Mit Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16019300

DNR records show 3 stocking entries at Mit Lake since 2018, most recently walleye fry in 2024 (300,000 fish).

• Mit Lake has 3 DNR stocking records across 3 years (2018-2024): walleye (3).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 900,000 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 40 ft; surface area 87 acres, 54 littoral acres, 2.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 26, 2023 (standard survey).
• Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16019300.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

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.

Mit is a small, remote lake that has been stocked with walleye fry since the species was introduced in 1983. Public access is through a short portage trail near the southeast end of the lake and can be accessed from a rough and steep logging road. Mit is managed for walleye and northern pike. Walleye stocking has been done at an experimental high rate since 2000. The 2023 survey was the final of two scheduled in the 2013 lake management plan to evaluate the current walleye fry stocking program. The 2023 walleye catch in the gill nets was down from the previous two surveys and fell below the current management goal. Walleye ranged from 7.7 to 15.5 inches with a mean length of 11.9 inches. Aging results found a mixture of walleye likely from stocking events as well as from natural recruitment. The oldest walleye was only 5 years old. Growth rates were slow compared to other area lakes. These results suggest that walleye fry stockings may be assisting the walleye population in Mit Lake but may not be capable of achieving desired population levels. Northern pike were not captured in Pit Lake for the first time and were at low levels in the previous survey. Yellow perch are present but at low abundance. White sucker abundance was in the normal range for the lake but were relatively large in size (11 to 20 inches) and would not provide forage for most northern pike. 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, June 26, 2023.

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