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How to Rank the Best Fishing Lakes in the Ely Minnesota Area
Every year I make at least one fishing trip to either the Boundary Waters or some lake near Ely Minnesota. I have been on guided trips, visited all the Ely bait shops, and thrown a line in many of the surrounding lakes. No matter which bait shop I visit, I ask the same question:
“What is the best fishing lake in Ely, Minnesota?”
Over the years I get a variety of responses. The most common is simply “Basswood.” Everyone knows Basswood is a prime fishery. But the second most common response to my question is, “You’ll catch the limit on any of these lakes, if you are in the right spot.” Those responses are met with a grin that marks the end of the conversation.
Unsatisfied, I decided to take a less subjective approach to find the best fishing spot in Ely. Instead of leaning on experts and local fisherman to tell me their secrets (which many have), I analyzed Minnesota’s DNR Gill Net Surveys (See LakeFinder in References) over the last several years and compared popular game fish production on each lake. Using these Gill Net surveys provides a data centered approach to compare lakes and determine which is the best.
I was surprised to discover that the best fishing lake in Ely, MN according to the DNR surveys was Little Long Lake, followed by Fall and Basswood Lake.
What is a Gill Net Survey?
Minnesota’s DNR takes fish surveys across the thousands of lakes they manage. They use Gill Nets which are approximately 250 feet long nets to capture fish. The fish are counted, weighed, measured and then thrown back. The DNR takes multiple samples across each lake which provides them data about whether the lakes are weak, healthy, or thriving fisheries. This data can also be used by anglers to determine which lake might be the perfect spot to catch the next state record!
Ranking Ely’s Best Lakes: My Methodology
Most anglers are targeting Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small Mouth Bass. These are the species I used to rank the top 19 lakes surrounding Ely, MN. The DNR takes multiple Gill Net samples when they complete a survey. For bigger lakes, they take more samples in order to accurately understand the health of the lake. For this reason, I could not merely count the number of fish the Gill Nets produced, instead I took the average number of Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small Mouth Bass the Gill Net captured per sample. Different locations on different lakes may yield more or less, but the hope is that all the samples averaged together would provide an accurate picture of how healthy the lake is. This allows me to compare small lakes to large lakes and get a sense for which ones are hot.
But if you are like me then you do not just want to catch a ton of fish, you want to catch a ton of BIG fish. The second thing I accounted for was how many big Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small Mouth were captured and divided that by the total amount. This provided a percentage of how many game fish were what I considered – BIG FISH (The ones I like). BIG FISH were counted as Walleyes 20" or larger, Northern Pike 30" or larger, and Small Mouth Bass 15" or larger.
Note: Using my walleye length to weight calculator, a 20 inch walleye is roughly 3 pounds.
Summary of the Top 19 Fishing Lakes near Ely, MN and BWCA:
Data from Reference 1 used as input in Summary calculations.
After compiling the data, according to the MN DNR, Little Long Lake is the best fishery in the Ely Area. The fish are big and many.
The second best fishing lake according to fish per Gill Net is Fall Lake - which was surprising! The size of the fish were small, so I would recommend some of the other top 5 lakes over Fall Lake.
The third best lake according to my methodology is none other than Basswood Lake. I have always considered Basswood to be the best fishing lake in the area and perhaps Minnesota. I have caught many big fish in Basswood and for it to come in third means I really want to fish Little Long Lake!
Lake Vermilion came in fourth. I was surprised that lake Vermilion only had 3% BIG FISH score. I checked my numbers twice because I know there are some big fish in Vermilion. Do not overlook Lake Vermilion, it is a big lake that is also home to Muskies which were not considered in my study.
The fifth best fishing lake from a Gill Net numbers perspective was Birch Lake. I have had fishing guides tell me that Birch Lake is the best fishing lake outside of the Boundary Waters. Birch Lake yielded healthy Walleye numbers, but they were on the small side.
An interesting observation is that some of the low Gill Net producing lakes had a good percentage of BIG FISH in them. One that popped out to me is Burntside Lake. Burntside ranked number 16 in terms of Gill Net game fish, but 26% of those were BIG FISH. Since I grew up on Burntside Lake – I can testify that this is an accurate representation of the lake. It is difficult to fish, but worth it because there are some lunkers lurking.
Top 19 Fishing Lakes
Depth: 45'
Size: 322 Acres
Little Long Lake sits 2 miles Northwest of Ely and boasts a diverse fish population, including walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, rainbow smelt, white sucker, green sunfish, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. It is a small lake, but tops them all according to my analysis.
Depth: 32'
Size: 2,258 Acres
I am very surprised that Fall Lake yielded the second most major game fish per Gill Net. The 2022 survey showed very good numbers; however, the fish were on the smaller side. Fall Lake is the gateway to Basswood and I would still recommend Basswood fishing over Fall. Half of Fall Lake is in the BWCA, so if you cross the boundary, make sure you have a permit and are only using a 25 HP motor.
Depth: 111'
Size: 25,953 Acres
Basswood Lake is one of the most popular fishing lakes near Ely, MN. Basswood resides in the BWCA. In order to fish Basswood you need to get a 25 HP motor BWCA permit or a canoe permit. In order to fish Basswood, you will need to plan ahead and make sure you comply with BWCA regulations.
4. Lake Vermilion, Tower MN
Depth: 76'
Size: 39,272 Acres
Lake Vermilion is a large lake known for excellent fishing of many species including Trophy Muskies! While the Gill Net survey shows fish on the small size, this survey was taken in 2022. The DNR expects an outlook of solid fishing for the near future. This means expect to catch some BIG FISH in 2024 and beyond! The DNR says that the East Side of the Lake tends to hold the larger fish in smaller quantities while the West side tends to hold smaller fish in plenty. It's a big lake, so plan your trip accordingly!
*The survey showed below average Northern Pike quantities, but this needs to be taken with a grain of salt. There are Trophy Muskies lurking and of course big pike too.
5. Birch Lake, Babbit MN
Depth: 25'
Size: 7,074 Acres
Birch Lake sits just northeast of Babbitt, and features accessible points through four public ramps. Birch has brown water and is regulated by a dam at its outlet. The lake sustains a diverse fish population, highlighted by a robust walleye catch rate, a northern pike protected slot regulation, and is littered with invasive crayfish.
6. Snowbank Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 150'
Size: 4,655 Acres
If you are looking for an all around good fishing lake, Snowbank is for you. The Gill Net surveys show good fish across all three major species. Additionally recent surveys show strong Lake Trout population. The Northern Part of the lake is in the BWCA and therefore this section requires a permit and has a 25 HP restriction. If you do not have a permit, you can fish on the Southside, outside of the BWCA.
7. Cedar Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 45'
Size: 465 Acres
Cedar Lake is a quality fishery that I personally fish once a year. My experience agrees with the Gill Net data except that I would say Cedar has some nice Small Mouth Bass. The Gill Net data would argue it is below average for Smallies. There is an invasive species of crayfish and so the Small Mouth Bass may be fewer but they are pretty hefty and fun to catch.
8. Wolf Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 28'
Size: 289 Acres
Wolf Lake sits West of Ely MN and is just South of Burntside Lake's Western arm. Northern Pike are plentiful according to Gill Net Surveys. This aligns with what I've heard about the lake, although I do not have much experience on the lake. Even though the Gill Net surveys show average Small Mouth populations, trap nets and electrofishing techniques were used by the DNR which yielded plenty of Large Mouth and Small Mouth. Additionally, the recent lake surveys suggest a solid panfish population. If you want to throw a spoon or spinner bait, Wolf Lake might be the one for you!
9. White Iron Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 47'
Size: 3,237 Acres
White Iron Lake is legendary in my family. Growing up, Grandpa had a 15-pound Walleye on the wall caught in none other than White Iron Lake. According to Gill Net surveys this lake is average for the area - which means it's a great place to fish. White Iron is part of a chain of lakes connected to Garden and Farm. It gets more pressure than many of the other lakes in the area because of its solid reputation for delivering a quality fishing experience.
10. Big Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 22'
Size: 1,904 Acres
Big Lake is North of Ely on the Echo Trail. It is remote and borders but is not inside the BWCA. Therefore no BWCA permit is required to fish the lake. The lake is known for Walleye. I have heard moose have been sighted canoeing from Big Lake to La Pond. If Walleye and wilderness is your thing, Big Lake might be your place!
11. Moose Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 65'
Size: 1,301 Acres
Moose Lake is 13 miles East of Ely MN off the Fernberg Road. Half of the lake is in the BWCA and half is outside. If you fish the portion inside the BWCA (Eastern half of the lake), you will be restricted to a 25 HP motor and will need a permit. The Gill Net survey shows healthy Northern Pike in Moose. This lake is a beautiful lake and yields solid fish.
12. Lac La Croix, BWCA
Depth: 168'
Size: 29,597 Acres
Lac La Croix is a massive lake that lines the Canadian border. Half of it sits in the BWCA of Minnesota and the other half in Ontario. All of the MN DNR surveys were conducted in the BWCA side of the lake. There are some portions of the lake that allow 25 HP motor permits, but much of the BWCA part of the lake is motor free. The lake also carries Lake Trout and Whitefish for anglers looking for deeper game.
13. Shagawa Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 48'
Size: 2,345 Acres
Lake Shagawa is adjacent to the northside of Ely MN. Historically, it is considered a great Walleye lake. Recent Gill Net surveys show the Walleye production is average for the area. In recent years there have been a few reports of Muskies caught in Shagawa. The Muskies are not native and thought to have escaped a fishery in the Burntside River and made their way to Shagawa Lake. This lake is conveniently close to Ely and is one I was expecting higher on the list.
14. Farm Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 56'
Size: 1,292 Acres
Farm Lake is part of the White Iron and Garden chain of Lakes. It is a solid fishery. Check limit regulations before heading out. The Gill Net data shows a great BIG FISH metric but lower number of fish than other lakes in the area.
15. Bear Island Lake, Babbitt MN
Depth: 62'
Size: 2,362 Acres
While the recent Gill Net surveys show a below average Walleye population, the lake has historically been a Walleye lake. Bear Island Lake is a popular destination but is lagging behind some of the other lakes in the area in terms of having solid game fish populations.
Depth: 126'
Size: 7,314 Acres
Burntside Lake is a beautiful lake just West of Ely. The lake has many islands and inlets. It is a clear lake and has an invasive species of Ranbow Smelt that make natural Walleye spawning difficult. Even though it can be tough to fish, there are some BIG FISH lurking. Burntside is also home to Lake Trout. If BIG FISH or Lake Trout are your thing, you may want to consider visiting Burntside Lake.
17. Low Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 40'
Size: 316 Acres
Low Lake is at the bottom of the list in terms of Walleye, Northern Pike, and Small Mouth, but it is one of my favorite places to fish. The lake is renown for panfish. It is a great lake to fish with kids because the bluegill will bite all day long. The lake feels remote with only a cabin or two on it, and is outside the Boundary Waters so no need for a permit. There is only one boat ramp on the lake and it does not have a dock which makes loading in and out tough. Even though Low Lake is low on this list, its a lake worth exploring.
18. Garden Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 55'
Size: 653 Acres
Garden is part of the White Iron and Farm Lake chain. According to fish surveys, Garden has the smallest population of fish. But since it is connected to the other two lakes, if you stay on Garden then you have easy access to two better fisheries.
19. Fenske Lake, Ely MN
Depth: 43'
Size: 108 Acres
Fenske Lake is last but not least. The lake has a nice campground and fishing pier which is good for kids. No Walleyes were present in the Gill Net surveys which biased Fenske to score lower on my Top Game Fish metric. While its not the strongest Walleye lake, it still is enjoyable to fish, and scores well in the BIG FISH metric.
References:
Fisheries, M. a. (2024, January 26). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved from LakeFinder: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html
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