Minnesota · DNR survey data
James Lake
James Lake covers 18 acres in St. Louis County, running to 33 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2024. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassOne of the best around163.4per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical20"Biggest
Lengths measured · 310 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 120 fish
2024Lengths measured · 190 fish
2021Lengths measured · 49 fish
2018Lengths measured · 116 fish
2014No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Rainbow troutStocked · 2025Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 94 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 16 fish
2024Lengths measured · 78 fish
2021Lengths measured · 8 fish
2018Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2014Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,505 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Rainbow Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
Recent reports
James Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on James 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
- James Lake (trailer launch)
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Sand Lake · 779 ac · 1.3 mi
- Auto Lake · 97 ac · 2 mi
- Little Sand Lake · 96 ac · 2.6 mi
- Fourteen Lake · 386 ac · 5.6 mi
- Big Rice Lake · 1,917 ac · 6.1 mi
- Leander Lake · 252 ac · 7 mi
- Camp A Lake · 18 ac · 7.9 mi
- Dark Lake · 231 ac · 8.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is there a depth map for James Lake?
The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for James Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.
What fish are in James Lake?
The most recent DNR survey (2024) recorded largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout.
Does James Lake have a public access?
Yes. James Lake has one public access site: James Lake (trailer launch).
Is James Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked rainbow trout in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
When was James Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed James Lake in 2024, the most recent of 14 surveys on record.
Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →
Page updated .