Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest May 22, 2024
St James Pit Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at St James Pit Lake average 1.50 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 inches. In St. Louis County, Minnesota, St James Pit Lake has no letter grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Water clarity averages 47.6 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 St James Pit 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 St James Pit 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.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at St James Pit Lake average 1.50 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 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 St James Pit 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
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-05-22 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 3.52 | 1.26 lb |
| Rainbow Trout | 1.50 | 0.68 lb |
| Walleye | 1.00 | 3.58 lb |
| Lake Trout | 0.50 | 0.5 lb |
| Brook Trout | 0.33 | 0.46 lb |
| Bluegill | 0.25 | 0.21 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
Rainbow Trout
Walleye
Brook Trout
From the 2024-05-22 survey
St. James Pit is a former mine pit now managed for stream trout; however, it is not a designated trout lake. A trout stamp is required to harvest trout from St. James Pit. The main access is a concrete ramp along the southeast shore just north of the town of Aurora. This 100-acre lake has a maximum depth of 381 feet…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for St James Pit Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — St James PitFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — St James PitFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — St James PitPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in St James Pit Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at St James Pit Lake average 1.50 rainbow trout per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 5 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated May 22, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–19 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 St James Pit Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for St James Pit Lake is dated May 22, 2024. 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 St James Pit Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for St James Pit 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 St James Pit 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 St James Pit 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 St James Pit Lake
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