Cascade Lake
Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16034600
Cascade Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Cascade Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 17 ft; surface area 452 acres, 415 littoral acres, 8.7 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 7.7 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Cook County, nearest town Lutsen; DNR lake number (DOW) 16034600.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/25/1992 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | USF | Launch in SE bay, off USFS 170 (The Grade). Parking for four vehicles available. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 12.83 | 77 | 1.43 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 6.67 | 40 | 1.96 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 1.67 | 10 | 2.65 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 9 | 0.11 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 1.83 | 22 | 1.58 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.50 | 6 | 1.33 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 0.25 | 3 | 3.65 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.17 | 2 | 0.09 |
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.
Cascade is a 451-acre lake located 18 miles north of Lutsen and access is through a public boat landing on the southeast corner of the lake. Cascade Lake is managed for walleye and northern pike. The 2023 standard survey was conducted to evaluate the survival and growth of the walleye and northern pike populations. Walleye catch rates were high in 2023 and had been increasing since 1998. Walleye ranged from 7.4 to 22.1 inches with a mean length of 15.9 inches. Age distribution of captured walleye indicated fish from 14 different year classes, all naturally reproduced with the oldest fish being 19 years old. Growth rates were average until walleye reached about 18 inches in size, then walleye grew very slowly reaching a maximum size of only 22 inches. The relatively high abundance of walleye and low abundance of prey may be limiting overall growth, but Cascade Lake supports an excellent naturally reproducing walleye fishery for anglers interested in good catch rates. The northern pike catch of 2023 was historically low and below average for similar lakes in the area. Size structure of the northern pike captured ranged from 9.25 to 29.4 inches with a mean length of 20.2 inches. Anglers targeting northern pike in Cascade Lake have the ability to encounter some larger individuals. Yellow perch abundance was low and had been declining since 1988. This is not surprising as walleye populations were increasing over this same time frame. The white sucker catch was also the lowest recorded and likely do not provide much forage for northern pike or walleye. 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, .
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