Joseph Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69015700
DNR records show 3 stocking entries at Joseph Lake since 2018, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (112,000 fish).
- Joseph Lake has 3 DNR stocking records across 3 years (2018-2024): walleye (3).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 336,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 23 ft; surface area 76 acres, 56 littoral acres, 2.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 10.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Babbitt; DNR lake number (DOW) 69015700.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 112,000 | 1.0 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 112,000 | 1.2 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 112,000 | 1.3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | Minnesota DNR | From Co. Rd. # 904, go north 0.34 mile on Co. Rd. # 490, then left on snowmobile trail 0.54 mile, then left on Fishing Lakes Trail 0.37 mile to the lake. - Access is washed out on the downhill section to the lake. It needs some repair. Limited parking for 3 - 4 vehicles. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 20.98 | 28 | 1.14 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 16.44 | 148 | 0.28 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 2.61 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 3.92 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.22 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 10.33 | 31 | 1.92 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 8.33 | 25 | 2.06 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 7.67 | 23 | 0.10 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 3.33 | 10 | 0.10 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.67 | 2 | 0.49 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 2.90 |
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.
Joseph is a 76-acre lake located 4 miles northwest of Babbitt off a logging road from County Road 490. In the Tower Area the lake is comparable to Flash, Little, and Whisper. Joseph is unique in supporting quality populations of bluegill and largemouth bass in tandem with healthy walleye numbers. It has a maximum depth of 23 feet and clear water. Aquatic vegetation is abundant, especially in the shallow eastern bay. The lake was thermally stratified during the survey, and oxygen sufficient for fish declined after 12 feet. Secchi visibility was 9.0 feet, and the lake had a green tint. The access into Joseph is a steep and narrow dirt ramp that is prone to washout in heavy rain. Four-wheel drive and a small boat are recommended. Parking is limited and the turnaround is also used as a camping area. Only the northwest portion of the lake is in public ownership, but development is limited to a pair of small cabins. The surrounding hills are fringed with a mixed jack pine/birch forest, and Joseph is a notably pleasant backcountry lake. Total catch in gill nets (30.7/net) was high compared to past surveys of Joseph. Northern pike, bluegill, and walleye were most common, with low numbers of largemouth bass, white sucker, and yellow perch rounding out the catch. Walleye abundance (8.3/net) was average for the lake, and past catches have been stable. Lengths ranged from 7 to 23 inches with an average length of 17 inches, which is slightly low for Joseph. Walleye ages ranged from 1 to 16 years old. Of 28 walleyes aged, 25 (89%) were from stocked years. The 2021-year class alone represented 46% of the catch. Walleye growth was fast for the Tower Area, with fish reaching 16 inches by age four. The largest walleye of the 2025 survey was 28 inches out of a trap net. Northern pike numbers (10.3/net) were above average. Lengths ranged from 15 inches to 33 inches with an average length of 24 inches. Many pike captured in the survey were infected with neascus, also known as black spot. Total catch in trap nets (18.3/net) was typical for Joseph. Bluegill abundance has been the primary driver of trap net catch in recent decades, and in 2025 they represented 90% of the catch. Northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch were present in low numbers. Bluegill abundance (16.4/net) was higher than the long-term average, but lower than in recent surveys. Lengths ranged from 3.5 to 9.5 inches with an average length close to 7 inches. Fish greater than eight inches constituted 22% of the catch. Bluegill ages ranged from two to nine years old. Recruitment was consistent aside from a…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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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.
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