Aerie Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69070100
DNR records show 6 stocking entries at Aerie Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2023 (500 fish).
- Aerie Lake has 6 DNR stocking records across 4 years (2016-2023): walleye (5), black crappie (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 2,950 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 37 ft; surface area 146 acres, 97 littoral acres, 3.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Alborn; DNR lake number (DOW) 69070100.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/14/1959 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 500 | 50.0 |
| 2020 | Black Crappie1 | adults | 450 | 50.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 500 | 50.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 450 | 50.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 1,000 | 100.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye1 | yearlings | 500 | 50.0 |
1 fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| O | county | - Undeveloped County access on section line between sections 8 and 9 off Aerie Lake Road. |
DNR fish survey, 2005
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 25.33 | 228 | 0.16 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 2.43 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.35 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.47 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 1.85 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.20 |
| Black bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.65 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 5.67 | 34 | 2.47 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 9 | 0.07 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 1.17 | 7 | 0.09 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 6 | 2.51 |
| Black bullhead | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 0.97 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 1.04 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.17 | 1 | 1.16 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Aerie Lake is a 139 acre lake located near Alborn, Minnesota with 69% (96.6 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 37 feet. The public access on Aerie Lake is undeveloped and does not allow easy access to the lake. Largemouth bass and bluegill are the primary fish species. The Aerie Lake Property Owners Association maintains a walleye population through private stocking. Largemouth bass electrofishing catch rates of 61.6 per hour in 1996 were well above the average (32.6 per hour) for Duluth Area bass populations. Mean length was 8.6 inches and the largest fish captured was 17.6 inches. Largemouth bass growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area populations. Bluegill abundance was average for Minnesota lakes with an average of 25.3 fish/trapnet. Mean length was 6.4 inches with 74% of bluegills 6 inches or greater and a maximum size of 8.4 inches. Bluegill reproduction was consistent and growth was average for Duluth Area lakes. Black crappie abundance was 0.8 fish/trapnet and was below average for Minnesota lakes of this type. The mean length of black crappie was 8.7 inches. Only two year classes were represented in 2005. Northern pike abundance was above average for Minnesota lakes with a value of 5.7 fish/gillnet. Mean length was 20.7 inches; thirty-five percent were over 21 inches and one fish measured 38.4 inches. Growth was average for Duluth Area populations. Based on age distribution, northern pike successfully reproduced from 1999 to 2003. Walleye abundance of 1.0 fish/gillnet was average for Minnesota lakes of this type. Mean length was 18.8 inches and growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area populations. Almost all aged fish correlated to stocked years. Anglers have reported good largemouth bass and bluegill fishing in Aerie Lake. Walleye abundance has shown some increase since the Aerie Lake Association began stocking in 1998.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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