Minnesota · St. Louis County
St. Mary's Lake Fishing guide
St. Mary's Lake is a 234-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 44 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 16.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 6 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2024Fair numbers1.2per gill net20"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 15 fish
2025Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Lengths measured · 37 fish
2011Largemouth bassPresent2.7per gill net14"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 30 fish
2025Lengths measured · 164 fish
2019Lengths measured · 46 fish
2011Northern pikeJust a few4.2per gill net28"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 25 fish
2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2019Lengths measured · 22 fish
2011BluegillJust a few18per trap net6"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 279 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 279 fish
2025Lengths measured · 120 fish
2019Lengths measured · 266 fish
2011CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net9"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 31 fish
2025Lengths measured · 25 fish
2019Lengths measured · 113 fish
2011Yellow perchFair numbers1.5per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 12 fish
2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2011Rates 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 St. Mary's Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 16.4 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 44 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.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 16.4 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 44 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25" | 16" | 38" |
| 2019 | 24" | 16" | 37" |
| 2011 | 20" | 15" | 35" |
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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 | 1,170 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,184 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,054 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
St. Mary's is a 234-acre lake located 2 miles south of Eveleth off the Miller Trunk Road. It shares much in common with Armstrong, Bass (Biwabik), and Ely lakes in the Tower Area. The water is clear, Secchi visibility is 13 feet, and the lake is up to 44 feet deep. St. Mary's was thermally stratified on 07/21, with a surface temperature of 71 °F, a bottom temperature of 47 °F, and dissolved oxygen levels sufficient for fish to a depth of 25 feet where the temperature was 52 °F. Submerged vegetation is abundant, and bottom substrates consist mostly of sand and gravel with minimal areas of muck. The lake is highly developed for the Tower Area with a multitude of year-round homes, as well as a golf course on the western shore. The access is a steep and short gravel ramp reinforced with plastic mesh. It is often washed out and best suited to vehicles with four-wheel drive.
Total catch in gill nets (39.0/net) was higher than average for St. Mary's. Bluegill and northern pike represented the bulk of the catch, with black crappie, hybrid sunfish, and largemouth bass largely rounding out the nets. Walleye and cisco were notably sparse, with low numbers of pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch also sampled.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye numbers (1.2/net) continued a declining trend and were below average compared to past surveys. Conversely, average size approached 19 inches and was high for both St. Mary's and the Tower Area. Lengths ranged from 13 to 22.5 inches. Walleye aged were from 3 to 11 years old and were evenly split between stocked and non-stocked years. No year class stood out and most fish exceeded seven years in age. Fingerling walleye are stocked every other year but face stiff competition with excellent northern pike and largemouth populations present.
Northern pike abundance (4.2/net) was high compared to past surveys and size structure was excellent. Lengths ranged from 14.5 to nearly 39 inches with an exceptional average length of 27.5 inches. Fish greater than 30 inches represented 44% of the catch. Cold-water habitat, cisco forage, and relatively high productivity create optimal big-pike conditions.
Cisco numbers (2.3/net) were somewhat below average. Lengths ranged from 8 to 17 inches, with an average length of 15 inches the highest sampled from St. Mary's. A shift from more numerous, smaller cisco to fewer larger fish is common in warming lakes. Seven cisco aged were from 7 to 12 years old. Age-7 fish were predominant.
Total catch in trap nets (37.3/net) was slightly below average. Bluegill and hybrid sunfish dominated the catch which was rounded out by black crappie, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and walleye. Rock bass, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch were present in low numbers.
Bluegill numbers (18.0/net) were typical for St. Mary's. Lengths ranged from 3 to 7 inches, with an average length close to 6 inches. Fish greater than 8 inches have only been sampled in one survey of St. Mary's. Bluegill ages ranged from three to eight years and demonstrated consistent recruitment. Growth was notably slow for the area. At their high abundance and low sizes, they provide an excellent prey source for other gamefish. Hybrid sunfish obtained an average length nearing 7 inches and topped out above 8 inches and may offer a compelling target for panfish anglers.
Black crappie abundance (1.4/net) was lower than average. Lengths ranged from 4 to 10 inches, and an average length close to 9 inches was highest sampled from St. Mary's. Gill nets captured black crappie at a slightly higher rate (3.0/net) but in almost identical sizes. Black crappie greater than 10-inches represented 9% of the catch between gears. Ages ranged from three to eight years, with 2018 a standout year class. Crappie growth was slow for the Area.
Although targeted electrofishing wasn't completed during this survey, largemouth bass were notably abundant in both gears. Lengths ranged from 5 to 17 inches, with average length in gill nets about 14 inches. This size structure is comparable to the 2019 electrofishing catch. Largemouth ages ranged from 2 to 21 years, and growth was slow for the Area. Largemouth bass abundance was standout in the previous targeted survey and likely remained unchanged six years later.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
St. Mary's Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on St. Mary's 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
- Public access: NONE
DNR bathymetry
St. Mary's Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 150 ac · 2.2 mi
- Ely Lake · 723 ac · 2.2 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 335 ac · 2.5 mi
- Half Moon Lake · 162 ac · 3 mi
- Deep Lake · 73 ac · 3.7 mi
- Gilbert Pit · 243 ac · 4.4 mi
- Elbow Lake · 169 ac · 5 mi
- Little Elbow Lake · 5 ac · 5.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is St. Mary's Lake?
St. Mary's Lake reaches 44 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is St. Mary's Lake?
St. Mary's Lake covers 234 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in St. Mary's Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on St. Mary's Lake average 16.4 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in St. Mary's Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is St. Mary's Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does St. Mary's Lake have a public access?
Yes. St. Mary's Lake has one public access site: Public access (NONE).
How big do walleye get in St. Mary's Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2011.
When was St. Mary's Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed St. Mary's Lake in 2025, the most recent of 6 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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