Devil Track

Devil Track Lake is a large, 1,876-acre lake within Cook County and has a maximum depth of 50 ft. The lake is located approximately 5 miles northwest of Grand Marais and there are two public boat accesses with a USFS campground located on the north side of the lake off Cook County Road 8. Devil Track Lake is a very popular lake within the Grand Marais area and continues to see moderate development both on and near the lake. Walleye and northern pike are the management species within the lake, with walleye being stocked in recent years. In 2024, a standard survey was conducted using gillnets and trap nets to assess the current fish community and update information on current management species. Devil Track Lake is primarily managed for walleye. Walleye catch rates have been slowly increasing since 2015 and were about average for the lake in 2024. Walleye ranged from 6.7 to 20.8 inches with a mean size of 11.9 inches. The size structure of walleye was relatively poor as only 9% of walleye were longer than 15.0 inches. Walleye growth was very slow, taking eight years for walleye to reach 15.0 inches in size on average. The spiny water flea, an invasive zooplankton species, was first detected in 2008 and may be contributing to slow walleye growth and reduced recruitment of young walleye. Anglers looking to target walleye should expect to catch numbers of smaller fish rather than large or trophy sized fish. Northern pike are the secondary management species in Devil Track Lake. Catch rates were relatively low compared to other similar lakes but have increased since 2015 and were within the normal range for Devil Track Lake. Northern pike ranged from 14.7 to 28.5 inches and averaged 22.8 inches in size. Anglers can expect average numbers of smaller sized northern pike with the occasional opportunity to catch a large, decent sized fish. Smallmouth bass numbers have continued to increase in Devil Track Lake and were the second highest on record. Smallmouth bass ranged in length from 7.9 to 19.7 inches and averaged 14.3 inches. Anglers looking to target smallmouth bass should have a decent opportunity to catch quality sized fish as 60% of the catch was greater than 14.0 inches. Lake whitefish in Devil Track Lake support fall sport-netting and summer fly-fishing opportunities and provide some high-quality cold-water forage for northern pike. Although the 2024 gill net catch rates were low, they were similar to previous surveys. Yellow perch abundance had rebounded from the previous survey in 2019 and was the highest on record. Yellow perch ranged from 5.0 to 12.7 inches and likely provide good forage for walleye and some opportunities for anglers. Devil Track Lake is currently infested with spiny water flea. Invasive species, like spiny water flea, 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 other pristine waters within this part of the state.

This survey was conducted to evaluate walleye natural reproduction in 2023. Since 1972, 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets (TQU) have been used to determine whether the production of young-of-year (YOY) walleye is sufficient to sustain the walleye population in Devil Track Lake or if stocking is needed. If two consecutive surveys show less than 2.2 YOY walleye per trap net set it becomes on the list for potential stocking of fall walleye fingerlings. Results from this survey showed below average catch rates of YOY walleye in 2023. When coupled with last years below average results this lake became eligible for walleye stocking. However, walleye fingerling production issues and changes in stocking protocols led to no stocking events in 2023. Future walleye fingerling stocking in Devil Track Lake is under review to better support the current walleye fishery. The 2023 catch of YOY yellow perch was very low for Devil Track Lake and lower than other similar lakes. Catches of YOY yellow perch have been lower in this lake since the smallmouth bass population began a rapid expansion in the late 1980s. With lower production of YOY yellow perch now common, and with a lack of minnows, walleye could be more reliant on an invertebrate forage base. YOY smallmouth bass are sometimes captured in this gear but are not a good indicator of recruitment as many could be too small to be captured in July.

Devil Track lake lies in the Lake Superior North watershed, and is currently managed for walleye and northern pike. This was the second of three standard surveys scheduled in the 2014 lake management plan to determine whether long range goals for walleye and northern pike had been met, and to determine the contribution of stocking to the walleye population. The first of these surveys was completed in 2015; the last is scheduled for 2023. The long range goal for walleye in this lake, in place since 1991, is a minimum gill net catch of 5.0 fish/set. It was last met in 2006. The goal for northern pike is a minimum gill net catch of 0.7 fish/set, with some fish over 30 inches present. It was first established in 1997, and has rarely been fully met. Walleye were present in fair numbers in 2019, although most were small. The 2019 gill net catch, although higher than the catch seen in 2015, still fell short of the goal for this lake. Ten year classes, including several that had been produced naturally, contributed to the 2019 catch. Stocked year classes (2013, 2011, and 2006) together accounted for 24% of walleye taken in gill nets and trap nets; however, it was likely that some fish from those years classes had been produced naturally. It appeared that moderately strong natural year classes produced in 2015 and 2016 together accounted for 50% of the catch, with several other years contributed a few fish each. Walleye growth had been quite slow; on average, fish reached a length of 10.7 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area mean of 14.4 inches. Surveys using 0.25-in-mesh trap nets have been done annually in this lake to assess the need for walleye fingerling stocking; such a survey was completed on 22 July 2019. Natural production of young-of-year (YOY) walleye appeared to have been below average (for this lake) in 2019. The current (2014) lake management plan states that a fall fingerling stocking should be done whenever YOY walleye catches fall below the threshold for two consecutive years. The low catch seen in 2019, combined with a low catch seen in 2018, triggered fingerling stocking in this lake in the fall of 2019. Northern pike numbers appeared to have been low in 2019, and the fish that were seen were small. Long range catch and size goals for northern pike were not met in 2019. The gill net catch was the lowest ever seen in this lake, and no fish over 30 inches were taken. No northern pike older than four years were collected, and growth rates for young fish had been somewhat slower than average. With the growth seen in 2019, fish would have to survive to seven or eight years of age to reach a length of 30 inches in this lake. Smallmouth bass numbers, and their average size, remained high in 2019. Ten year classes contributed to the 2019 smallmouth bass catch, including fish as old as twelve years. No year class or classes stood out as exceptionally strong or weak. Smallmouth bass growth rates had been close to average for this area; fish reached a mean length of 10.0 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area mean of 10.7 inches. Yellow perch have been an important part of the forage base for walleye and northern pike in this lake; however, the 2015 yellow perch gill net catch was the lowest seen since 1952 (when none were taken), and the 2019 catch was lower still. Although no yellow perch were aged, their length frequency distribution suggested at least three year classes (all weak) contributed to the 2019 catch. Lake whitefish in Devil Track Lake support fall sport-netting and summer fly-fishing fisheries, and provide some high-quality coldwater forage for northern pike. Although the 2019 gill net catch fell below the normal range for the lake class, it was similar to catches seen in this lake since 1987. The mean weight for whitefish taken in gill nets in 2019 was the lowest seen to date in this lake; however, that mean was based on a sample size of just six fish. Devil Track Lake is infested with spiny waterflea. Anglers and other users should be diligent about cleaning and thoroughly drying any gear used in this lake before they move to another.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Smallmouth Bass in Devil Track. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Devil Track has a maximum depth of 50 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Devil Track has confirmed spiny waterflea. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.