Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 9, 2008
Iron Chief Complex Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Iron Chief Complex Lake average 0.75 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 9, 2008. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Iron Chief Complex Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 24.5 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Iron Chief Complex Lake
3 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Iron Chief Complex Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Iron Chief Complex Lake average 0.75 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 9, 2008.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Iron Chief Complex Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2008-06-09 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Green Sunfish | 1.66 | 0.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.75 | — |
| White Sucker | 0.22 | 2.02 lb |
| Black Crappie | 0.22 | 1.08 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Green Sunfish
White Sucker
Black Crappie
From the 2008-06-09 survey
Iron Chief Complex is a series of three abandoned mine pits (now connected) near the town of Buhl. Like most pit lakes, the water is relatively infertile and clear. Rainy and windy weather occasionally loosens sediment from the pit walls causing the water to cloud up temporarily. There is a city-owned public access on…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Iron Chief Complex Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Iron Chief ComplexFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Iron Chief ComplexFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Iron Chief Complex Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Iron Chief Complex Lake average 0.75 bluegill per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 1 survey. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 9, 2008. Minnesota DNR lists 3 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Iron Chief Complex Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Iron Chief Complex Lake is dated June 9, 2008. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Iron Chief Complex Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Iron Chief Complex Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Iron Chief Complex Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Iron Chief Complex Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
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