Sagamore Mine

Sagamore Lake is a former open pit iron ore mine pit located in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Rainbow Trout are stocked annual as yearlings (2,000/year) into Sagamore. Temperature and oxygen conditions suitable for trout occurred from a depth of about 15' down to around 60' in July 2023. Rainbow Trout provide for a popular fishery, especially early in the season. Rainbow Trout were sampled at 2.0/gill net, with an average length of 13.0". Lake Trout were first stocked in 2019, with 635 yearlings being stocked biennially. One 11.7" Lake Trout was sampled in this survey. The management goal is to have a self-sustaining Lake Trout population by 2031. Sagamore has a special regulation for Lake Trout: All less than 20" must be released with a possession limit of one. Northern Pike were sampled in low numbers at 1.1/gill net. Average length was 24.5", with 50% in the protected 22-26" slot. Northern Pike measuring at least 26" in length made up 25% of the catch. Tullibee (Cisco) were first stocked into Sagamore in 2019 as adults. They were introduced to provide forage for the Lake Trout population. The gill net catch of 0.3/net was below average for similar lakes. All Tullibee (Cisco) sampled were adults from past stocking efforts, with an average length of 15.8". No invasive species have been discovered in Sagamore, but they are in the area. Lake users are required to inspect and remove any aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and trailers, as well as pull the plug and drain all water from the watercraft, including bilges, livewells and baitwells.

Sagamore Mine Pit Lake is a former open pit iron mine that is a designated stream trout lake presently managed for rainbow trout. The dissolved oxygen and temperature profile was measured on August 22, 2011 to monitor habitat for trout. Optimal conditions for rainbow trout (11-19 C, greater than or equal to 5 ppm DO) occurred in about 9 vertical ft from a depth of about 20 ft down to about 28 ft. The TDO3 value was 5.3 C. Sufficient oxygen for salmonids (> 5 ppm) occurred down to a depth of about 59 ft where the temperature was 5.6 C.

Sagamore Mine Pit Lake is a former open pit iron mine that is a designated stream trout lake presently managed for rainbow trout. The dissolved oxygen and temperature profile was measured on August 22, 2011 to monitor habitat for trout. Optimal conditions for rainbow trout (11-19 C, greater than or equal to 5 ppm DO) occurred in about 9 vertical ft from a depth of about 20 ft down to about 28 ft. The TDO3 value was 5.3 C. Sufficient oxygen for salmonids (> 5 ppm) occurred down to a depth of about 59 ft where the temperature was 5.6 C.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Brook Trout, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Rainbow Trout in Sagamore Mine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sagamore Mine has a maximum depth of 210 feet and a mean depth of 63.4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sagamore Mine is from 2023.

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