3 miles south of Gilbert
St. Louis County, Minnesota · 47.4507° N, 92.4809° W
Directions to Ely Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
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Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:12 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Ely Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of Ely Lake in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 2,535 walleye fingerlings. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 2,535 walleye fingerlings.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Ely Lake was in August 2023: 9 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 12 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in August 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2004 6.1 · 2008 5.5 · 2012 6.4 · 2017 6.2 · 2023 5.6
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 2004 44 · 2008 18 · 2012 57 · 2017 72 · 2023 9.5
Walleye: 57 measured, 10 to 27 in, half 18 in or longer; average 2.4 lb, above normal (normal 0.8–2 lb).
Northern pike: 27 measured, 20 to 41 in, half 26 in or longer; average 4.9 lb, above normal (normal 1.9–3.7 lb).
Largemouth bass: 21 measured, 5 to 15 in, half 10 in or longer; average 0.94 lb, normal (normal 0.4–1.4 lb).
Smallmouth bass: 8 measured, 8 to 16 in, half 12 in or longer; average 1.3 lb, normal (normal 0.5–1.4 lb).
Black crappie: 56 measured, 5 to 11 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.27 lb, normal (normal 0.2–0.6 lb).
Also caught: golden shiner, hybrid sunfish, smallmouth bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 14 Aug 2023, 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
Measured water clarity averages about 18 ft: the Secchi depth across 4 readings, 2008–2023.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Ely Lake is 70 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 723 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Ely Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2017 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 2,535 walleye fingerlings.
Minnesota DNR’s August 2023 standard survey caught 12 species, most often bluegill, hybrid sunfish, yellow perch and walleye.
About 76% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.