Nichols Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
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We want to see what you've caught on Nichols Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Nichols Lake, MN
- How big is Nichols Lake?
- How deep is Nichols Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Nichols Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Nichols Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Nichols Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Nichols Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Nichols Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Nichols Lake?
How big is Nichols Lake?
How deep is Nichols Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Nichols Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Blacknose Shiner, Central Mudminnow, Common Shiner, Iowa Darter and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Nichols Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Nichols Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Nichols Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
Nichols is a 413 acre lake with 362 acres (88%) of littoral area and a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake is located approximately 18 miles northwest of Duluth, MN. There is a state administered, concrete back-in access located on the north side of the lake off Highway 53 on Lake Nichols Road. Nichols was last surveyed in 2012. Nichols was surveyed during the summer of 2017 to update information about fish populations and evaluate the success of the Walleye stocking program.
Currently, Walleye fingerlings are stocked into Nichols at a rate of one pound per littoral acre (362 pounds) every odd year. Walleye abundance of 4.7 was up substantially from 2012 and was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye average length was 15.4 inches and growth was fast when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Ninety-eight percent of the Walleyes aged corresponded to stocked year-classes. Walleye angling in Nichols Lake should be good in coming years with strong 2013 and 2015 year-classes present.
A total of 40 Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing. The Largemouth Bass catch rate was 38.1 fish per hour, which was lower than 2012 (48.8 per hour). Average length of sampled Largemouth Bass was 12.4 inches, but large fish over 19 inches were sampled and should provide quality angling opportunities.
Black Crappie and Bluegill population densities were average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Black Crappie average length was small at 6.6 inches. Bluegill average length was 6.9 inches. Yellow Perch were scarce and small.
What is the average air temp for Nichols Lake?
Are there any state parks near Nichols 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 Nichols Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Correction Lake | 1.7 mi | 27 | |
| Dodo Lake | 5.7 mi | 92 | 53 ft |
| Rose Lake | 5.9 mi | 59 | 31 ft |
| Leora Lake | 6.4 mi | 263 | 35 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 6.7 mi | 17,816 | |
| Maple Leaf Lake | 6.8 mi | 100 | 51 ft |
| Strand Lake | 7.1 mi | 330 | 16 ft |
| Schisler Lake | 7.2 mi | 70 | 19 ft |
| Artichoke Lake | 7.5 mi | 272 | |
| Aerie Lake | 7.9 mi | 146 | 37 ft |
