Minnesota · Cook County
Devil Track Lake Fishing guide
Devil Track Lake covers 1,876 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 50 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 10.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 17 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Good numbers4.3per gill net11"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 83 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 83 fish
2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2023Lengths measured · 66 fish
2019Lengths measured · 70 fish
2015Smallmouth bassPresent2.6per gill net14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 40 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 40 fish
2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2023Lengths measured · 37 fish
2019Lengths measured · 26 fish
2015Northern pikeJust a few0.9per gill net22"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 23 fish
2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019Lengths measured · 17 fish
2015Lengths measured · 33 fish
2012Yellow perchFair numbers3.5per gill net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 52 fish
2024Lengths measured · 215 fish
2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019Lengths measured · 14 fish
2015Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Devil Track Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 50 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 10.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 50 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20" | 19" | 29" |
| 2023 | 13" | 13" | — |
| 2019 | 21" | 16" | 22" |
| 2015 | 24" | 17" | 25" |
| 2012 | 25" | 17" | 29" |
| 2009 | 19" | 17" | 30" |
| 2006 | 29" | 14" | 39" |
| 2003 | 19" | 16" | 29" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 36,540 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 22,474 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 42,293 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
Devil Track Lake is a large, 1,876-acre lake within Cook County and has a maximum depth of 50 ft. The lake is located approximately 5 miles northwest of Grand Marais and there are two public boat accesses with a USFS campground located on the north side of the lake off Cook County Road 8. Devil Track Lake is a very popular lake within the Grand Marais area and continues to see moderate development both on and near the lake. Walleye and northern pike are the management species within the lake, with walleye being stocked in recent years. In 2024, a standard survey was conducted using gillnets and trap nets to assess the current fish community and update information on current management species.
Devil Track Lake is primarily managed for walleye. Walleye catch rates have been slowly increasing since 2015 and were about average for the lake in 2024. Walleye ranged from 6.7 to 20.8 inches with a mean size of 11.9 inches. The size structure of walleye was relatively poor as only 9% of walleye were longer than 15.0 inches. Walleye growth was very slow, taking eight years for walleye to reach 15.0 inches in size on average. The spiny water flea, an invasive zooplankton species, was first detected in 2008 and may be contributing to slow walleye growth and reduced recruitment of young walleye. Anglers looking to target walleye should expect to catch numbers of smaller fish rather than large or trophy sized fish.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern pike are the secondary management species in Devil Track Lake. Catch rates were relatively low compared to other similar lakes but have increased since 2015 and were within the normal range for Devil Track Lake. Northern pike ranged from 14.7 to 28.5 inches and averaged 22.8 inches in size. Anglers can expect average numbers of smaller sized northern pike with the occasional opportunity to catch a large, decent sized fish.
Smallmouth bass numbers have continued to increase in Devil Track Lake and were the second highest on record. Smallmouth bass ranged in length from 7.9 to 19.7 inches and averaged 14.3 inches. Anglers looking to target smallmouth bass should have a decent opportunity to catch quality sized fish as 60% of the catch was greater than 14.0 inches.
Lake whitefish in Devil Track Lake support fall sport-netting and summer fly-fishing opportunities and provide some high-quality cold-water forage for northern pike. Although the 2024 gill net catch rates were low, they were similar to previous surveys.
Yellow perch abundance had rebounded from the previous survey in 2019 and was the highest on record. Yellow perch ranged from 5.0 to 12.7 inches and likely provide good forage for walleye and some opportunities for anglers.
Devil Track Lake is currently infested with spiny water flea. Invasive species, like spiny water flea, have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions to other pristine waters within this part of the state.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Devil Track Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Devil Track Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Devil Track Lake (trailer launch)
- Devil Track Lake (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Devil Track Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Thompson Lake · 18 ac · 2.8 mi
- Junco Lake · 41 ac · 2.9 mi
- Olson Lake · 34 ac · 2.9 mi
- Monker Lake · 93 ac · 3.2 mi
- Binagami Lake · 117 ac · 3.8 mi
- Two Island Lake · 754 ac · 3.9 mi
- Pit · 26 ac · 4.2 mi
- Pine Lake · 98 ac · 5.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Devil Track Lake?
Devil Track Lake reaches 50 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Devil Track Lake?
Devil Track Lake covers 1,876 acres with about 17.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Devil Track Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Devil Track Lake average 10.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Devil Track Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch.
Is Devil Track Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does Devil Track Lake have a public access?
Yes. Devil Track Lake has 2 public access sites, including Devil Track Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Devil Track Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 20"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2003.
When was Devil Track Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Devil Track Lake in 2024, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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