Loon Lake (Aitkin County)

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 01002400

DNR records show 32 stocking entries at Loon Lake (Aitkin County) since 2016, most recently brown trout yearlings in 2025 (200 fish).

• Loon Lake (Aitkin County) has 32 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (21), brown trout (10), splake (1).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 20,662 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 21 ft; surface area 34 acres, 22 littoral acres, 1.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.6 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brown trout, rainbow trout, white sucker.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: October 11, 2022 (standard survey).
• Aitkin County, nearest town McGregor; DNR lake number (DOW) 01002400.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2022

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.

Loon Lake is a designated stream trout lake located entirely within the boundaries of Savannah Portage State Park in northeastern Aitkin County. Anglers who fish Loon Lake are required to have a valid Minnesota State Park permit and a trout stamp. Park facilities on the lake include the park's main picnic area, swimming beach, canoe rental and boat launch with concrete log ramp. The use of gas-powered outboard motors is prohibited, limiting anglers to paddling, electric trolling motors, or shore fishing. Loon Lake is popular with the local residents and visitors to Savannah Portage State Park and provides a unique angling experience for central Minnesota. Historically, Loon Lake was a bass-panfish lake until it was reclaimed in 1971. The initial stocking of Rainbow Trout took place that fall. Brook Trout yearlings were then introduced in 1985 and stocked nearly annually through 2010. Splake, a sterile hybrid between male Brook Trout and female Lake Trout, were introduced in 1999 and stocked thru 2010. With changes in hatchery production, beginning in 2011, Loon Lake has been stocked each spring with 2,000 Rainbow Trout yearlings and 200 Brown Trout yearlings. An additional 500 yearling or adult Rainbow Trout may be stocked later in the year when hatchery surplus is available. It is believed that the Brown Trout will be able to take advantage of the available prey (White Suckers) and grow to larger sizes to provide a quality element to the fishery. Catches of Brown Trout decreased, while Rainbow Trout increased in the 2022 trap net assessment. This survey sampled 145 rainbow trout ranging in size from 8.5 to 12.6 inches with an average length of 10.7 inches. Twenty Brown Trout were also sampled measuring from 9.9 to 14.9 inches with an average length of 11.3 inches. Data suggests that Brown Trout are also surviving past their first winter and are continuing to grow, as previous surveys have documented them out to over 17 inches. Future surveys will provide more information on the potential of the Brown Trout fishery. White Sucker abundance increased for the second survey in a row to 5.9 per net after a short-term decline observed in 2012 (0.75 per net). This is the highest abundance observed for White Suckers, while providing excellent forage for larger Brown Trout, they may compete with Rainbow Trout and smaller Brown Trout for invertebrate food resources. However, since both Rainbow and Brown Trout appear to be growing much better than previous populations of Brook Trout, the White Suckers may not be having much of a negative effect on growth rates in…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, October 11, 2022.

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