Minnesota · DNR survey data
Vale Lake
Vale Lake covers 24 acres in Cook County, running to 34 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
Brook troutStocked · 2024Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2015Lengths measured · 29 fish
2015Lengths measured · 8 fish
2006Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2001Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Brook Trout | 2,500 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Brook Trout | 2,000 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Brook Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Brook Trout | 1,500 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Brook Trout | 2,500 yearlings |
Recent reports
Vale Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Vale 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
- Pine Lake · 2,122 ac · 0.5 mi
- Gadwell Lake · 20 ac · 0.9 mi
- West Pike Lake · 788 ac · 2 mi
- Crystal Lake · 206 ac · 2.6 mi
- Tomato Lake · 27 ac · 2.8 mi
- Gogebic Lake · 63 ac · 3 mi
- Pemmican Lake · 28 ac · 3.1 mi
- North Shady Lake · 33 ac · 3.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is there a depth map for Vale Lake?
The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Vale Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.
What fish are in Vale Lake?
The most recent DNR survey (2015) recorded brook trout.
Is Vale Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked brook trout in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
When was Vale Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Vale Lake in 2015, the most recent of 5 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 .