Nickel Lake

How big is Nickel Lake?

How deep is Nickel Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Nickel Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Nickel Lake?

Nickel is a 24-acre lake located 11 miles southeast of Ely at the end of the Spruce Road (Co Rd 16) just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The lake is shallow (10 foot max.), heavily bog-stained (secchi disk visibility = 3.5 feet) and low in productivity (Talk = 10.0 ppm). The only access is a carry-in 9-rod portage off the Spruce Road. The only inlet drains a small bog-dominated area south of the lake. The outlet, Nickel Creek, flows into Gabbro Lake in the BWCAW but is not navigable.

Nickel Lake was used as a walleye rearing pond from 1977 to 1980 however, operations were abandoned in the mid 1980s when it was obvious that stocked fish were maintaining a population in the lake. Current management consists of stocking walleye fry every third year.

During the 2010 investigation, walleye abundance (9.0/net) exceeded the lake average and was similar to typical catches from lakes in the same classification as Nickel. Walleye growth rates in Nickel Lake are slow and the catch during this investigation was dominated by small fish. Walleye ranged in length from 7.1 to 17.0 inches with an average length of 12.5 inches. The walleye catch was comprised primarily of four year-classes, all of which corresponded to years in which walleye fry were stocked. It appears as though very little natural reproduction, if any, occurs in Nickel Lake.

Other species present in the 2010 catch included white sucker and golden shiner. White sucker abundance (4.50/net) was typical for lakes in this classification. This investigation was the first to report the presence of golden shiner in the Nickel Lake.

What is the average air temp for Nickel Lake?

Are there any state parks near Nickel Lake?