Caribou

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Caribou Lake was conducted on August 4- August 6, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) staff. Nearshore sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing, mini-fyke nets, and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing and 1/8" mesh mini-fyke net were completed at 10 sampling stations. Additionally, a 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at eight stations. Six seine stations were completed in non-standard locations to help with sampling efforts and ensure varied habitat types. Nearshore sampling captured 12 species of fish. The nearshore data along with gill net and standard trap net data will be used to develop fish community models for Northeast Minnesota lakes, which will be used to measure lake health in this region. These models may function similarly to fish IBI models developed for lakes across much of the rest of the state. For additional information, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. You can help protect the fish community in Caribou Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Caribou Lake is one of the more developed lakes in Cook County and regularly sees high fishing and recreational use throughout the open-water months. The lake is located near the Town of Lutsen and features a concrete boat ramp and dock at the public access. The lake has long been managed for Walleye and Northern Pike, although it also supports a Smallmouth Bass fishery. Goals for the Walleye population were revised in the 2019 lake management plan (LMP) which included a reduction of the gill net catch goal to 5.25 fish/set, as the previous catch goal of 13.0 fish/set no longer seemed attainable based on survey and stocking results since 1980. While the abundance goal was substantially lower, consistently meeting the goal would still indicate the lake was supporting an above average Walleye population for this area. The 2019 LMP recommended that Walleye fingerling stocking be considered only if the Walleye gill net catch were to drop below 2.96 fish/set across multiple surveys. The Northern Pike population goals remained at a minimum gill net catch of 1.2 fish/set, with some fish over 25 inches present. This was the first of two standard lake surveys scheduled in the 2019 LMP to evaluate the fishery, the next is scheduled for 2027. The 2022 Walleye gill net was up slightly from results observed in 2014 and 2017 and met the abundance goal set in the 2019 LMP. Walleye taken in gill nets in 2022 ranged in length from 7.4 to 22.8 inches but the mean length was about 12 inches. Seven naturally produced year classes contributed to the gill and trap net catch; however, a majority of Walleye captured in 2022 were from the 2020, 2019, and 2018 year classes. Walleye growth was considered average for this area; the mean length for age-4 fish was 13.3 inches, compared to an area mean of 12.7 inches for similar lakes. The 2022 Northern Pike gill net catch was very similar to past results for the lake and was above the catch goal set for the population. The mean length of Northern Pike sampled was about 21 inches; however, several of the Northern Pike sampled in gill nets and trap nets were in the 24-25 inch length range, thus meeting the size goal set for the population. Smallmouth Bass have been present in Caribou Lake since at least 1981. The species has been sampled in each survey since 1986; however, sample sizes have generally been small. Gill nets and trap nets are generally not considerable reliable sampling gears for tracking Smallmouth Bass abundance in this type of lake. Most past surveys have included bass up to 15 inches in length. In 2022, one larger (18.9 inch) Smallmouth Bass was sampled, suggesting the lake may have the potential to produce the occasional trophy sized fish. Caribou Lake has historically supported a few Black Crappie and Bluegill, although catches have never been high in any survey. Results from 2022 followed suite, with a modest Black Crappie sample in 0.75-inch-mesh trap nets and fair numbers of small Bluegill in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets. Neither species appeared abundant enough to support much of a fishery in 2022. Yellow Perch are an important forage species for Walleye and Northern Pike in this lake. The 2022 gill net catch was above average for the lake class and the highest observed for Caribou Lake since 2005. The 2022 gill net catch also include a few larger fish (up to 10.9 inches), although most were six inches or less. The catch of YOY Yellow Perch in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets (12.00 YOY/set) was considered below average for this type of lake but was comparable to the range of results obtained after Smallmouth Bass became established in the lake. Additional species sampled in 2022 included White Sucker, Common Shiner, and Finescale Dace. The gill net catch of White Sucker remained steady near the historical average for this and other similar lakes. Common Shiners were first sampled in Caribou Lake in 2017 and appeared more abundant in the 2022 0.25-inch-mesh trap net catch. Finescale Dace had not been sampled prior to 2022 but are a native species to the area. Rusty Crayfish, a regulated invasive species, were first documented in Caribou and Bigsby Lakes in 2020. By 2022 most of the gill net sets had high numbers of Rusty Crayfish entangled in them when pulled. Establishment of this population was likely the result of downstream movement from Pike Lake, where they were illegally introduced sometime prior to 1995.

Caribou Lake is one of the most heavily developed, and heavily used, lakes in Cook County. It is managed for Walleye and Northern Pike, although it also supports a Smallmouth Bass fishery. The management goal for Walleye in this lake is based on its historic ability to support a dense population of small fish; the catch goal was set at 13.0 fish/gill net set, with no size goal established, in the current (2010) lake management plan. The Northern Pike goal was less ambitious, set at 1.2 fish/gill net set, with some fish over 25 inches present. Walleye were fairly abundant in 2017, and the average size of fish taken in gill net sets was the highest seen in this lake since 1977. Nevertheless, the 2017 Walleye gill net catch fell well short of the goal for the species in this lake. This was the fourth consecutive survey in which the Walleye gill net catch declined, and the 2017 catch was the second lowest ever seen in this lake. Walleye taken in gill nets in 2017 ranged in length from 7.3 to 23.7 inches, with most in the eight to nine and 12 to 16-inch length ranges. Ten year classes contributed to the gill and trap net catch, with the strongest apparently produced in 2015 and 2013. Years when Walleye were most recently stocked (2004, 2007, and 2009) contributed just three of the 57 fish taken; the rest were produced naturally. Sampling with 0.25-in-mesh trap nets indicated good numbers of young-of-year (YOY) Walleye were produced in 2017. The YOY catch was well above average for a lake of this type in the Grand Marais area. Walleye growth had been somewhat faster than average for this area; fish reached a mean length of 14.2 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 12.7 inches. The adult Walleye population in Caribou Lake was assessed by electrofishing done by the Fond du Lac band and the 1854 Treaty Authority in late April 2017. As part of that sampling, 522 Walleye 10-inches or greater in length were given green tags and released. Recaptures of some of those fish in our July survey allowed us to estimate that a total of 2,150 (plus or minus 1,201) Walleye 10 inches or larger were present in Caribou Lake in the spring of 2017. Northern Pike numbers appeared to have been low in Caribou Lake in 2017, but some larger fish were present. The 2017 gill net catch failed to met the long term catch goal for the species in this lake for the first time since 1998; however, the size goal was met by the capture of fish as large as 32.2 inches in 0.75-in-mesh trap nets. Nine year classes, none of which appeared to have been exceptionally strong, contributed to the 2017 catch. Growth of young Northern Pike appeared to have been slow; fish reached a mean length of just 13.6 inches by the end of their third year, compared to an area average of 18.2 inches. Smallmouth Bass were first observed in Caribou Lake in 1981. Their abundance may have peaked in late 1990s or early 2000s; however, good numbers were still present in 2017. The 2017 gill net catch equalled the top of the normal range for a lake of this type. Only four year classes (including YOY fish) contributed to catches in all sampling gears in 2017. Growth of young Smallmouth Bass had been faster than average; two-year-old fish reached an average length of 6.1 inches at the end of their second year, compared to an area mean of 5.5 inches. Unlike most lakes in Cook County, Caribou Lake offers some panfish-fishing opportunity. It is one of a very few lakes in this area to support a few Black Crappie. Catches have never been high in any assessment, and the 2017 catch, while very low, was typical for this lake. Bluegill are present in fair numbers; the 2017 trap net catch was the second highest observed to date in this lake, and some larger fish were found. Bluegill were first collected in 0.75-in-mesh trap nets in this lake in 2008, and catches had increased in each subsequent assessment, before dropping slightly in 2017. Bluegill collected in 2017 ranged in length from 4.1 to 10.0 inches, with four year classes contributing to the catch. Yellow Perch are probably the primary forage for Walleye and Northern Pike in this lake, but have rarely been present in sizes large enough to have been of interest to anglers. The 2017 gill net catch, while improved compared to 2011, remained low for this lake historically. The catch of YOY Yellow Perch in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets (244.6 YOY/set) fell within the normal range (23.0 - 298.6 YOY/set) for lakes of this type in the area, but remained well below levels typically observed in this lake prior to Smallmouth Bass becoming established. Caribou Lake has at times been the subject of White Sucker removal efforts, due to their perceived effect on Walleye when abundant. White Sucker were not particularly abundant in 2017. The gill net catch was about average for this type of lake, and was not high for this lake historically, where catches prior to 1992 usually exceeded 10 fish/set and often exceeded 20.

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

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

Caribou has a maximum depth of 30 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Caribou is from 2022.

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