Shell Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be extremely active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Shell Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Shell Lake, MN
- How big is Shell Lake?
- How deep is Shell Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Shell Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Shell Lake area?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Shell Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Shell Lake?
How big is Shell Lake?
How deep is Shell Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Shell Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Shorthead Redhorse and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Shell Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there places to eat and drink near Shell Lake?
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History & Status of the Fishery
Shell Lake is located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness about 13 miles southeast of Crane Lake, MN. The lake is shallow; all 493 acres are less than 15 feet deep. The water is bog-stained and transparency was about 5 feet on September 10, 2015. Shoarelines are primarily ledge rock and boulder, though softer bottom types are found in bays and near inlets. Eight species of fish were sampled, but only four were well represented.
Bass and panfish are possibly more abundant than sampling indicates. They are poorly sampled by gill nets and due to the remote location, only gill nets were used. The primary management focus on Shell Lake is Walleye followed by Northern Pike.
Northern Pike abundance was below the expected range for this lake type. However, size exceeded expectations. The average weight of Northern Pike captured was 3.03 pounds, which was well above the top of the expected range (2.50 pounds) for this lake type. Average length was 23.8 inches with a range from 18.1 to 30.4.
Walleye abundance was similar to previous investigations and within the expected range for this lake type. In 2015, six year-classes were present and age ranged from 1-6 years. The 2012 and 2013 year-classes were strongest and combined for 79% of the sample. Total length ranged from 5.6-19.7 inches and the average was 12.3. Average weight was 0.69 pounds, which was below the expected range for this lake type.
Yellow Perch abundance was low and sizes were small. Length ranged from 5.6-8.8 inches and the average was 6.9.
What is the average air temp for Shell Lake?
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Shell Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Lynx Lake | 1.2 mi | 291 | 85 ft |
| Agawato Lake | 1.5 mi | 39 | 58 ft |
| Heritage Lake | 1.7 mi | 207 | 43 ft |
| Lower Pauness Lake | 1.7 mi | 171 | 36 ft |
| Big Ruby Lake | 2.2 mi | 49 | |
| Upper Pauness Lake | 2.2 mi | 192 | 15 ft |
| Shohola Lake | 2.2 mi | 20 | |
| Waksapiwi Lake | 2.4 mi | 62 | |
| Little Hustler Lake | 2.4 mi | 69 | 70 ft |
| Ruby Lake | 2.5 mi | 49 |
