South Farm Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38077800

DNR records show 4 stocking entries at South Farm Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fingerlings in 2023 (5,220 fish).

• South Farm Lake has 4 DNR stocking records across 4 years (2017-2023): walleye (4).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 30,105 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 31 ft; surface area 564 acres, 360 littoral acres, 10.8 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.2 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, burbot, cisco species, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 31, 2025 (targeted survey).
• Lake County, nearest town Ely; DNR lake number (DOW) 38077800.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 10/19/1965 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

² fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in South Farm Lake on July 31st, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 26.2 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 10.6 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 13.2 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 2.7 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present but marginal. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 19.4 degrees C (66.9 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco at the time of the survey as the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 4 years, between 2008-2024, also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat in all years surveyed, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 0.5 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress. On South Farm Lake, when adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, fish can move out of the lake into Farm Lake which contains better oxythermal conditions for Cisco.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 31, 2025.

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