Little Knife Lake
Lake County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 3-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Little Knife Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Little Knife Lake, MN
- How big is Little Knife Lake?
- How deep is Little Knife Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Little Knife Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Little Knife Lake area?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Little Knife Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Little Knife Lake?
How big is Little Knife Lake?
How deep is Little Knife Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Little Knife Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Lake Whitefish and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Little Knife Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there places to eat and drink near Little Knife Lake?
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History & Status of the Fishery
Little Knife Lake is located approximately 34 miles NE of Ely within the BWCAW. This 700 acre lake lies along the international border with Ontario and approximately 433 acres are in Minnesota.
There is a navigable channel from Knife Lake for public access. Portages from Amoeber Lake or Ottertrack Lake also provide access options. There are 3 designated USFS campsites aroung the lake for overnight camping.
Nine species of fish were sampled during the 2018 survey of Little Knife Lake. Six gill nets were used to sample the shallow water fish community and 8 gill nets were set in deeper water to assess the species most likely to be found there. Walleye (58%) dominated the catch from the shallow nets while lake whitefish (47%) and cisco (22%) were the most common species sampled in the deep sets. Northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout were also sampled in 2018.
Walleye numbers in 2018 (14.3/gill net) were well above the historic average (4.2/gill net) for Little Knife Lake. The average walleye sampled was 18 inches which is similar to the historic average length. Approximately 91% of the walleye sampled in 2018 were 15 inches or larger with a maximum length of 24.9 inches recorded. Walleye growth was above average and several year classes were identified indicating good, consistent natural reproduction.
Lake trout numbers in 2018 (1.1/gill net) were identical to the historic average for this lake. The average lake trout sampled was 23.6 inches which was similar to the average length. Lake trout sizes ranged from 17.2 inches to a maximum of 37 inches. Lake trout aging indicated fish from several different year classes were sampled.
Lake whitefish numbers in 2018 (6.3/gill net) were slightly below the historic average (7.5/gill net) for this lake. The average whitefish sampled was 14.8 inches which is slightly smaller than the average length of 15.2 inches. Multiple year classes were identified from aging using ototliths. One of the largest whitefish was 52 years old.
What is the average air temp for Little Knife Lake?
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Little Knife Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Amoeber Lake | 0.8 mi | 410 | 110 ft |
| Dutton Lake | 1.1 mi | 30 | 80 ft |
| Conic Lake | 1.5 mi | 17 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.5 mi | 10 | |
| Topaz Lake | 1.7 mi | 150 | 73 ft |
| Lake of the Clouds | 2.3 mi | 29 | 110 ft |
| Gijikiki Lake | 2.4 mi | 113 | 70 ft |
| Cherry Lake | 2.6 mi | 153 | 100 ft |
| Lunar Lake | 2.6 mi | 62 | 60 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.7 mi | 10 |
