Joseph Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be fairly active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE

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We want to see what you've caught on Joseph Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph Lake, MN
- How big is Joseph Lake?
- How deep is Joseph Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Joseph Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Joseph Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Joseph Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Joseph Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Joseph Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Joseph Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Joseph Lake?
How big is Joseph Lake?
How deep is Joseph Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Joseph Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Blacknose Shiner, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Northern Redbelly Dace and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Joseph Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Joseph Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Joseph Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Joseph Lake?
Explore the Joseph Lake area in a RV
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History & Status of the Fishery
Joseph Lake is located approximately 5 miles NW of Babbitt in the Superior National Forest. This small lake has good water clarity and aquatic plants are commonly found in its waters.
There is a gravel boat ramp for access located off the Fishing Lakes Trail. Parking space is limited and anglers often use a portion of the parking lot for overnight camping. A small boat or similar watercraft is recommended for use.
Walleye, bluegill, northern pike and white sucker were sampled during the 2018 survey of Joseph Lake. One yellow perch was tangled in the lead of a trap net and several largemouth bass were observed during the vegetation sampling.
Walleye numbers in 2018 (8.3/gill net) were above the long term average (6.7/gill net) for this lake and above average (5.5/gill net) compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average walleye sampled was a respectable 19.4 inches. Walleye lengths ranged from 15.6 inches to a maximum of 27.2 inches. Walleye fry are currently stocked every third year in Joseph Lake and in 2018 ninety-six percent of the walleye aged were from years where stocking occurred.
Bluegill numbers in 2018 (17.9/trap net) were above the long term average (5.7/trap net) for this lake and above average (6.7/trap net) compared to other similar area lakes. The average bluegill sampled was 7.1 inches which is larger than the historic average length of 6.2 inches. Approximately 47 percent of the bluegill sampled in the trap nets from 2018 were 8 inches or larger with a maximum length of 10.0 inches recorded.
Northern pike numbers in 2018 (6.7/gill net) were above the long term average (5.0/gill net) for this lake and above average (4.5/gill net) compared to other similar area lakes. The average pike sampled was 22.3 inches which is larger than the historic average length of 19.1 inches. The largest pike sampled in 2018 was from a trap net and measured 26.6 inches.
What is the average air temp for Joseph Lake?
Are there any state parks near Joseph 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 Joseph Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Cold Lake | 0.5 mi | 15 | 17 ft |
| Arthur Lake | 0.7 mi | 71 | 19 ft |
| Spruce Lake | 0.8 mi | 42 | 7 ft |
| Sock Lake | 0.8 mi | 25 | 0 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.4 mi | 10 | |
| Square Lake | 2.5 mi | 17 | |
| Blueberry Lake | 2.6 mi | 49 | 14 ft |
| Holter Lake | 3.0 mi | 22 | 16 ft |
| Bear Island Lake | 3.5 mi | 2,362 | 62 ft |
| Bear Head Lake | 3.6 mi | 662 | 46 ft |



