Chester

Chester Lake is a small, 52-acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 ft and is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Hovland. Chester Lake lies within the Lake Superior North watershed, draining to Lake Superior via Portage Brook and the Pigeon River. There is a small carry-in access located on the north end of the lake. Chester Lake is a designated stream trout lake and has been actively stocked with different species of stream trout since 1948. In 2024, a standard survey was conducted using gillnets and trap nets to assess the current fish community and evaluate the success of brown trout stocking efforts. Brown trout are the primary management species in Chester Lake and catches from the 2024 survey were above the management goal of 4.0 fish/net and above the long-term average for the lake. Brown trout lengths ranged from 12.2 to 17.2 inches, with an average length of 15.3 inches. Ninety-one percent of the brown trout caught were longer than 13.0 inches, providing anglers the opportunity to catch quality sized fish. Aging results revealed individuals from three stocked year classes. Four and six year old brown trout averaged 14.0 and 16.7 inches, respectively. Growth rates were good likely due to the presence of rainbow smelt as forage for brown trout. Rainbow smelt were first introduced into Chester Lake in 1978. Rainbow smelt populations peaked in 2010 and have been declining since. No Rainbow Smelt were caught using small-mesh gillnets during the 2024 survey but were found in average numbers in standard gill nets and ¼ inch trap nets. Rainbow smelt continue to provide a good forage base for brown trout. White sucker abundance has been slowly increasing in Chester Lake and had the highest catch rate ever recorded during the 2024 survey. White sucker lengths ranged from 6.9 to 16.8 inches and averaged 12.7 inches. Continued increases in white sucker abundance may have adverse effects on the brown trout population within Chester Lake. Quarter-inch trap nets found brook stickleback and fathead minnows in addition to the species listed above. Fathead minnows were found in decent numbers and likely provide additional forage in shallow waters. Minnesota Lakes within Cook County continue to be susceptible to aquatic invasive species introductions. Invasive species have the potential to significantly alter fish communities and overall lake health. Anglers should clean watercraft and fishing gear, drain all water, and dispose of unused bait in the trash to prevent accidental introductions to these pristine waters within this part of the state.

Chester Lake lies within the Lake Superior North watershed, draining to the lake via Portage Brook and the Pigeon River. It is a designated stream trout lake that has been managed for stream trout since at least 1948, and has been almost exclusively stocked with brown trout since 1980. Long range goals for brown trout from the current (2012) lake management plan are to maintain a minimum gill net catch of 4.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. Chester Lake is unique among stream trout lakes in this area in supporting high numbers of rainbow smelt, which provide an excellent forage base for brown trout. This was the second of two surveys scheduled in the 2012 plan to determine whether growth and survival of stocked brown trout were satisfactory. The first was completed in 2014. Brown trout seemed to have been fairly abundant in 2019, with most fish in the 14-17-inch size range. The 2019 gill net catch appeared to meet the current long range goal for numbers of fish, but not the size goal (no 20-inch trout were taken). The catch was similar to catches seen in this lake in the past, and fell within the normal range for fall surveys of stream trout lakes in this area (1.0 - 5.3 fish/set). All of the brown trout taken in 2019 were probably one or three-year-old fish from yearling stocking done in 2019 and 2017. The seeming lack of older fish was unusual for this lake. Size goals for the lake have been met in the past when fish four years old or older were sampled. It is likely that a few older fish were present in Chester Lake in 2019, and were simply missed by the small number of nets used. From mean lengths at capture, it appeared that brown trout growth had been about average for the area. Survey results from 2014 and 2019 indicate growth and survival of stocked brown trout in this lake have been adequate. Both have been high enough to allow catch and size goals to be met, although not necessarily in every survey, or in the same survey. The high catch in the single small-mesh gill net set made in this survey, and the capture of several smelt in 0.25-in-mesh traps, indicated rainbow smelt probably remained abundant in this lake in 2019. Most were small, and vulnerable to predation by brown trout of all sizes. Brown trout also had access to minnows of several species. The 2019 white sucker gill net catch was similar to past catches seen in this lake, and was within the normal range for a stream trout lake in this area (2.4 - 12.5 fish/set). Although white sucker can compete with stocked stream trout for invertebrate forage, their presence has probably not limited brown trout in this lake due to the high-quality forage base provided by smelt and minnows.

Chester Lake is a designated stream trout lake. It has been managed for trout since at least 1948, and for brown trout since 1980. The current goal for brown trout in this lake is a minimum gill net catch of 4.0 fish/set, with some fish over 20 inches present. This was the first of two assessments scheduled in the 2012 lake management plan to determine whether growth and survival of stocked brown trout remained satisfactory in this lake. A temperature-oxygen profile done on 19 August 2014 found conditions ideal for brook (or brown) trout (temperature 5 ppm) from the surface to a depth of about 15 ft. The summer of 2014 was relatively cool, so this measurement may have represented a best-case scenario for late summer conditions in this lake. Brown trout numbers may have been somewhat low in September 2014, but a few larger fish were present. The brown trout gill net catch fell below the long range goal for the lake, but with only two gill net sets used, the results of this single assessment cannot be given much weight. That said, a similarly low catch was also observed in the last (2010) assessment. If the next assessment (2018) yields the same results, we may have to adjust our stocking strategy in this lake. Fish from the 2011 and 2013 yearling stockings were represented in the 2014 catch. Too few fish were taken to describe growth with any confidence. The size goal for the lake was met by the capture of one 21-in fish in 2014. Brown trout have been stocked in Chester Lake to take advantage of forage provided by abundant rainbow smelt. Rainbow smelt remained abundant in 2014; the catch in small-mesh gill nets (58.0 fish/set) was at the upper end of the normal range for catches in that gear in lakes in this area. White sucker were also abundant in 2014; the gill net catch was above the normal range for this type of lake, and was the highest seen in Chester Lake historically. Many smaller white sucker were present; they may have have provided additional forage for brown trout. Because of the available rainbow smelt forage base, the presence of even large numbers of white sucker is probably not a factor limiting brown trout in this lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brown Trout and Brook Trout in Chester. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Chester. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Chester has a maximum depth of 35 feet and a mean depth of 14.2 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Chester is from 2024.

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