Windy Lake

How big is Windy Lake?

How deep is Windy Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Windy Lake?

Are there boat launches on Windy Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Windy Lake?

Windy Lake is 450 acres and a maximum depth of 39 feet located in the USFS Superior National Forest. Windy Lake is categorized as lake class 5. Lakes in this class are typically moderate in size, deep, and have soft and very clear water. The public access is a concrete ramp on the northwest end of the lake, with parking for approximately six vehicles and trailers. Three U.S. Forest Service remote water access only campsites are present around the lake shore. The lake is surrounded by mixed forest on moderately sloped terrain. The entire shoreline is undeveloped with ledge rock, boulder shoals and shoreline dropping rapidly into the lake. Care should be taken when boating on Windy Lake as boulders pose navigational hazards in many areas.

Walleye populations are maintained through natural reproduction. Fry stocking was discontinued in 2003 when it was determined that fry stocking was not contributing to the Windy Lake fishery. The walleye sample in 2012 was above average for the lake class and at the high end of the range recorded in previous investigations. The average length of the walleye sample 12.1 inches (0.6 pound) with 26% of the catch greater than 14 inches, the largest walleye sampled was 22.6 inches (4.2 pounds). Walleye growth was below average compared to aged walleye samples in the Finland area. It takes 5 years for a Windy Lake walleye to reach 13.5 inches. Windy Lake is known to provide good daylight angling, due to its dark water.

Northern pike populations are maintained through natural reproduction. However, the limited spawning habitat available at normal lake levels and below normal lake levels may negatively affect reproductive success. While northern pike numbers were below average for the lake class the growth in Windy Lake is above average for the Finland area. The average length of the northern pike sampled was 23.3 inches and the largest fish measured 36.2 inches (12.5 pounds). It takes 4 years for a northern pike in Windy Lake to reach 20 inches.

Yellow perch provide an important forage base for the predator fish populations in Windy Lake. The yellow perch numbers were below average for the lake class. The average length of yellow perch was 6.8 inches; the largest was 8.8 inches (0.3 pound).

The lake whitefish sample in 2012 was below average for Windy Lake. The average length was 12.5 inches, 67% of the catch was in the 12 inch range the largest lake whitefish measured 15.8 inches (1.4 pounds). Reproduction appears to be sufficient to sustain the whitefish in Windy Lake, providing an important forage source for large northern pike and walleye.

What is the average air temp for Windy Lake?

Are there any state parks near Windy Lake?