Upper (North) Island

Upper Island is a 101 acre lake with 100 (99%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is located just north of Cromwell, MN off State Highway #210 and has a DNR administered earthen, back-in access. The public access is located off the County Road #120 right-of-way and has very limited parking. The fish community of Upper Island was last assessed in 2019, and the lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill. Upper Island was surveyed during the summer of 2021 to update information about fish populations following a winterkill event which occurred during the spring of 2020. A total of four Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing. The Largemouth Bass catch rate was 4.2 fish per hour, which was below average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Average length of sampled Largemouth Bass was 15.5 inches. Three year-classes were present and good connectivity to adjacent waterbodies (Lower Island and the Tamarack River) will allow Largemouth Bass populations in Upper Island to recover quickly if they were impacted by the winterkill event. Bluegill population densities were average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Bluegill average length was 6.1 inches and growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area lakes. The proportion of adult Bluegill that exceeded quality size (greater than 6 inches) was 64%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 8 inches) was 26%. Black Crappie population densities were above average compared to other similar Minnesota Lakes. Black Crappie average length was 7.3 inches. All year-classes from 2015 to 2019 were represented indicating consistent natural reproduction. The Walleye gillnet abundance of 0.8 per lift was below average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average size was large at 21.9 inches. The 2012 and 2014 year-classes were represented and may provide notable incidental catches for anglers. The Northern Pike gillnet abundance of 9.8 per lift was above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average size was 20.6 inches but some preferred size fish were captured over 28 inches long.

Upper Island is a 101 acre lake with 100 (99%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is located just north of Cromwell, MN off State Highway #210 and has a DNR administered earthen, back-in access. The public access is located off the County Road #120 right-of-way and has very limited parking. The fish community of Upper Island was last assessed in 2010. The lake is primarily managed for Largemouth Bass and Bluegill. Upper Island was surveyed during the summer of 2019 to update information about fish populations. Walleye fry were stocked in even years from 2000 through 2018. Due to poor survival, Walleye stocking every even year was discontinued after 2018. A recent Walleye stocking evaluation showed that many Walleye captured in Upper Island originate from fry stocking events in Lower Island, which flows into Upper Island via a free-flowing inlet along the southern shoreline. A total of 22 Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing. The Largemouth Bass catch rate was 17.9 fish per hour, which was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Average length of sampled Largemouth Bass was 14.0 inches, but larger fish were sampled and should provide quality angling opportunities. Both Bluegill and Black Crappie population densities were above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Black Crappie average length was 6.4 inches, while Bluegill average length was 5.7 inches. Two strong year-classes of Black Crappie were present and should provide quality angling opportunities in the future as these year-classes mature. The Walleye gillnet abundance of 1.7 per lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average size was large at 21.1 inches. The 2012 and 2014 year-classes were represented and may provide notable incidental catches for anglers.

Upper Island is a 101 acre lake with 100 (99%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is located just north of Cromwell, MN off State Highway #210 and has a DNR administered earthen, back-in access. The designated access is off the County Road #120 right-of-way and has very limited parking. Walleye fry have been stocked in even years from 2000 through 2010. Upper Island was last assessed in 2002. Upper Island was surveyed during the summer of 2010 to update information about fish populations and to evaluate the success of the walleye stocking program. Walleye abundance of 0.3 per gillnet lift was down from 2002 (0.5) and was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 19.8 inches but only 2 individuals were captured. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth. Both fish were from the 2002 year-class. Both walleyes aged corresponded to a stocked year-class. A total of 19 largemouth bass were sampled with electrofishing equipment. The catch rate of largemouth bass was 35.8 fish per hour of electrofishing on-time. Largemouth bass average length was 15.0 inches and growth was fast compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 through 2009 were represented in the sample except 2007 and 2008. Shoreline seining captured 2 young-of-the-year (YOY) largemouth bass with an average length of 2.4 inches. Northern pike abundance of 2.7 per gillnet lift was down from 2002 (7.3) and below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. The northern pike CPUE of 2010 is the lowest on record of seven investigations dating back to 1977. Average length was 22.0 inches and growth was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 to 2009 were represented except 2004. Black crappie abundance of 1.6 per trapnet lift was down from 2002 (3.8) and was average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length was 7.6 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2003 to 2008 were represented. Bluegill abundance of 10.4 per trapnet lift was up from 2002 (3.1) and above average when compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average length of sampled bluegills was 5.8 inches and growth was average compared to other Duluth Area lakes. All year-classes from 2002 to 2007 were represented. Yellow perch abundance of 0.2 per gillnet lift was up from 2002 (0.0) and was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Only one perch was captured and it was 6.5 inches in length. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth. The one perch captured was from the 2007 year-class. Other fish species sampled included black, brown and yellow bullhead, bowfin, central mudminnow, mottled sculpin, tadpole madtom, common shiner, golden shiner, Johnny darter, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass and white sucker. Information was collected on aquatic vegetation, substrate and water quality. Thirty-three aquatic plant species or species groups were identified along 10 transects. Yellow water lily, coontail and flat-stem pondweed were the most frequently found plant species (90% of transects) followed by northern milfoil (80% of transects). The most common substrate types were sand and detritus which were identified along 70% and 60% of the transects, respectively. Results of laboratory water analysis indicate Upper Island is an alkaline, moderately hard water lake with low fertility. Upper Island Lake was included in an index of biotic integrity (IBI) assessment in 2010. In addition to standard gillnets and trapnets, beach seines and backpack electrofishing equipment were used to index species richness of the nearshore lake habitat.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Black Crappie in Upper (North) Island. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Upper (North) Island. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Upper (North) Island has a maximum depth of 25 feet and a mean depth of 8.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper (North) Island is from 2021.

No invasive species are on record for Upper (North) Island in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.