Little Cascade

Little Cascade Lake is a small, 262-acre lake with a maximum depth of 9 ft and is primarily managed for northern pike. Little Cascade Lake is located 15 miles north of Lutsen and access to the lake is moderate. A high clearance vehicle is needed to access the lake from the north off Forest Road 153, otherwise walk in access is available from the east off the Caribou Trail. 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. Northern pike catch rates were high and well above management goals. Northern pike ranged from 13.6 to 27.0 inches and averaged 23.0 inches. No trophy northern pike were found, but 40% of the fish exceeded 24.0 inches in the survey. Aging results revealed seven different age classes, with fish taking three years to reach 21.0 inches on average. Anglers looking to target northern pike in the Grand Marais area will have the opportunity to catch both numbers and quality sized northern pike in Little Cascade Lake. Yellow perch catch rates were high and would be of interest to anglers. Yellow perch ranged from 5.2 to 10.0 inches and averaged 6.0 inches. The increased yellow perch abundance observed in 2024 should provide quality forage for northern pike as well as satisfy anglers looking to target yellow perch. 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.

A special regulation for Northern Pike (a 24 to 36-in protected slot) was implemented on Little Cascade Lake in 2003, and remained in force in 2017. The objective for the regulation was to produce a significant increase in the proportion of Northern Pike falling within the protected size range. An acceptable outcome would have been to have that proportion remain stable in Little Cascade Lake, if it had been seen to decline (presumably as a result of increased fishing pressure) in the control lake (Pickerel Lake, Cook County). This was the first of two population assessments scheduled in the 2013 lake management plan to complete an extended evaluation of the Northern Pike special regulation. The second is scheduled for the spring of 2019. A change in statewide Northern Pike regulations, effective in March 2018, means that Pickerel Lake's value as a control in this evaluation will be diminished after that date, since the 2018 change (bag limit reduced to two fish, with a 30-40-inch protected slot limit) will affect Pickerel Lake. The change will not affect Little Cascade Lake, where the current special regulation will remain in effect. As has usually been the case in this lake, Northern Pike numbers were high in Little Cascade Lake in 2017, as was the average size of those fish. The gill net catch was above the normal range for the lake class, but was similar to catches seen in the past in this lake. Mean weight for Northern Pike taken in gill nets in 2017 was also above the normal range, and was similar to values consistently seen in this lake since 1988. Many year classes contributed to the 2017 catch, including relatively strong year classes produced in 2014, 2012, and 2011. Fish as old as 11 years were collected. Northern Pike growth appeared to have been slow; fish reached a mean length of 23.0 inches at the end of their fifth year, compared to an area average of 24.5 inches. Based on recaptures of fish tagged in April of 2017, the lake supported an estimated 558 Northern Pike over 14 inches in length in April 2017. About 28% of those fish would have fallen within the protected slot. No fish over 36 inches in length were sampled in 2017. As has been the case in past assessments, the only other fish species taken in 2017 were White Sucker and Yellow Perch. The White Sucker gill net catch was relatively low for a lake of this class, but was similar to catches observed in this lake historically. The Yellow Perch catch was was within the normal range for the lake class, and was similar to catches seen in this lake since 1988. All of the Yellow Perch taken in gill nets and trap nets in 2017 were too small to have been of much interest to anglers; however, perch provided an essential forage base for Northern Pike.

This targeted survey was done as part of an evaluation of special regulations on Northern Pike in Little Cascade Lake. The intent was to capture and mark Northern Pike for a population estimate, one of several done since the regulation was implemented. The size distribution of the spring Northern Pike catch was also of interest, for comparison with baseline ("pre-regulation") distributions seen in similar sampling in this lake. Recapture sampling for the population estimate was done in June 2017 as part of a standard survey, and that report should be consulted for the final estimate. A special regulation for Northern Pike in Little Cascade Lake was implemented in March 2003. The regulation established a 24-to-36-in protected-slot size limit, with the intent of increasing the number of 24-inch and larger Northern Pike. Spring trap net data from 2003-2005 and gill net data from 1988, 1993, 2003, and 2005 were to be used to establish a "pre-regulation" baseline. Data from 2003-2005 were included on the assumption that in those early post-implementation years there would not have been time for significant effects of the regulation to develop. The pre-regulation baseline established after 2005 was that among fish larger than 14 inches, 55% should be larger than 24 inches. By the spring of 2017, the Northern Pike regulation had been in effect for 14 full seasons (2003-2016). Results of 2017 ice-out trap netting suggested no improvement in Northern Pike size, compared to the pre-regulation baseline. Among Northern Pike larger than 14 inches in 2017, about 49% were over 24 inches in length. On average among all three post-regulation surveys (2010, 2012, and 2017), only about 45% of fish taken in the spring were over 24 inches in length. As has been the case in all ice-out surveys of this lake done since 2003, no Northern Pike larger than 36 inches were taken in 2017. Failure of Northern Pike in this lake to respond to the 24-36-inch protected slot limit may indicate that pre-regulation Northern Pike harvest was not high enough to have had much influence on the Northern Pike population. We lack creel survey data for this lake, or for any other lake in this area supporting only a Northern Pike fishery, but poor accessibility (no boat launch) and a general lack of interest in Northern Pike harvest among local anglers probably kept fishing pressure in this lake low, compared to other area waters. Because this survey targeted Northern Pike exclusively, no attempt was made to record the catch of other species. Many Yellow Perch (mostly small) and a few White Sucker (three fish) were also caught. No other fish species was taken. More information on other fish species in this lake can be found in the report for the June 2017 standard survey.

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

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

Little Cascade has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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