Burns Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Burns Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Burns Lake, MN
- How big is Burns Lake?
- How deep is Burns Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Burns Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Burns Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Burns Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Burns Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Burns Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Burns Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Burns Lake?
How big is Burns Lake?
How deep is Burns Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Burns Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Golden Shiner and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Burns Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Burns Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Burns Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Burns Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Burns Lake was conducted beginning on August 19th, 2020 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations, but two stations were sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample five stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 15 species of fish including seven species that were intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blacknose Shiner, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, Mottled Sculpin, and Rock Bass) and zero that were tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g. Least Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g. Black Bullhead and Common Carp). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Data from this survey indicates Burns Lake is in good health as indicated by an exceptionally high FIBI score well above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Big Fork River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Burns Lake?
Are there any state parks near Burns Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Burns Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Cad Lake | 0.4 mi | 20 | |
| Big Dick Lake | 0.9 mi | 260 | 20 ft |
| Little Dick Lake | 0.9 mi | 101 | 20 ft |
| Bevo Lake | 1.4 mi | 64 | 40 ft |
| Copenhagen Lake | 1.5 mi | 82 | |
| Jack the Horse Lake | 1.5 mi | 363 | 45 ft |
| Batson Lake | 1.6 mi | 114 | 50 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.7 mi | 208 | |
| Herron Lake | 1.7 mi | 20 | |
| Billo Lake | 1.9 mi | 12 |
