Cook County · Minnesota

Brule Lake

Soundings in feet · 4,327 acres · deepest 78 ft

Where it is

18 miles north of Lutsen

Cook County, Minnesota · 47.9404° N, 90.6824° W

Directions to Brule Lake Public Water Access Site Apple Maps

Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access site.

Today on the lake

Updated 19 Oct 2026, 5:55 pm EDT.

WEATHERThis Afternoon: sunny, 59°F, wind S 5 mph. Tonight: mostly clear, 35°F, wind SE 0 to 5 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's fire danger and burning restrictions with Minnesota DNR.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 14% of the lake on 10 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Minnesota DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

6 contours, 10 to 60 ft

0102030405060feet

Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Brule Lake.

Brule Lake Public Water Access Site · U.S. Forest Service

carry-in · 1 ramp · concrete ramp · restroom

Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.

Fish survey

Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Brule Lake was in September 2019: 14 gill nets caught 7 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in August 2023; this section uses the latest standard survey.

Fish per gill net, 14 sets. Line: Brule Lake. Bracket: normal for similar lakes.

Walleye5.3normal

Smallmouth bass0.9normal

Northern pike0.6normal

Yellow perch0.1below normal

Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1983 7.9 · 1986 2.2 · 1996 5.2 · 2009 3.5 · 2019 5.3

Sizes in the nets

Walleye: 75 measured, 7 to 24 in, half 16 in or longer; average 1.6 lb, normal (normal 1.1–3.3 lb).

Northern pike: 8 measured, 16 to 24 in, half 18 in or longer; average 1.7 lb, below normal (normal 2.7–5.3 lb).

Smallmouth bass: 36 measured, 1 to 18 in, half 2 in or longer; average 1.9 lb, above normal (normal 0.7–1.4 lb).

Yellow perch: 10 measured, 2 to 6 in, half 2 in or longer; average 0.1 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).

Also caught: cisco species, white sucker.

Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 9 Sep 2019, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure

Water quality

Measured water clarity averages about 16 ft: the Secchi depth across 7 readings, 1954–2023.

Clarity 16.2 ft of 78 ft

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Cascade Lake17 ft deep · 5.4 mi · Cook County

Little Cascade Lake9 ft deep · 6.2 mi · Cook County

Gaskin Lake82 ft deep · 7.6 mi · Cook County

Tait Lake15 ft deep · 7.9 mi · Cook County

Crescent Lake28 ft deep · 8.7 mi · Cook County

Little Iron Lake18 ft deep · 8.8 mi · Cook County

Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Brule Lake?

Brule Lake is 78 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 4,327 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Brule Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Brule Lake Public Water Access Site.

What fish are in Brule Lake?

Minnesota DNR’s September 2019 standard survey caught 7 species, most often walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch.

How much of Brule Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 71% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.