Island Lake Reservoir
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Island Lake Reservoir is known for its excellent fishing opportunities and is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, northern pike, bass, and panfish, which are popular targets for anglers. The reservoir is also popular for boating, canoeing, kayaking, and other water-based activities. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 94 feet, which makes it ideal for swimming and other water sports.
The reservoir is surrounded by several parks, campgrounds, and resorts, making it a popular vacation destination. The area also offers hiking and biking trails, hunting opportunities, and other outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
Island Lake Reservoir is located near the vast wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which offers a unique and pristine outdoor experience for visitors. The area is known for its stunning scenery, remote campsites, and abundant wildlife, including moose, black bears, and wolves.
Overall, Island Lake Reservoir is a popular and vibrant natural resource in northeastern Minnesota, offering a wide range of recreational opportunities and ecological significance. The reservoir is also known for its picturesque beauty and peaceful atmosphere, making it a popular destination for those seeking a quiet retreat in nature.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Island Lake Reservoir, MN
- How big is Island Lake Reservoir?
- How deep is Island Lake Reservoir?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Island Lake Reservoir?
- What are the closest cities to Island Lake Reservoir?
- Are there places to stay in the Island Lake Reservoir area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Island Lake Reservoir?
- Are there boat launches on Island Lake Reservoir?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Island Lake Reservoir?
- What are the fishing regulations for Island Lake Reservoir?
- What is the average air temp for Island Lake Reservoir?
- Are there any state parks near Island Lake Reservoir?
How big is Island Lake Reservoir?
How deep is Island Lake Reservoir?
What kind of fish can you catch in Island Lake Reservoir?
Other fish species in the lake include Blackchin Shiner, Cisco (Tullibee), Emerald Shiner, Golden Shiner, Johnny Darter, Logperch, Shorthead Redhorse, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Island Lake Reservoir?
Are there places to stay in the Island Lake Reservoir area?
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Are there topographical lake maps available Island Lake Reservoir?
Are there boat launches on Island Lake Reservoir?
Are there places to eat and drink near Island Lake Reservoir?
What are the fishing regulations for Island Lake Reservoir?
There are specific fishing regulations Island Lake Reservoir that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?
Explore the Island Lake Reservoir area in a RV
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What aquatic invasive species are found in Island Lake Reservoir?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
Targeted gill net surveys are being conducted in the fall annually on Island Reservoir to closely monitor the Walleye population following the implementation of an experimental Walleye angling regulation in 2021. Walleye and Muskellunge are the primary management species for Island Reservoir. Stocking of Walleye has not occurred regularly into Island Reservoir since 1970 because the population has been able to adequately sustain itself through natural reproduction.
The Walleye population at Island Reservoir has unique challenges including a high abundance of small fish and exceptionally slow growth rates. These challenges limit the effectiveness of special angling regulations occasionally implemented on other Minnesota Walleye fisheries. Experimental Walleye angling regulations were implemented on Island Reservoir in 2021 (protected slot limit 15-20", not more than one over 20", bag limit of 10 fish) to improve Walleye size structure and encourage anglers to harvest surplus small Walleye that are abundant. Biological performance indicators were used to monitor the Walleye fishery and will be calculated annually to monitor trends and help evaluate the effectiveness of the experimental angling regulation. Size structure and catch rates of Walleye observed during this survey should be interpreted with caution, may show differences from summer gillnet indices and may be a result of seasonal movements, sampling or environmental variability. Other metrics, such as length and age at maturity cannot be calculated during summer assessments and necessitate the need for fall sampling for effective monitoring.
Walleye abundance of 3.9 per gillnet lift is average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye average length was 13.8 inches but no specimens over 22 inches were captured. Growth rates observed were similar to what was observed from the 2021 standard survey and still represents slow growth compared to other Duluth Area Walleye populations. Age analysis revealed consistent recruitment with no missing year-classes from 2013 through 2021. Female Walleye length at maturity was 14.3 inches while age at maturity was 5.7 years. Male Walleye length at maturity was 12.9 inches while age at maturity was 5.1 years. Anglers should expect good catches of Walleye, but small fish will dominate the catch.
Yellow Perch abundance of 8.9 per lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Despite an above average abundance of adult Yellow Perch, most perch captured were relatively large and small Walleye are gape-limited to these prey. A targeted vertical gillnet survey using small mesh monofilament nets did not capture any juvenile Yellow Perch in 2019, and shoreline beach seining in 2021 for small Yellow Perch was down from previous surveys.
Smallmouth Bass gillnet abundance of 1.1 per lift is above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length of captured Smallmouth Bass was 12.3 inches.
Northern Pike abundance of 0.8 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length was 20.7 inches.
What is the average air temp for Island Lake Reservoir?
Are there any state parks near Island Lake Reservoir?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Island Lake Reservoir Reviews
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Island Lake Reservoir...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.1 mi | 665 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.7 mi | 10 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.8 mi | 12 | |
| Flowage | 2.1 mi | 112 | 15 ft |
| Apple Lake | 2.3 mi | 31 | 16 ft |
| Schultz Lake | 2.4 mi | 210 | 48 ft |
| Jacobs Lake | 2.8 mi | 90 | 9 ft |
| Sunshine Lake | 2.8 mi | 79 | 37 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.9 mi | 12 | 21 ft |
| Deepwater Lake | 3.0 mi | 15 |
