Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 21, 2023
Little Trout Lake FishingBWater-quality grade B
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Trout Lake average 4.04 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Little Trout Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of B. Water clarity averages 20.3 feet of visibility. 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 Little Trout Lake
8 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 Little Trout 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 Little Trout Lake average 4.04 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Trout Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-08-21 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Bass | 6.96 | 0.19 lb |
| Walleye | 4.04 | 3.49 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 2.99 | 1.34 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 2.90 | 0.19 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 2.50 | 0.11 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.
Rock Bass
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
Tullibee (Cisco)
From the 2023-08-21 survey
Little Trout Lake is a 272 acre lake located in Voyageurs National Park. Little Trout Lake has a maximum depth of 95 feet, and good water clarity. The Lake is accessed via a short but fairly steep portage between Grassy Bay of Sand Point Lake and the south end of Little Trout Lake. This diverse fishery supports…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Trout Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little TroutFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little TroutFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Little Trout Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Trout Lake average 4.04 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 7 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 21, 2023. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–28 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 Little Trout Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Little Trout Lake is dated August 21, 2023. 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 Little Trout Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Little Trout 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 Little Trout Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Trout Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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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