Mott Pit

St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69130200

DNR records show 15 stocking entries at Mott Pit since 2016, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (1,800 fish).

• Mott Pit has 15 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): rainbow trout (15).
• The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 15,450 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 80 ft; surface area 18 acres, 0.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 13.0 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brown trout, green sunfish, rainbow trout, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: May 22, 2024 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Mountain Iron; DNR lake number (DOW) 69130200.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2024

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.

Mott Pit is a former iron ore mine located about 0.5 miles southwest of Mountain Iron. The pit filled with water when mining operations closed. The pit is now about 18 acres in size and has a maximum depth of 80 feet. The water surface elevation varies depending on local precipitation. Water quality is good and there is sufficient coldwater habitat to support trout species. The pit is managed as a stream trout lake and is stocked both in the spring and fall with rainbow trout by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). There is an unimproved gravel boat ramp on the east shore of the pit. The 2024 fisheries survey consisted of three gillnets. Five rainbow trout and one brown trout were caught during the 2024 survey for a catch rate of 2.0 trout per net. Rainbow trout averaged 13.5 inches, while the brown trout was 17.5 inches. This was one of the highest trout catches on record for Mott Pit and average sizes were the largest on record. A single walleye was sampled in 2024. The fish was 24 inches in length. While rarely sampled in large numbers, walleye have been sampled in most surveys on Mott Pit. Other species sampled in 2024 include golden shiner, green sunfish, white sucker, and yellow perch. Catch rates ranged from 3 fish per net for golden shiner to 15 fish per net for yellow perch. Lengths of these species were all relatively small.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, May 22, 2024.

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