Topaz

Topaz Lake is located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) within the Superior National Forest and is a non-motorized lake. It is approximately 38 miles northeast of Ely. Accesses consist of a 16 rod portage from Amoeber Lake on the southwest corner and a 6 rod portage to Cherry Lake to the northwest. BWCAW permits are required to visit Topaz through an official entry point and there is one U. S. Forest Service maintained campsite on the lake. Topaz has four small inlets and one outlet which flows southwest to Amoeber Lake. It is a 150 acre lake with a max depth of 73 feet and clear water. On September 12, 2018 Topaz was thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 67 F and a bottom temperature of 40 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for cold water fish, including lake trout, to a depth of 35 feet. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline of Topaz are dominated by boulder and ledgerock. Aquatic plants are very sparse. Both deep and shallow water gill nets were set. Cisco dominated the catch in both gear types with a burbot and two small yellow perch also being sampled. The cisco deep water gill net catch rate was 36.3 fish/net. This was higher than normal for Topaz and very high compared to other lakes with cisco in the area. Sizes were 11 to 15 inches with an average of nearly 13 inches. Sizes were slightly bigger than cisco that had been sampled in the past. One burbot was sampled in deep water gill nets. It was 21 inches long and 8 years old. Smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, and lake trout were all sampled in previous surveys, however none were caught in this assessment.

Ciscoes are present in above average numbers. Lake trout, smallmouth bass, and burbot are present in about average numbers. Suckers are present in low numbers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass in Topaz. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Topaz has a maximum depth of 73 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Topaz is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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