Gadwell Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16006000

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Gadwell Lake since 2017, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2025 (425 fish).

• Gadwell Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): brook trout (5).
• The most-stocked species by count is brook trout: 6,425 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 52 ft; surface area 20 acres, 8 littoral acres, 0.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 12.3 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: September 9, 2015 (standard survey).
• Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16006000.

Stocking history

⁸ fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2015

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.

Brook trout were abundant in Gadwall Lake in the fall 2015 survey and some large fish were present. This survey was done with two gill net sets which sampled a total of 24 brook trout ranging in length from 9.8 to 16.4 inches (average length was 13.5 inches). The catch of 12 brook trout per net was higher than the average of six per net seen in stream trout lakes in this area. All fish were two years of age, from the fall 2013 stocking. Growth was good with sampled fish exceeding the area average for brook trout at age two by almost an inch. Possible forage fish were observed in the form of large schools of dace along the shoreline and a few brook trout regurgitated brook stickleback when handled. Brook trout were the only fish species sampled in the survey gillnets. Gadwall Lake is a small designated stream trout located in the BWCA on a non-motor route. Access is via a moderate-length but rugged portage trail from the south shore of Pine Lake. The field crew noted shore fishing opportunities provided by some foot paths around at least part of the lake, presumably made by anglers fishing from shore who chose not to carry their watercraft over the portage. Caution should be used when crossing Pine Lake to access this lake as even a moderate West (or East) wind can produce large waves and dangerous conditions for canoeing on that lake.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, September 9, 2015.

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