Lima Lake
Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16022600
DNR records show 6 stocking entries at Lima Lake since 2016, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2024 (1,000 fish).
- Lima Lake has 6 DNR stocking records across 6 years (2016-2024): brook trout (5), rainbow trout (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is brook trout: 5,768 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 25 ft; surface area 11 acres, 7 littoral acres, 0.6 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 13.8 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16022600.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Brook Trout | fingerlings | 1,000 | 21.4 |
| 2022 | Brook Trout | fingerlings | 1,265 | 51.4 |
| 2020 | Brook Trout | fingerlings | 1,000 | 43.8 |
| 2019 | Brook Trout8 | fingerlings | 1,503 | 44.5 |
| 2018 | Brook Trout8 | fingerlings | 1,000 | 20.8 |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | fingerlings | 1,000 | 34.5 |
8 fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | - From Lima Grade (USFS 152); 1.3 mi N on USFS 152J to overlook; 0.5 mi W on trail through N part of clearcut to E end of lake. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | Open-water angling | 2.00 | 2 | 0.48 |
| Brook trout | Special gill nets | 0.60 | 6 | 0.76 |
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.
Lima is small 11-acre lake about 20 miles from Grand Marais and managed for brook trout. Public access is through a carry-in trail off an old logging road through a jack pine plantation southeast of the lake. It lies within the Lake Superior North watershed, draining to Lake Superior via an unnamed outlet stream to Fiddle Creek and the Brule River. The 2023 survey was conducted to update information on the brook trout population and evaluate stocking success. The 2023 survey was the first time that a combination of short term gill net sets and angling were used to determine the presence of stocked year classes while reducing mortality of brook trout. These methods were successful at capturing brook trout. Brook trout ranged from 8.9 to 14.9 inches with a mean of 12.3 inches. Aging results showed individuals from the 2022 stocked year class with a mean length of 6.2 inches and fish from the 2020 year class with a mean length of 12.3 inches. Growth rates were average compared to similar stocked brook trout lakes at about 3 inches per year. Lima Lake may interest anglers looking to target decent sized brook trout in the area. 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, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Hear when the states we cover post stockings
One email a week in season: which waters in the states we cover were stocked, straight from the state agencies' own postings. No spam, no fishing-gear ads in the mail.
Free · double opt-in · unsubscribe anytime · we store only your email.