Lower Comstock Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69041202
DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Lower Comstock Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (121,000 fish).
- Lower Comstock Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2016-2024): walleye (5).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 605,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 30 ft; surface area 160 acres, 121 littoral acres, 3.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shorthead redhorse, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and 1 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Markham; DNR lake number (DOW) 69041202.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 1/1/1936 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 121,000 | 1.1 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 121,000 | 1.3 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 121,000 | 1.3 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 121,000 | 1.4 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 121,000 | 1.2 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| earthen ramp | Minnesota DNR | - Back in access located on Upper Comstock Lake; then up channel to Lower Comstock Lake. |
DNR fish survey, 2018
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 8.78 | 79 | 0.26 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 3.33 | 30 | 0.21 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 1.78 | 16 | 3.06 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 1.44 | 13 | 3.42 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 1.11 | 10 | 0.20 |
| Brown bullhead | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 9 | 1.10 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 1.02 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.78 | 7 | 0.18 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 7.50 | 30 | 0.19 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 5.25 | 21 | 0.11 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 4.00 | 16 | 1.53 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 2.50 | 10 | 1.95 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 1.25 | 5 | 0.43 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 1.25 | 5 | 1.33 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.75 | 3 | 0.38 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.25 | 1 | 0.37 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 5.53 | 7 | 1.07 |
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.
Lower Comstock is a 160 acre lake located about 6 miles south of Markham, MN. The lake is accessed through a DNR administered public access on Upper Comstock Lake, then navigating up the channel to Lower Comstock Lake. Maximum depth is 30 feet, with about 76% of the lake less than 15 feet deep. Lower Comstock was last assessed in 2000. Lower Comstock was surveyed during the summer of 2018 to update information about fish populations. Lower Comstock is stocked with 121,000 Walleye fry every even year. Walleye abundance of 2.5 per gillnet lift is average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was large at 18.0 inches. Ninety percent of the Walleye aged corresponded to stocked year-classes suggesting limited natural reproduction. Black Crappie and Bluegill population densities were average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Black Crappie average length was 7.0 inches, but angling success and size should improve in 2019 and beyond with strong 2015 and 2016 year-classes maturing. Quality Bluegill angling opportunities exist with nearly 25% of the trapnet sample exceeding 8 inches in length. Bluegill average length was 6.6 inches. Northern Pike abundance of 4.0 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length from the gillnets was only 19.7 inches, but some large Northern Pike are present in Lower Comstock. The trapnets captured two large specimens that approached 40 inches in length.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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