St. Louis River Estuary

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69129100

DNR records show 7 stocking entries at St. Louis River Estuary since 2019, most recently lake sturgeon fingerlings in 2025 (2,241 fish).

• St. Louis River Estuary has 7 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2019-2025): muskellunge (4), lake sturgeon (3).
• The most-stocked species by count is muskellunge: 8,435 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 55 ft; surface area 10,255 acres, 10,242 littoral acres, 195.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Fish species DNR lists here: American eel, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brook trout, brown bullhead, brown trout, burbot, channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, gizzard shad, and 21 more.
• 6 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 23, 2025 (standard survey).
• St. Louis County, nearest town Duluth; DNR lake number (DOW) 69129100.

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.

The St. Louis River Estuary (SLRE) has a surface area of 10,255 acres and extends from the Fond du Lac Dam to the Wisconsin Entry from Lake Superior on Minnesota Point. The estuary is an interstate waterway between Minnesota and Wisconsin and has 8,606 (85%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of approximately 55 feet. Standardized stations were sampled with overnight gill net sets to monitor gamefish populations, evaluate the Lake Sturgeon rehabilitation program and gather information on other fish species. Twenty different fish species were collected during the survey. The most abundant species collected were Walleye, Shorthead Redhorse and Yellow Perch. The 2018 lake management plan (LMP) revision listed Walleye, Lake Sturgeon, Muskellunge and Smallmouth Bass as the primary management species. Goals for Walleye were to maintain a naturally reproducing population with a rolling three population estimate average of at least 62,000 adults and angler preferred size fish present. Lake Sturgeon goals were to reestablish a self-sustaining population with a minimum of 1,500 adults with 25 or more year-classes of adult fish and measurable recruitment of juvenile (age 2-5) fish. Muskellunge goals detailed maintaining a Muskellunge population with a rolling three population estimate average of at least 2,000 adults (greater than 30 inches; 0.2 per acre) with some trophy size fish present. Smallmouth Bass goals were to maintain a population with quality size structure. The SLRE Walleye fishery is extremely popular with anglers and provides some of the best opportunities for both abundance and quality sized catches in the Duluth Area. The population has a migratory contingency that moves into Lake Superior at times. Walleye abundance of 9.7 per gill net was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length was 16.2 inches. The proportion of adult Walleye that exceeded quality size (greater than 15 inches) was 71%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 20 inches) was 13%. The proportion that exceeded memorable size (greater than 25 inches) was 1%. The 2018-2020 year-classes are all strong and should provide excellent harvest opportunities in the SLRE. After decades of restorative efforts, Lake Sturgeon now offer high quality catch and release angling opportunities in the SLRE. Lake Sturgeon populations were extirpated from the SLRE and western Lake Superior in the early 1900's. A collaborative effort between Minnesota and Wisconsin resulted in 12 different year-classes stocked from 1983 through 2000.…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 23, 2025.

All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder