Baskatong

Baskatong Lake is a 67 acre, very soft-water lake in the road and airspace reservation zone of the Superior National Forest. The lake is accessible by canoe route portage from Square Lake, one of the Kawishiwi River lakes. The maximum depth of Baskatong Lake is six feet, and there are four small inlets and an outlet. Water levels of Baskatong Lake have dropped several feet in recent years. Deterioration of the beaver dam on the outlet may be responsible for this drop. Partial winterkill conditions appear to have depleted the white sucker population of the lake. Higher water levels would lessen the dangers of winterkill. Shoal soils of the lake are mostly boulder, ledgerock, and muck. The lake is surrounded by forest land, and no development is present other than the portage trail to Square Lake. The total catch of test netting was 48 northern pike and 1 white sucker. No other fish were taken, but shiners and daters were observed. Northern pike catches were higher when compared to state-wide and watershed catch medians. Partial winterkill is probably responsible for the low white sucker catch. All northern pike taken ranged between 13 inches and 23 inches in length. Aquatic plants were moderately abundant in depths to 5 feet, with burreed, yellow waterlily, and bladderwort being predominant. Spawning conditions were rated "good" for northern pike, "poor" for trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass, and "fair" for largemouth bass and centrarchid panfish. Baskatong Lake has low fishing pressure. A few waterfowl apparently use the lake, one brood of bluebills was observed during the survey.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Baskatong. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Baskatong has a maximum depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Baskatong is from 1962. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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