Kjostad Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69074800

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Kjostad Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2025 (4,332 fish).

• Kjostad Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): walleye (5).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 37,008 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 50 ft; surface area 437 acres, 286 littoral acres, 6.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.6 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, cisco species, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 20, 2025 (targeted survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Buyck; DNR lake number (DOW) 69074800.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 1/1/1900 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

² fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Kjostad Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 14.8 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 32.8 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 18.0 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 8.0 degrees C (46.4 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. This is the first Minnesota Department of Natural Resources temperature and dissolved oxygen survey completed on Kjostad Lake during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th). When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 20, 2025.

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