Mink Lake (Cook County)
Cook County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16004600
DNR records show 20 stocking entries at Mink Lake (Cook County) since 2016, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2025 (2,500 fish).
- Mink Lake (Cook County) has 20 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (11), splake (8), brook trout (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is splake: 38,400 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 15 ft, mean depth 10 ft; surface area 57 acres, 57 littoral acres, 1.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 9.9 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout, rainbow trout, splake, yellow perch.
- 3 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16004600.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Brook Trout | fingerlings | 2,500 | 99.8 |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 5,500 | 1,944.4 |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 833.3 |
| 2024 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 157.4 |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 833.3 |
| 2023 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 199.2 |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | adults | 40 | 160.0 |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 833.3 |
| 2022 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 132.3 |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 862.1 |
| 2021 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 128.5 |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 862.1 |
| 2020 | Splake | fingerlings | 3,000 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 833.3 |
| 2019 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,400 | 192.2 |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 892.9 |
| 2018 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 227.3 |
| 2017 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 833.3 |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,500 | 897.2 |
| 2016 | Splake | fingerlings | 5,000 | 113.6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | |
| O | USF | - Accessible fishing pier off FR 140. Parking available for three vehicles. |
| CA | USF |
DNR fish survey, 2024
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 8.80 | 88 | 0.14 |
| Splake | Standard trap nets | 4.90 | 49 | 0.57 |
| Rainbow trout | Standard trap nets | 1.50 | 15 | 0.66 |
| Brook trout | Standard trap nets | 0.40 | 4 | 0.29 |
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.
Mink Lake is a small, 57-acre lake with a maximum depth of 15 feet and is located approximately 12 miles northeast of Grand Marais. There is a small carry-in access located on the east side of the lake, as well as a wooden fishing pier off Trout Lake Road. Mink Lake is a designated stream trout lake and has been actively stocked with rainbow trout and splake since 1992. In 2024, a standard survey was conducted in the fall using standard trap nets to assess the current fish community and evaluate the success of rainbow trout and splake stocking efforts. Rainbow trout are the primary management species within Mink Lake and are stocked annually. Rainbow trout abundance was higher than previous surveys and above the management goal of 0.8 fish/net. Rainbow trout ranged from 11.0 to 14.7 inches with no larger fish found. Size and age information suggested that two stocked year classes of rainbow trout were present in the lake. Based on the catch rates and size structure of fish, anglers should expect to catch average amounts of eater sized rainbow trout from Mink Lake. Splake have been stocked annually in Mink Lake and catches from the 2024 survey remained high and exceeded management goals. Splake ranged between 7.2 to 19.8 inches, with the largest fish aged at 5 years old. Aging results showed five stocked year classes present within Mink Lake and specifically, strong year classes from 2022 and 2023. Mink Lake has historically been known to grow good sizes of splake and anglers looking to target splake in the lake will have the opportunity catch good numbers of eater sized fish and a chance at catching a memorable sized fish based on the results from the 2024 survey. Minnesota Lakes within Cook County 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 to these pristine waters within this part of the state.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
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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