Devilfish Lake

How big is Devilfish Lake?

How deep is Devilfish Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Devilfish Lake?

Are there boat launches on Devilfish Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Devilfish Lake?

What aquatic invasive species are found in Devilfish Lake?

Devilfish Lake is located about 20 miles northeast of the City of Grand Marais. There is a concrete public access located within the Devilfish Lake State Forest Campground. Devilfish Lake is an Ecological Class 6 lake, which is characterized as deep, with moderate littoral coverage, very irregular shorelines, and very soft bog-stained water.

Walleye has been the primary management species in Devilfish Lake since 1981. Walleye fry were stocked regularly through 2010. The 2016 survey of Devilfish Lake was the second of two scheduled in the 2010 lake management plan to determine if the Walleye goals for the lake could be met in the absence of additional stocking. The long-term goal for Walleye in Devilfish Lake is to maintain a population with a minimum gill net catch of 4.0 fish/net. The current plan will be revised in 2018 based on the results of the 2012 and 2016 surveys.

The 2016 Walleye gill net catch was the lowest recorded for Devilfish Lake since 1982, and was also low compared to other Class 6 lakes in the area. The 2016 catch failed to meet the long-range goal for the Walleye population for the second consecutive assessment. The mean weight of Walleye sampled in gill nets was the highest observed for this lake, which was the result of a near complete absence of small Walleye, and the collection of a few large individuals. Natural reproduction appeared to have been poor in recent years; only one fish younger than five years of age was sampled, and no young-of-year fish were taken in quarter-inch trap nets. Most of the Walleye collected in 2016 were between five and ten years old, indicating natural reproduction was more consistent in Devilfish Lake prior to 2012. The 2011, 2009, and 2008 year classes, which were not supplemented by fry stocking, accounted for about 50 percent of the sample in 2016. Several year classes supplemented by fry stocking were also represented in the 2016 survey, with the 2010 year class appearing the strongest. Walleye growth remained slow in Devilfish Lake; fish reached an average length of just 12.3 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area mean of 14.6 inches. Although slow growing, Walleye in Devilfish Lake have the potential to reach large sizes; Walleye up to 28.5 inches long and 17 years old were sampled in 2016.

Smallmouth Bass were first documented in Devilfish Lake in 2008, and have been increasing in abundance since that time. The 2016 gill net and 0.75-inch-mesh trap net catches were well above average for Class 6 lakes, and were the highest seen to date in this lake. Smallmouth Bass ranged in size from 5.5 to 15.8 inches, with six consecutive year classes represented in the catch. A majority of the Smallmouth Bass sampled in 2016 were four or five year old fish. Growth of these fish had been slow; by the end of their fourth year fish reached a mean length of 8.6 inches, compared to an area average of 10.2 inches. Smallmouth Bass are considered an undesirable species for Devilfish Lake due to the additional competition they impose on Walleye for limited forage.

The White Sucker gill net catch in 2016 fell within the normal range for Class 6 lakes, and was similar to past catches in Devilfish Lake. A majority of the White Sucker sampled were too large to serve as forage for Walleye.

Yellow Perch, another species that was introduced illegally into Devilfish Lake in the early 1980s, have been sampled periodically since 1989. None were found in 2016. Quarter-inch-mesh trap nets are usually effective gear for sampling this species, and the failure to capture any in 2016 suggests their abundance remains very low.

No other fish species were sampled in 2016. Rainbow Smelt and Lake Trout were at one time present in Devilfish Lake, but neither species has been observed since the 1980s. Additional species found in past surveys of Devilfish Lake include Creek Chub and Central Mudminnow. Migrant Brook Trout from Portage Brook, the lake's outlet, have been observed on occasion in Devilfish Lake.

Spiny Waterflea, a prohibited aquatic invasive species, were found in Devilfish Lake in 2016, and the lake is now considered an infested water. Anglers and boaters are reminded to review the recommended actions for cleaning watercraft and gear before and after accessing any waterbody, and to adhere to all Minnesota aquatic invasive species laws to protect Minnesota lakes and rivers from additional infestations.

Are there any state parks near Devilfish Lake?