Sock Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 16033500

DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Sock Lake since 2017, most recently brook trout fingerlings in 2025 (1,500 fish).

• Sock Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): brook trout (5).
• The most-stocked species by count is brook trout: 7,500 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 23 ft; surface area 20 acres, 16 littoral acres, 0.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 6.7 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: brook trout.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 17, 2025 (standard survey).
• Cook County, nearest town Grand Marais; DNR lake number (DOW) 16033500.

Stocking history

⁸ fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

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.

Sock Lake is a small, 20-acre lake with a maximum depth of 23.0 feet and is located completely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Access to the lake is considered difficult, with an approximate two-mile portage across arduous terrain from the Mayhew Lake Road spur trail. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations in Sock Lake have supported conditions that are suitable for stocked trout during the summer. Sock Lake is currently managed for brook trout and is stocked with 1,500 fingerlings during the fall of odd-numbered years. The long-range goal for brook trout is to maintain a minimum gillnet catch of 5.0 fish/net with two-year classes of fish greater than 10.0 inches present. In 2025, a standard survey was conducted on Sock Lake to assess the brook trout fishery. The 2025 brook trout catch rate from gillnets was 7.5 fish/net and met the management objective for the lake. Although the 2025 survey was similar to the previous survey in 2005, it was below the long-term average for the lake. Brook trout lengths ranged from 10.4 to 16.1 inches, with an average length of 13.9 inches. Over half the catch was greater than 13.0 inches, providing anglers with the opportunity to catch quality sized brook trout. Age analysis found age two- and four-year-old fish from the 2023 and 2021 stocking events. Brook trout growth in Sock Lake was moderate, with age-2 fish reaching 11.3 inches and age-4 fish reaching 14.8 inches on average. Temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions within Sock Lake remained suitable for brook trout; however, there were signs of stress during the summer months with limited habitat available for the species. Anglers looking to fish Sock Lake should expect to work hard hiking/portaging into the lake but be rewarded with moderate catch rates of larger sized brook trout. 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.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 17, 2025.

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