Schaeffer Lake
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69001800
DNR records show 3 stocking entries at Schaeffer Lake since 2022, most recently black crappie fingerlings in 2022 (2,000 fish).
- Schaeffer Lake has 3 DNR stocking records across 1 year (2022-2022): black crappie (1), bluegill sunfish (1), walleye (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is black crappie: 2,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 17 ft; surface area 33 acres, 33 littoral acres, 2.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, northern pike, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow perch.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Rollins; DNR lake number (DOW) 69001800.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Black Crappie1 | fingerlings | 2,000 | 50.0 |
| 2022 | Bluegill Sunfish1 | fingerlings | 2,000 | 50.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye1 | fingerlings | 800 | 32.0 |
1 fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
DNR fish survey, 1995
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Survey seining | 177.00 | 354 | 0.00 |
| Pumpkinseed | Survey seining | 117.50 | 235 | 0.00 |
| Black crappie | Survey seining | 4.50 | 9 | 0.02 |
| White sucker | Survey seining | 1.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Common shiner | Survey seining | 0.50 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Northern pike | Survey seining | 0.50 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 6.00 | 12 | 1.36 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 2.00 | 4 | 3.73 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 1.50 | 3 | 0.06 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 1.80 | 18 | 0.10 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 1.30 | 13 | 1.14 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 1.20 | 12 | 0.06 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 0.80 | 8 | 7.75 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 0.50 | 5 | 0.28 |
| Common shiner | Standard trap nets | 0.10 | 1 | 0.13 |
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.
Results of the 1995 Schaeffer Lake survey indicate a fishery suited for smallmouth bass or walleye, but dominated by small northern pike. Schaeffer Lake water levels fluctuate widely throughout the course of the year characterized by spring high water, fluctuating summer levels dependant on precipitation, and declining winter levels. Landowners around the lake reported that the rate of water level fluctuations can be very dramatic. This situation limits abundance of aquatic vegetation and in extreme cases could be the cause of severe winter-kill conditions. Landowners also reported that smallmouth bass were once present but disappeared after a particularly low winter water level event in the 1970's. Because currently, there is little escape cover for forage speceies such as black crappie, pumpkinseed and yellow perch, and a abundant-small northern pike population, the fishery appears to be very limited. The abundant northern pike population could limit the success of any efforts to stock species such as smallmouth bass or walleye and also limit improvement of the panfish fishery. Increasing escape cover through artificial means could reduce the problem.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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