Minnesota · DNR survey data
Shell Lake
Shell Lake covers 493 acres in St. Louis County, running to 15 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2015. 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
WalleyeExcellent numbers6.6per gill net12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 59 fish
2015Lengths measured · 53 fish
1997Northern pikeJust a few1.3per gill net22"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 12 fish
2015Lengths measured · 31 fish
1997Yellow perchFair numbers2.6per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 23 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 23 fish
2015Lengths measured · 13 fish
1997Rates 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.
Recent reports
Shell Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Shell 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.
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lynx Lake · 291 ac · 1.3 mi
- Lower Pauness Lake · 171 ac · 1.6 mi
- Heritage Lake · 207 ac · 1.8 mi
- Upper Pauness Lake · 192 ac · 2.2 mi
- Little Hustler Lake · 69 ac · 2.6 mi
- Hustler Lake · 277 ac · 3.1 mi
- Loon Lake · 2,498 ac · 3.8 mi
- Oyster Lake · 763 ac · 5.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is there a depth map for Shell Lake?
The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Shell Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.
What fish are in Shell Lake?
The most recent DNR survey (2015) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Shell Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Shell Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
When was Shell Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Shell Lake in 2015, the most recent of 2 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 .