Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 22, 2025
Shoepack Lake FishingBWater-quality grade B
Minnesota DNR surveys at Shoepack Lake average 2.36 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 22–28 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, Shoepack Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of B. Water clarity averages 4.6 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 Shoepack 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 Shoepack Lake
No stocking record for Shoepack Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Shoepack Lake average 2.36 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 22–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shoepack Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-22 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 25.94 | 0.08 lb |
| Muskellunge | 2.36 | 3.94 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.
Yellow Perch
Muskellunge
From the 2025-07-22 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Shoepack Lake, which is located within Voyageurs National Park, was conducted on July 22 - July 24, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment (LBMA) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Shoepack Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShoepackFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Shoepack Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Shoepack Lake average 2.36 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 2 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated July 22, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 22–28 inches. 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 Shoepack Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Shoepack Lake is dated July 22, 2025. 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 Shoepack Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Shoepack Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Shoepack Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Shoepack Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. 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.
Where to stay near Shoepack Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Shoepack Lake
Planning a trip to Shoepack Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Shoepack Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.