Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 11, 2018
South Wigwam Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at South Wigwam Lake average 5.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 11, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches. In Lake County, Minnesota, South Wigwam Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 5.4 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 South Wigwam Lake
5 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 South Wigwam Lake
No stocking record for South Wigwam 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 South Wigwam Lake average 5.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 11, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on South Wigwam 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
4 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2018-06-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 8.79 | 2.36 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.53 | 0.17 lb |
| Northern Pike | 5.08 | 1.4 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.
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Northern Pike
From the 2018-06-11 survey
South Wigwam Lake is located 11 miles northwest of Schroeder in the Superior National Forest. There is a short carry in access to the outlet channel off of the Wigwam Lake Road (USFS Rd. #1226). Contact the USFS Tofte district or check the Superior NF website https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior for information on camping…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Wigwam Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South WigwamFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — South Wigwam (0993)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in South Wigwam Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at South Wigwam Lake average 5.08 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 4 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 11, 2018. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–27 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 5 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 South Wigwam Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for South Wigwam Lake is dated June 11, 2018. 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 South Wigwam Lake stocked?
No stocking record for South Wigwam 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 South Wigwam 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 South Wigwam 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.
Where to stay near South Wigwam Lake
Top-rated places to stay near South Wigwam Lake
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