Trout Lake

How big is Trout Lake?

How deep is Trout Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Trout Lake?

Trout Lake area businesses:

Are there places to eat and drink near Trout Lake?

Trout Lake is located nine miles north of Tower and just north of Lake Vermilion but is entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). It has a number of portages to nearby lakes, but the main lake access is via a motor portage from Lake Vermilion. The lake is 7,425 acres and although it is entirely within the BWCAW, 25 hp and under outboards are permitted. Motor use permits are required from the US Forest Service. The lake has a maximum depth of 98 feet and clear water. There are several small to moderate sized inlets mostly on the lakes east and north sides. Only one outlet exists which flows out the southernmost point and into Lake Vermilion. Trout Lake is a prototypical northern Minnesota/Canadian shield water body with shorelines covered in tall pines, areas of granite ledge rock, and exceptionally clear water. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly boulder and ledgerock with some areas of rubble and cobble. A few bays have soft bottoms but vegetation is fairly sparse. Additionally, a few bays are quite sandy and make for great swimming areas. On July 17, 2022, the dissolved oxygen profile showed thermal stratification with a surface temperature of 74 F and bottom temperature 46 F. The water temperatures suitable for lake trout were reached around 33 feet. Oxygen levels suitable for lake trout were sustained throughout the water column. The overall deep water gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 39.3 fish/net which was below average for the lake. Yield was 21.0 lbs/net which was right at the lake's historic average. Fish species sampled in deep water gill nets were cisco, lake trout, and walleye. The overall shallow water gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 10.8 fish/net which was the lowest on record for the lake. Yield was 16.3 lbs/net which was also the lowest on record for the lake. Fish species sampled were rock bass, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, smallmouth bass, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The deep water gillnet catch for lake trout in 2022 was 1.3 fish/net which was better than the average for past surveys of Trout Lake. Lengths ranged from 13 to over 33 inches with an average of just over 25 inches. The average weight was very impressive at nearly 6.5 lbs/fish. Of the fish that were aged, ages ranged from 4 to 19 years. Lake trout growth was fairly fast with the average fish taking 8 years to reach 22 inches long. Six-hundred-eighty-one cisco were caught in deep water gill nets for a catch rate of 37.8 fish/net. This was below average compared to past surveys on Trout Lake but still quite good when compared to other cisco lakes in the Tower area. Sizes were 6.5 to nearly 16 inches with an average of just over 9 inches. Sizes appear to have remained fairly consistent throughout the years. Thirty-seven walleye were sampled in the shallow water gill nets for a catch rate of 3.1 fish/net. This catch rate was the lowest on record for Trout Lake. Lengths ranged from 8.5 to just over 24 inches with an average of nearly 19 inches. Average weight was 2.5 pounds. Growth rates were quite good when compared to other similar lakes and other walleye populations in the Tower area. Ages ranged from 1 to 23 years old with the strongest year class coming in 2017. The northern pike shallow water gillnet catch was 1.3 fish/net which was on par with previous surveys of Trout Lake. Lengths ranged from 20.5 to just over 35 inches with an average of 25.5 inches. Sizes were similar to previous surveys. The average weight was nearly four pounds. Eight smallmouth bass were sampled in shallow water gill nets for a catch rate of 0.7 fish/net which was the lowest catch rate on record since smallmouth were first sampled in 1977. The average weight was just over a pound per fish. Lengths ranged from 11 to just over 16 inches with an average of just over 13 inches. Growth was somewhat slow compared to other smallmouth lakes in the area. The average smallmouth was eight inches long at four years old. Ages ranged from 4 to 12 years.

What is the average air temp for Trout Lake?

Are there any state parks near Trout Lake?