Jacob Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69007700

DNR records show 9 stocking entries at Jacob Lake since 2016, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2025 (1,600 fish).

• Jacob Lake has 9 DNR stocking records across 9 years (2016-2025): brook trout (9).
• The most-stocked species by count is brook trout: 13,416 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 52 ft; surface area 22 acres, 11 littoral acres, 1.3 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 17.3 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: May 22, 2024 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Ely; DNR lake number (DOW) 69007700.

Stocking history

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

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2024

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.

Louis is a 22-acre designated stream trout lake located nine miles north of Ely in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The lake is clear and roughly separated into two basins. The west is the main lake while the east is essentially an intermittent beaver pond. Low water levels resulted in water being less than a foot deep at the time of the survey. The surrounding landscape is mature pines and mixed hardwoods situated on rolling bedrock. No USFS designated campsites are present but a few spots for off-season dispersed camping exist. Brook trout are currently stocked annually. Access to Louis is by a steep 50-rod portage west of the pond between Mudro and Fourtown lakes. It is not officially maintained by the forest service and can be rather discrete. A fallen tree at what constitutes the landing further hides the trail. It generally follows a black ash drainage to the shallow arm of Louis. Water levels were low following failure of the beaver dam at the outlet and made paddling difficult. It appears the trail has seen even less use as of late. Winter anglers should take caution on the pond. Water current in this area often leads to unsafe ice conditions and the channel must be crossed to reach Louis. The 2024 survey consisted of two standard gillnet sets. Brook trout abundance (9.0/net) was greater than the lake average. Lengths ranged from seven to almost 15 inches with an average of 13 inches, which is higher than typical. Trout stomach contents were a variable mix of fish and invertebrates.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, May 22, 2024.

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