Lake Polly

How big is Lake Polly?

How deep is Lake Polly?

What kind of fish can you catch in Lake Polly?

Are there places to eat and drink near Lake Polly?

Polly Lake has an area of 485 acres with a maximum depth of 21 feet and has brown tinted water with clarity around 7 feet. The lake is located within the BWCAW about 23 miles northeast of Isabella, and is a part of a popular canoe route called the Girl Chain. There are three portage routes into the lake. An 85 rod portage from Townline Lake to the south end of the lake, a 104 rod portage from Phoebe River to the southeast corner of the lake, and a 19 rod portage from Kawishiwi River to the north end of the lake. The Pagami Fire of 2011 burned to the south and west of Polly Lake and affected the watershed of the lake, but only a very small portion of the southern shoreline burned during the fire.

The 2016 Walleye gill net catch in 9 sets was 6.1/net, which is average compared to similar lakes in the area. The average weight of 1 pound per fish is slightly small compared to similar lakes. The largest fish sampled was 24.4 inches long and weighed 5.1 pounds. Nine different year classes were sampled and the growth rate of Walleye is average for the Finland Area.

The Northern Pike catch of 1.1/net is considered below average relative to similar lakes. The average weight of 1.7 pounds per fish is average for the area. The largest fish sampled was 35.3 inches long and weighed 7.8 pounds. Five year classes were sampled and the growth rate was average by Finland Area standards.

Smallmouth Bass catch of 1.1/net is below average relative to similar lakes. The average weight of 1.6 pounds per fish is average. The largest fish sampled was 16.2 inches long and weighed 2.4 pounds. Only two year classes were sampled and growth is average for the Finland Area. Smallmouth Bass were first sampled in Polly Lake in 2002, with both the catch rate and average size increasing in 2016. Bass generally do not sample well in nets, and with a sample of just 10 fish, it may not give an accurate picture of the population that is currently in the lake.

Yellow Perch catch was 2.8/net, average for the lake class. The average weight of 0.2 pounds is slightly above average relative to similar lakes. The largest fish sampled was 9.6 inches long and weighed almost half a pound. Growth of Yellow Perch is slow for the Finland Area.

White Suckers were caught at above average numbers and average size, while Rock Bass were sampled in average numbers and size for similar lakes. Seining and minnow traps also sampled Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Blacknose Shiner and Common Shiner.

What is the average air temp for Lake Polly?