Schultz Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataOligotrophic
Schultz Lake earns an A — every scored parameter (clarity) rates among the best monitored waters in St. Louis County.
Trophically, Schultz Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of 48 ft puts Schultz Lake in the middle of Minnesota's depth distribution. At 210 acres, Schultz Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 2.9 miles of shoreline. Within St. Louis County's 187 graded waters, Schultz Lake sits at rank 7, near the top of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Schultz Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Schultz Lake, one of 11 fish species on record for the lake. The lake lacks a documented public access point, so visitor use is limited. Ice-out has been recorded 16 times at Schultz Lake, with a median around Apr 24. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Average Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 210.34 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 41% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Schultz Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Schultz Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Schultz Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.292 m/yr | 5 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (26 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-04-08 (2024) | 2014-05-10 (2014) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-07 (2003) | 2016-12-09 (2016) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-04-08
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2012-09-04 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 29.38 | 0.81 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 11.78 | — |
| Pumpkinseed | 8.51 | 0.13 lb |
| MTS | 6.38 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 6.10 | 0.19 lb |
| Bluegill | 4.98 | 0.12 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Largemouth Bass
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
From the 2012-09-04 survey
Schultz is a 215 acre lake with 87 acres (40%) of littoral area and a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake is located approximately 10 miles north of Duluth, MN. There is no public access to Schultz Lake. Schultz was last surveyed in 1992. Schultz was assessed during the summer of 2012 to update information about fish…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Schultz Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — SchultzFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Schultz (0462)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — SchultzFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate
Most recent sample: 2024-09-22
Monitoring stations: 2