 – 25.0	0.06 lb	473
1999-08-02	Survey seining	15.3	—	0.05 lb	61
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	17.3	—	0.07 lb	69
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	27.7 (above normal)	2.5 – 25.0	0.07 lb	249
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	4.9 (normal)	2.5 – 25.0	0.07 lb	44
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	5.3	—	0.08 lb	21

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	2.0	—	0.10 lb	4
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	12.0 (above normal)	1.4 – 8.6	0.07 lb	60
1994-08-01	Survey seining	1.3	—	—	4
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	1.8	—	0.06 lb	7
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	4.6 (normal)	1.4 – 8.6	0.11 lb	41
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.09 lb	3
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.6 (below normal)	1.4 – 8.6	0.13 lb	5
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	0.5	—	0.03 lb	2
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	1.4 – 8.6	0.05 lb	1

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	1.0 – 5.5	1.17 lb	3
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.4 – 1.5	1.56 lb	4
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.0 – 5.5	2.48 lb	1
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.5	2.48 lb	1
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	1.0 – 5.5	3.25 lb	1
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.4 – 1.5	2.81 lb	2

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard gill nets	37.0 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.3	0.13 lb	74
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	2.6 (normal)	0.8 – 6.5	0.15 lb	13
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	3.8 (normal)	1.0 – 7.3	0.61 lb	15
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.6 (below normal)	0.8 – 6.5	0.48 lb	5
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	8.8 (above normal)	1.0 – 7.3	0.14 lb	35
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.9 (normal)	0.8 – 6.5	0.27 lb	8
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	1.0 – 7.3	0.44 lb	6
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.8 – 6.5	0.49 lb	1

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.50 lb	1
1994-08-01	Survey seining	9.7	—	—	29
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.3	1.60 lb	5
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	1.17 lb	7
1999-08-02	Survey seining	3.3	—	—	13
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	4.5 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.3	1.23 lb	18
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	1.31 lb	7
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	0.4 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	2.16 lb	4
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	2.5 (above normal)	0.3 – 1.3	1.45 lb	10

Bowfin

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-08-06	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.5 – 1.7	3.08 lb	3

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1994-08-01	Survey seining	2.3	—	—	7
1994-08-01	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	0.04 lb	1
1994-08-01	Standard trap nets	2.8	—	0.12 lb	25
1999-08-02	Survey seining	0.3	—	0.14 lb	1
1999-08-02	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.12 lb	3
1999-08-02	Standard trap nets	5.2	—	0.22 lb	47
2009-08-10	Standard trap nets	2.8	—	0.26 lb	25
2009-08-10	Standard gill nets	0.8	—	0.35 lb	3

Iowa Darter

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1994-08-01	Survey seining	0.7	—	2

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

McGregor, MN

(218) 429-2108

★ 5

Aitkin Rental

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6907

★ 4.5

Farm Island Repair and Marine

Aitkin, MN

(218) 927-6395

★ 4.7

FLOE International

McGregor, MN

(800) 336-6337

★ 4.8

Horseshoelakestorage.net

McGregor, MN

(218) 670-0063

★ 5

Libby Marine

McGregor, MN

(218) 994-9245

Resorts & Lodges Near Thornton

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Thornton.

Big Sandy Lake Cabin Rental

Fishing Resort McGregor

(612) 735-9455

McGregor Cabin Rentals

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 839-7545

Loaf N Leisure Resort and RV Park

Fishing Resort Aitkin

(218) 234-2882

Ole's Resort

Fishing Resort McGregor

(218) 426-3487

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

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

Fishing Guides Near Thornton

Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

(651) 271-8600

Mille Lacs Lake Guiding

Fishing Guide

(763) 238-7507

North Mille Lacs Ice Fishing

Fishing Guide

(218) 670-5012

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Plan Your Trip to Thornton

Weather forecast for Thornton — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 46.4550°N, 93.7977°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.

Thornton

DNR Fish Surveys

Black Bullhead

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Yellow Bullhead

Northern Pike

Bluegill

Pumpkinseed

White Sucker

Black Crappie

Largemouth Bass

Bowfin

Hybrid Sunfish

Iowa Darter

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Aitkin Backwoods Farm Supply LLC

Bill's Sportsmans Service

Farm Island Store

Farm Island Store & Off Sale

Glen Store

McGregor Oil

Sather's Gateway Store

Sue’s Bait shop

Nearby Marinas

3K StorageMN on Lake Minnewawa

Aitkin Rental

Farm Island Repair and Marine

FLOE International

Horseshoelakestorage.net

Libby Marine

Resorts & Lodges Near Thornton

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Thornton

Other Lakes in Aitkin County

Aitkin

Anderson

Bachelor

Ball Bluff

Bass

Bay

Plan Your Trip to Thornton