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Lakes/Rivers

Introduction

The Arrowhead Region is rich in lakes and rivers. Some of the state’s best fishing is in the area. Try for trout in Lake Superior’s tributary streams or go for walleye in one of Duluth’s reservoir lakes. Below you will find a list of some of the most popular lakes and rivers. For an extended list, visit the bottom of the page.

Lakes

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN
Water accesses: North St. Louis County, Central St. Louis County, South St. Louis County.

Bear Head Lake

  •  Nearest town: Tower, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Boulder Lake Rervoir

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black bullhead, black crappie, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Caribou Lake

  • Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, Largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch, pumpkin seed.

Fish Lake Reservoir

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, pumpkin seed, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Grand Lake

  • Nearest town: Twig, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black bullhead, bluegill, brown bullhead, golden shiner, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Island Lake Reservroir

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, burbot, channel catfish, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Pike Lake

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Rainy Lake

  • Nearest town: International Falls, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, burbot, lake whitefish, northern pike, pumpkin seed, rock bass, sauger, shorthead redhorse, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

St. Louis Bay

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, channel catfish, freshwater drum, lake sturgeon, muskellunge, northern pike, river ruffe, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, white perch, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.

Lake Vermillion

  • Nearest town: Tower, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, burbot, golden shiner, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Whiteface Reservoir

  •  Nearest town: Markham, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, burbot, northern pike, pumpkin seed, rock bass, trout-perch, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Wild Rice Lake Reservoir

  •  Nearest town: Duluth, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, bluegill, golden shiner, northern pike, pumpkin seed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

LAKE COUNTY, MN
Water accesses: North Lake County, South Lake County.

Birch Lake

  • Nearest town: Ely, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Bluegill, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Silver Island Lake

  • Nearest town: Isabella
  • Map
  • Species: Black crappie, golden shiner, lake whitefish, northern pike, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

White Iron Lake

  • Nearest town:
  • Map
  • Species:

COOK COUNTY, MN
Water accesses: East Cook County, West Cook County.

Devil Track Lake

  • Nearest town: Grand Marais, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

McFarland Lake

  • Nearest town: Hovland, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

Two Island Lake

  • Nearest town: Grand Marais, MN
  • Map
  • Species: Bluegill, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, WI

Amnicon Lake

  • Nearest Town: Superior, WI
  • Map
  • Lake Access
  • Species: Muskellunge, panfish, largemouth bass, walleye.

Lake Nebagamon

  • Nearest Town: Winneboujou, WI
  • Map
  • Lake Access
  • Species: Panfish, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout, walleye.

BAYFIELD COUNTY, WI

Lake Owen

  • Nearest town: Drummond
  • Map
  • Lake access
  • Species: Panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye.

Lower Eau Claire Lake

  • Nearest town: Drummond
  • Map
  • Species: Panfish, northern pike, walleye, muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass.

Middle Eau Claire Lake

  • Nearest town: Drummond
  • Map
  • Lake access
  • Species: Panfish, largemouth bass, northen pike, walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass.

Upper Eau Claire Lake

  • Nearest town: Drummond
  • Map
  • Lake access
  • Species: Northern pike, panfish, muskellunge, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye.

Rivers/Water Trails

MINNESOTA

Big Fork River

  • The Big Fork flows north to the Rainy river. Expect good fishing for walleye, northern pike and muskies. There are two waterfalls: Little American Falls (Class III-IV) and Big Falls (Class IV-VI).

Cloquet River

  • Upper stretch of the Cloquet River yields red and white pine, fir, spruce, aspen and birch. The river offers a mixture of flat areas and bouldery stretches. If you’re looking to fish, expect smallmouth bass, sunfish, northern pike, walleye and channel catfish. For whitewater kayaking, head near the Island Lake Reservoir for Class III rapids (the rest of the river is Class I-II).

Kettle River

  • By far one of the Kettle River’s most unique aspects is its sandstone banks. The area was once mined for sandstone and copper. At Banning State Park you can see the remnant buildings of old mining. The river also offers great whitewater kayaking (Class II-IV at Banning State Park). Expect smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and crappies if you plan on fishing.

Lake Superior

  • The Lake Superior Water Trail offers some of the best sight seeing in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, it can also be the most dangerous due to the lakes low temperatures and unpredictability. Safety aside, Lake Superior has a lot to offer for canoeists kayakers alike. Take a look at these four water trail maps to plan your day trip or extended kayaking excursion. Map 1: St. Louis River to Two Harbors, Map 2: Two Harbors to Caribou River, Map 3: Caribou River to Grand Marais, Map 4: Grand Marais to Pigeon River.

Little Fork River

  • Twin to the Big Fork, the Little Fork also flows north to the Rainy River. Class I-II rapids and Class VI at Hannie Falls. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, rock bass and sturgeon.

St. Louis River

  • The St. Louis begins near Hoyt Lakes, MN and empties into Lake Superior. Expect walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass andchannel catfish. Rapids are Class I-VI, expect lots of rapids at Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton. See the DNR’s Guide to the Lower St. Louis River (Floodwood to Duluth), and the Guide to the Upper St. Louis River (Round Lake to Floodwood).

Vermillion River

  • The Vermillion River is fed by Lake Vermillion and flows to Crane Lake. There are 10 portages set up along the 40 mile route. Rapids are Class I – VI. Fish include: smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, rock bass, muskies and crappies. Most rapids are runnable for experienced paddlers but High Falls (Class VI) near Crane Lake needs to be portaged by everyone.

WISCONSIN

Lake Superior

Brule River

  • Believe it or not, fishing for trophy steelhead is not the only thing the Brule has to offer. It is also a great (one of the best) rivers for kayaking and canoeing in northern Wisconsin. The river begins at the Upper St. Croix Lake and empties into Lake Superior. There are multiple landings spaced fairly evenly. From landing to landing, trips vary from 45 minutes to 5 hours and provide river conditions varying from flatter bogs to fast moving rapids and ledges. For a simple view of the landings and their relative locations, see this map. For trip details, check out the Brule River Canoe Rental’s guide.

St. Croix River and Namekagon River

  •  The St. Croix and Namekagon meet near Danbury, Wisconsin. The St Croix then flows south and forms the border bewteen Minnesota and Wisconsin. Both rivers yield sunfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskies and more. For detailed river information, refer to the following river section maps:
Namekagon River
Namekagon Dam to Hayward Landing
Hayward to Trego
Trego to Riverside
St. Croix River
Gordon Dam to Riverside Landing
Riverside Landing to Sand Creek Landing
Sand Creek Landing to Highway 70
Highway 70 to Highway 8
Highway 8 to Osceola
Osceola to the High Bridge
High Bridge to Boomsite Landing (boaters)

Chippewa River

  • The Chippewa River forms begins just south of Bayfield county where it flows south until it empies into the Mississippi River in Pepin county. It is joined by the Flambeau River in Rusk county. Fishing includes panfish, northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass and muskies. For river segment maps and rapid information, check out these Wisconsin Department of Tourism maps: Hwy D to Imalone,Bruce to the Flambeau River, Imalone to Bruce.

Flambeau River

  • There are two segments of the  Flambeau River, the North Fork and South Fork. The North Fork begins at the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and the South Fork begins at Round and Pike Lakes. The river flows primarily through Sawyer, Price and Rusk county in North Central Wisconsin. There are nine dams along the river. Fish include: panfish, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon, muskies, northern pike and more. Rapids range from Class I-IV. For directions and river segment maps, check out what PaddleFlambeau.com has put together:

North Fork

Turtle Dam to Park Falls
Park Falls to Nine Mile Creek
Nine Mile Creek to Highway W
Highway W to Hervas Camp Landing
Hervas Camp Landing to Big Falls Dam
Big Falls Dam to Ladysmith
Ladysmith to Thornapple Dam
Thornapple Dam to Chippewa River

South Fork

Round Lake to Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids to Fifield
Fifield to County Highway F
County Highway F to County Highway W
County Highway W to Hervas Camp Landing

more St. Louis county lakes:

Kabetogama Lake
Birch Lake
Burntside Lake
Crane Lake
Pelican Lake
Namakan Lake
White Iron Lake
Armstrong Lake
Ash Lake
Ban Lake
Baggett Lake
Bear Island Lake
Big Lake
Big Bear Lake
Big Pequaywan Lake
Big Rice Lake
Black Duck Lake
Cadotte Lake
Lake Colby
Comstock Lake
Dark Lake
Dewey Lake
Dinham Lake
Echo Lake
Elbow Lake
Elephant Lake
Lac La Croix
Lake Elliot
Lake Ely
Embarrass Lake
Esquagama Lake
Floodwood Lake
Island Lake
Kjostad Lake
Lake Leora
Lake Linwood
Little Johnson Lake
Little Stone Lake
Little Sturgeon Lake
Long Lake
Long Lake
Loon Lake
Lost Lake
McQuade Lake
Moose Lake
Mud Hen Lake
Mukooda Lake
Lake Murphy
Myrtle Lake
Lake Nichols
One Pine Lake
Perch Lake
Pleasant Lake
Prairie Lake
Sand Lake
Sand Point Lake
Seven Beaver Lake
Side Lake
Strand Lake
Sturgeon Lake
Twin Lake
West Two Rivers Reservoir
Whitewater Lake
Wild River Lake
Winchester Lake
Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake
Wynne Lake

more Lake county lakes:

August Lake
Browns Lake
Cedar lake
Lake Christianson
Cloquet Lake
Crooked Lake
Dumbbell Lake
Fall Lake
Farm Lake
Garden Lake
Lake Gegoka
Greenwood Lake
Lake Harriet
Hudson Lake
Kiana Lake
Lax Lake
Manomin Lake
Moose Lake
Nine Mile Lake
North McDougal Lake
Sand Lake
Slate Lake
South McDougal Lake
Lake Stewart
Stony Lake
Lake Thomas
Whitefish Lake
Lake Wilson
Windy Lake

more Cook county lakes:

Ball Club Lake
Caribou Lake
Cascade Lake
Lake Christine
Lake Clara
Crescent Lake
Deer Yard Lake
Devil Fish Lake
East Twin Lake
Elbow Lake
Elbow Lake
Four Mile Lake
Frear Lake
Lake Greenwood
Lake Lichen
Little Cascade Lake
Northern Light Lake
Pike Lake
South Temperence Lake
Swamp River Reservoir
Lake Tait
Timber Lake
Lake Tom
Toohey Lake
Trout Lake
West Pine Lake
White Pine Lake

More Douglas county lakes:

Bass Lake
Beauregard Lake
Bond Lake
Lower Chain Lake
Upper Chain Lake
Cranberry Lake
Crooked Lake
Crystal Lake
Dowling Lake
Lower Eau Claire Lake
Leader Lake
Long Lake
Loon Lake
Lyman Lake
Lake Minnesuiing
Lower Ox Lake
Upper Ox Lake
Person Lake
Pickerel Lake
Red Lake
Rock Lake
Sand Lake
Sauntrys Lake
Simms Lake
Steele Lake
East Twin Lake
West Twin Lake
Two Mile Lake
Upper St. Croix Lake
Whitefish Lake

more Bayfield county lakes:

Armstrong Lake
Atkins Lake
Bass Lake
Bellevue Lake
Bony Lake
Buffalo Lake
Buskey Bay Lake
Cable Lake
Chippewa Lake
Cisco Lake
Club Lake
Cranberry Lake
Crystal Lake
Dells Lake
Delta Lake
Diamond Lake
Drummond Lake
Eagle Lake
Finger Lake
Flynn Lake
Hammil Lake
Hart Lake
Iron Lake
Jackson Lake
Kern Lake
Knotting Lake
Long Lake
Marengo Lake
McCloud Lake
Lake Millicent
Muskellunge Lake
Perch Lake
Pickerel Lake
Pigeon :ale
Porcupine Lake
Robinson Lake
Sand Bar Lake
Siskiwit Lake
Spider Lake
Star Lake
Lake Tahkodah
Taylor Lake
Tomahawk Lake
Lake Totagatic
Trapper Lake
Twin Bear Lake
White Bass Lake
Wilderness Lake
Wiley Lake