Minnesota · DNR survey data

Salo Lake

Salo Lake covers 141 acres in St. Louis County, running to 20 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2020. 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.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
WalleyeStocked · 2023
Just a few
0.8per gill net
19"Typical
23"Biggest
7"23"

Lengths measured · 22 fish

Recent · 2014 + 2020
7"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 11 fish

2020
7"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 11 fish

2014
7"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 4 fish

2006
7"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 6 fish

1998
7"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Largemouth bass
Just a few
11per hr (electrofishing)
14"Typical
18"Biggest
10"18"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

Recent · 2014
2"5"10"15"18"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

2014
2"5"10"15"18"

Lengths measured · 6 fish

2006
2"5"10"15"18"

Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 1 fish

1994
2"5"10"15"18"

Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Smallmouth bass
Just a few
2.1per hr (electrofishing)
Typical
14"Biggest
Northern pike
Fair numbers
7.3per gill net
20"Typical
36"Biggest
9"36"

Lengths measured · 120 fish

Recent · 2014 + 2020
4"10"15"20"25"30"36"

Lengths measured · 36 fish

2020
4"10"15"20"25"30"36"

Lengths measured · 84 fish

2014
4"10"15"20"25"30"36"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

2006
4"10"15"20"25"30"36"

Lengths measured · 39 fish

1998
4"10"15"20"25"30"36"
Bluegill
Just a few
17.7per trap net
6"Typical
8"Biggest
3"8"

Lengths measured · 328 fish

Recent · 2014 + 2020
1"2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 64 fish

2020
1"2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 264 fish

2014
1"2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 115 fish

2006
1"2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 137 fish

1998
1"2"4"6"8"
Crappie
Just a few
7.3per trap net
8"Typical
11"Biggest
4"11"

Lengths measured · 161 fish

Recent · 2014 + 2020
4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 97 fish

2020
4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 64 fish

2014
4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 22 fish

2006
4"6"8"10"11"

Lengths measured · 42 fish

1998
4"6"8"10"11"
Yellow perch
Good numbers
7.3per gill net
6"Typical
9"Biggest
4"9"

Lengths measured · 94 fish

Recent · 2014 + 2020
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 38 fish

2020
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 56 fish

2014
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 32 fish

2006
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 78 fish

1998
3"4"6"8"10"

Rates 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

YearSpeciesStocked
2023Walleye2,861 fingerlings
2021Walleye4,308 fingerlings
2019Walleye3,039 fingerlings
2017Walleye2,908 fingerlings

Recent reports

Salo Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Salo 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.

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St. Louis County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Salo Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Salo Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Salo Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2020) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.

Does Salo Lake have a public access?

Yes. Salo Lake has one public access site: Salo Lake (trailer launch).

Is Salo Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2023; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.

When was Salo Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Salo Lake in 2020, the most recent of 6 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .