Camp A Lake

St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69078800

DNR records show 12 stocking entries at Camp A Lake since 2016, most recently brook trout yearlings in 2024 (270 fish).

• Camp A Lake has 12 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2024): rainbow trout (8), brook trout (3), brown trout (1).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 10,100 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 31 ft; surface area 18 acres, 12 littoral acres, 0.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.5 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout, rainbow trout.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: October 8, 2014 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Buhl; DNR lake number (DOW) 69078800.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/4/1974 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2014

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.

Camp Four is located about 9 miles north of Buhl, within the Superior National Forest. The lake is small, about 15 acres, with a max depth of 31 feet, and a shoreline length about 0.7 miles. There are two U.S. Forest Service carry-in accesses on the lake. Camp Four has been managed for stream trout since being reclaimed in 1954, with almost annual stocking of rainbow trout. Annual stocking, alternating between fall rainbow trout fingerlings in odd years and spring brook trout yearlings in even years, has occurred since 1997. The lake management plan's long range goals consisted of a rainbow trout fall catch of 0.5/ trap net with two year classes present and a brook trout fall catch of 0.5/trap net with75% exceeding 12 inches. Brook trout were the only species sampled in the two gill nets, at a rate of 4.5/net. The nine fish sampled ranged from 8.7 to 11.4 inches and a mean length of 10.4 inches. The length distribution suggests these fish are one age class and likely from the spring 2014 stocking. A total of 16 half inch trap net sets sampled 47 Brook Trout for a rate of 2.9/net. Lengths ranged from 7.2 to 13.8 inches and had a mean length of 9.9 inches. Interestingly, all of the Brook Trout sampled had lengths from 7 to 11 inches except three, which were 13 inches long. The majority are likely from the spring 2014 stocking, while the age of the three largest individuals is unclear. Crew notes indicated these fish had a different overall appearance, darker and heavier. These fish could be extremely fast growing individuals, older fish that got mixed in at the hatchery with the yearlings stocked in 2014, or fish surviving from the 2012 stocking. Rainbow Trout were also present in the trap net sample, being sampled at a rate of 0.3/trap net. The four fish had lengths from 6.8 to 11.2 inches with a mean length of 8.8 inches. These fish are from the fall 2013 stocking, indicating over-winter and over-summer survival. Habitat requirements for Brook Trout include a minimum of 5 ppm dissolved oxygen (DO), water temperatures below 65-degree (F), and at least five vertical feet of separation between the two. A temp/DO profile conducted on 8/11/2014 indicated there was no suitable trout habitat at the peak of summer stress. This is similar to what has been observed in other assessments. However, Brook Trout were present, with an acceptable CPUE, indicating over-summer survival. Rainbow Trout (which can tolerate water temps up to 70 degrees) were also present in the sample indicating over-winter and over-summer survival. It appears that poor habitat conditions…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, October 8, 2014.

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