Tait Lake

How big is Tait Lake?

How deep is Tait Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Tait Lake?

Are there boat launches on Tait Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Tait Lake?

Tait Lake is located about twelve miles north of the Town of Lutsen and is accessible via a US Forest Service administered boat launch located on the west end of the lake. The lake has been part of the MNDNR Sentinel Lakes program since 2009, which resulted in high frequency lake surveys through 2017 to provide baseline monitoring data necessary for tracking potential changes in the fish community. The lake management plan for Tait Lake was revised in 2020 and reduced the survey frequency to five years. Walleye were retained as the primary management species for Tait Lake with a long-range goal of maintaining a population with a minimum gill net catch of 5.0 fish/set. Northern Pike remained the secondary management species, with a long-range goal of maintaining gill net catch of 2.0 fish/set and the presence of some fish over 25 inches. This was the first of two surveys scheduled in the 2020 LMP to determine if long-range goals identified for the Walleye and Northern Pike populations were being met and to monitor for potential changes in the fish community.

Walleye were first introduced into Tait Lake in 1939 and were stocked a few additional times between 1948 and 1967. Walleye gill net catches in Tait Lake since 1970 have ranged from 17.7 to 4.1 fish/set, with catches on the lower end of that range occurring in the last three surveys of the lake. Walleye appeared moderately abundant in 2022 and the gill net catch surpassed the goal set for the population. The gill net sample included fish from 6.9 to 27.4 inches, although the mean length of Walleye captured in that gear was only 12.7 inches. The 2022 Walleye catch in 0.75-inch-mesh trap nets was above average compared to similar lakes in this area but was typical for results from Tait Lake. Walleye sampled in trap nets tended to be larger with a mean length of 15.6 inches. The total Walleye sample included fish from 12 naturally produced year classes (age-1 through age-13). Walleye natural recruitment appeared very consistent, with no missing year classes between ages one and eight, and moderately strong representation from the 2018-2021 year classes. Walleye growth was slightly faster than average. Walleye sampled in 2022 averaged 14.2 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area mean of 13.3 inches at that age.

Northern Pike gill net catches in Tait Lake have varied considerably over the years but have generally been low compared to similar lakes in the area. The 2022 Northern Pike gill net catch fell within the typical range observed for the lake and met the catch goal identified for the population. The size goal was also met based on the capture of a couple fish larger than 25 inches in gill nets and trap nets; however, most of the Northern Pike sampled in 2022 were less than 22 inches. Six year classes contributed to the catch, including fish as old as age-7, although most of the fish sampled in 2022 were age-3. Growth rates of those fish had been about average; fish reached a mean length of 18.4 inches at the end of their third year, compared to an area mean of 18.1 inches populations in similar lakes.

Forage for Walleye and Northern Pike was provided mainly by Yellow Perch, which were present at average abundances in the 2022 gill net catch. The gill net and standard trap net samples included age-1 through age-3 Yellow Perch, although over 78% were age-2 fish that averaged 6.4 inches at capture. Historically, Yellow Perch samples from Tait Lake have included fair numbers of larger fish (> 9.0 inches) that are preferred by anglers, but fish of that caliber were not observed in 2022. Young-of-year (YOY) Yellow Perch were very abundant in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets (1,782 YOY/set), indicating good reproductive success occurred in 2022.

Tait Lake continued to support modest numbers of mostly small Pumpkinseed and Bluegill in 2022. Gill net and standard trap net catches for both species were comparable to historic values for this lake. The Bluegill sample included age-1 through age-3 fish, with age-2 fish reaching an average of 4.5 inches when sampled. Very few fish of either species would have been large enough to have been of much interest to anglers.

The White Sucker gill net catch in 2022 was similar to catch rates observed in Tait Lake since 2000. A few of the White Sucker sample from 2022 were small enough to serve as forage for larger Walleye and Northern Pike. Additional species sampled in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets deployed in 2022 included Blacknose Shiner and Golden Shiner, which also may have contributed to the available forage base for predator species.

Are there any state parks near Tait Lake?