Minnesota · DNR survey data

Shoe Lake

Shoe Lake covers 26 acres in Cook County, running to 17 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2016. 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.

Open Shoe Lake in the live map → Write a report

DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
Yellow perch
No recent survey rating

No recent survey rating.

Brook troutStocked · 2025
Present, stocked

Present and managed by the DNR.

9"16"

Lengths measured · 29 fish

Recent · 2012 + 2016
5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 25 fish

2016
5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 4 fish

2012
5"10"15"17"

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

Lengths measured · 11 fish

2004
5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 9 fish

1999
5"10"15"17"

Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

SplakeStocked · 2024
Present, stocked

Present and managed by the DNR.

11"20"

Lengths measured · 45 fish

Recent · 2012 + 2016
8"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 19 fish

2016
8"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

2012
8"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

2004
8"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 40 fish

1999
8"10"15"20"

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
2025Brook Trout2,000 fingerlings
2024Splake2,520 fingerlings
2023Splake2,000 fingerlings
2022Splake2,000 fingerlings
2021Splake2,500 fingerlings
2020Splake2,000 fingerlings
2019Splake2,022 fingerlings
2018Splake2,000 fingerlings
2016Splake2,000 fingerlings

Recent reports

Shoe Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Shoe 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.

Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report

Cook 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 Shoe Lake?

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

What fish are in Shoe Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2016) recorded yellow perch, brook trout, splake.

Does Shoe Lake have a public access?

Yes. Shoe Lake has one public access site: Shoe (carry-in).

Is Shoe Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked brook trout in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.

When was Shoe Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Shoe Lake in 2016, the most recent of 8 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 .