Bogus Lake

Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16005000

DNR records show 9 stocking entries at Bogus Lake since 2016, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2025 (1,500 fish).

Bogus Lake has 9 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): splake (8), brook trout (1).
The most-stocked species by count is splake: 18,650 fish on record.
Maximum depth 25 ft, mean depth 10 ft; surface area 18 acres, 13 littoral acres, 0.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.2 ft.
Fish species DNR lists here: splake, white sucker.
1 public access on the DNR list.
Most recent DNR fish survey: October 2, 2023 (standard survey).
Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16005000.

Stocking history

Year	Species	Size	Number	Pounds
2025	Brook Trout	fingerlings	1,500	59.9
2024	Splake	fingerlings	1,950	61.4
2023	Splake	fingerlings	1,500	59.8
2022	Splake	fingerlings	2,500	66.1
2021	Splake	fingerlings	2,700	69.4
2020	Splake	fingerlings	2,500	81.2
2019	Splake	fingerlings	2,500	94.0
2017	Splake	fingerlings	2,500	122.5
2016	Splake	fingerlings	2,500	56.8

Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.

Public accesses

Type	Owner	Where
CA	USF

DNR fish survey, 2023

Species	Gear	Catch per net	Total catch	Avg lb
Fathead minnow	1/4-in trap nets	345.00	1,380	0.00
White sucker	1/4-in trap nets	121.00	484	0.01
Brook stickleback	1/4-in trap nets	79.25	317	0.00
Golden shiner	1/4-in trap nets	31.50	126	0.00
FND	1/4-in trap nets	12.50	50	0.00
Blacknose shiner	1/4-in trap nets	5.00	20	0.00
Splake	1/4-in trap nets	2.25	9	0.38
Splake	Standard trap nets	1.00	6	0.38
White sucker	Standard trap nets	0.50	3	1.15

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.

Bogus Lake is an 18-acre designated stream trout lake located 15 miles northeast of Grand Marais. Public access is through a carry-in portage landing along the west shore. The primary management species in Bogus Lake is splake, which are stocked as fingerlings annually. The 2023 standard survey was conducted to evaluate the survival and growth of stocked splake year classes. In addition, 0.25-inch trap nets were set to evaluate the nearshore minnow community in Bogus Lake that may provide forage for larger piscivorous splake and/or interspecific competition for stocked fingerlings. Splake abundance in the 2023 survey was the lowest seen in the lake, however it was similar to other stream trout lakes in the area. Splake up to 13.4 inches were sampled and individuals from most recent stocking events were present (2021 and 2022), but no older fish were found. The average sized splake was smaller than in previous surveys. Small mesh trap nets captured high levels of minnows indicating good forage for larger splake, but also indicate potential competition as white sucker numbers were also high. Habitats are still suitable for splake in Bogus Lake. Cook County, Minnesota lakes continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, October 2, 2023.

All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder

Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.

Bogus Lake

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

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