Sabin (Embarrass Mine) Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69042900
DNR records show 1 stocking entry at Sabin (Embarrass Mine) Lake since 2025, most recently rainbow trout yearlings in 2025 (2,000 fish).
- Sabin (Embarrass Mine) Lake has 1 DNR stocking record across 1 year (2025-2025): rainbow trout (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is rainbow trout: 2,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 465 ft, mean depth 167 ft; surface area 156 acres, 12 littoral acres, 2.3 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 38.7 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: bluegill, cisco species, lake trout, white sucker.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Aurora; DNR lake number (DOW) 69042900.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey (get source); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | yearlings | 2,000 | 714.3 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | Minnesota DNR | Concrete ramp, north shore. - Steep downhill grade to lake. Parking for approx. ten vehicles with trailers. |
| O | UKN | - Walk-down unimproved accesses on east and south shores. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White sucker | Shallow gill nets | 5.67 | 17 | 0.52 |
| Lake trout | Shallow gill nets | 3.33 | 10 | 1.25 |
| Cisco (tullibee) | Shallow gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.18 |
| Creek chub | Shallow gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.34 |
| Lake trout | Deep gill nets | 1.33 | 4 | 1.05 |
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.
Sabin Lake (Embarrass Pit) is a 156-acre mine pit located between Biwabik and Aurora. There is a public access on the north shore of the lake with a steep concrete boat ramp. The lake has a maximum depth of 465 feet and extremely clear water. On June 20, 2023, Embarrass Pit was thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 69 F and a temperature of 39 F at a depth of 100 feet. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish throughout the top 100 feet of the water column. Six gill nets were used to sample gamefish in this survey. Lake trout were sampled at a rate of 2.3 fish/net, which was slightly lower than the historical average for the lake. The average length of lake trout sampled was 15.0 inches, and the largest individual was 22.0 inches long. Lake trout were initially stocked into Embarrass Pit in 1985 and have not been stocked since, indicating that the lake supports a naturally reproducing population. Other species sampled in gill nets included cisco, creek chub, and white sucker. Zebra mussels are an aquatic invasive species that are present in Embarrass Pit. It is important for anglers and boaters to follow regulations when moving between lakes because these species can survive in or on boats, trailers, and equipment for some time. Be sure to drain all water from bait containers, live wells, bilge, and watercraft, dispose of any unused bait, and carefully inspect and remove any plants or animals attached to the watercraft, trailer, anchor, or other equipment before leaving the lake.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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