Slim Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 3-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Slim Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Slim Lake, MN
- How big is Slim Lake?
- How deep is Slim Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Slim Lake?
- What are the closest cities to Slim Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Slim Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Slim Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Slim Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Slim Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Slim Lake?
How big is Slim Lake?
How deep is Slim Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Slim Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Golden Shiner, Green Sunfish and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to Slim Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Slim Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Slim Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Slim Lake?
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History & Status of the Fishery
Slim is a 312-acre lake located 8 miles northwest of Ely in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Its clear water fills a simple, two-mile long basin encased by high bedrock ridges carpeted in dense pine. Aquatic vegetation is rare and most of the lake bottom drops off rapidly from the shoreline. The U.S. Forest Service maintains four campsites. Access is by a 102 rod portage from the Slim Lake Entry Point parking lot. A 47 rod portage exists from Rice Lake to the west.
The 2023 survey consisted of nine gill net sets. Cisco and walleye dominated the catch, followed by white sucker and smallmouth bass. Low numbers of yellow perch and a green sunfish were also sampled. Northern pike were conspicuous in their absence.
Walleye abundance was low at 1.2/ gill net, but the fish present were large. Walleye lengths ranged from 21 to nearly 28 inches with an average of 24 inches. Ages ranged from 5 to 23 years with no predominant year classes. Walleye growth was fast compared to other lakes in the area. Walleye fry are stocked annually.
Smallmouth bass abundance, at 0.9/gill net, was the highest ever sampled from Slim. The smallmouth were mostly small, but a few decent fish were present. Lengths ranged from 6 to 16.5 inches with an average of 9.5 inches. Gill nets often underrepresent smallmouth, but this catch would suggest an increasing trend in their abundance.
Cisco numbers (1.7/net) were above average compared to previous surveys. Cisco lengths ranged from 7 to 14 inches with a mean of 10.5 inches. No ciscoes were present in predator stomachs, but their presence is likely a factor in the growth and size of the walleyes in Slim.
What is the average air temp for Slim Lake?
Are there any state parks near Slim 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 Slim Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Rice Lake | 0.8 mi | 34 | 27 ft |
| Hook Lake | 1.1 mi | 82 | 13 ft |
| Hunch Lake | 2.2 mi | 15 | |
| First Lake | 2.2 mi | 16 | 30 ft |
| Hanson Lake | 2.4 mi | 19 | 65 ft |
| Coxey Pond | 2.6 mi | 192 | 14 ft |
| Regenbogen Lake | 2.6 mi | 11 | 34 ft |
| Everett Lake | 3.0 mi | 113 | 15 ft |
| Big Rice Lake | 3.0 mi | 403 | 5 ft |
| Big Rice Lake | 3.0 mi | 403 | 5 ft |
