Wasson Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31028100

Wasson Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.

• Wasson Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of September 2, 2026.
• Maximum depth 67 ft; surface area 438 acres, 208 littoral acres, 8.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 17.0 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: June 14, 2010 (standard survey).
• Itasca County, nearest town Taconite; DNR lake number (DOW) 31028100.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

DNR fish survey, 2010

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.

Wasson Lake is located about 22 miles north of Taconite, MN, within the Mississippi River Watershed. The 415 acre lake has 208 littoral acres with a 67 foot max depth. The shoreline is moderately developed with very little public ownership. There is one resort with eight cabins and 45 private dwellings. Diverse aquatic plant life can be found along the 8.2 mile shoreline. Yellow iris was noted as being present around the shoreline. This species is noted as having invasive characteristics and is proposed to become a regulated exotic species. There is no public access to the lake. Northern pike were sampled within the expected range for lakes similar to Wasson and similar to the previous assessment. The pike fishery can be characterized as having a modest size structure indicated by a 20 inch average and a top length of 35 inches in the gill net sample. Scale analysis indicated eight consecutive ages were sampled with fish up to age-8 in the sample. Back calculated length-at-age indicated growth was similar to the statewide average for all ages. Northern pike averaged nearly 24 inches by age-5. Black crappie were sampled at a rate exceeding the expected range in gill nets, similar to the previous assessment, while the trap net catch rate was lower than expected, also similar to the previous assessment. A moderate fishery exists for crappie with a few larger individuals in the population. Lengths ranged from 6.1-12.4 inches, in the gill net sample, with a mean length of 8.5 inches. Scale analysis indicated relatively consistent year classes with only one missing age class in seven years. Fish up to age nine were present in the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age indicated growth was slow early, but near the statewide average by age-3. Black crappie averaged 10 inches by age-6. Bluegill were sampled at the upper end of the expected range, nearly double the previous assessment. Size structure was moderate with lengths from 2.9-9.2 inches and a 5.5 inch average. Scale analysis indicated consecutive age classes 3-9 were present in the sample. Growth was similar to the statewide average for lake class 25 up to age-6, whiles ages 7-9 were slightly faster. Bluegill averaged almost eight inches by age-7. Yellow perch were sampled at a rate below the expected range, yet similar to the previous assessment. Lengths were typically too small to interest most anglers, averaging 6.7 inches. Trap nets sampled two largemouth bass, 7.1 and 16.9 inches, age 2 and 7, respectively. This was the first assessment since 1970 to not sample smallmouth bass in any standard gear.…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, June 14, 2010.

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