Ahsub

Ahsub is a 60-acre designated stream trout lake located 24 miles northeast of Ely in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is deep, clear, and rather unproductive. Two windstorms have torn down much of the forest surrounding the lake, but a few scattered mature trees punctuate the regenerating hardwoods and scrubby oaks. Trout stocking in Ahsub was discontinued after 2010 following reductions in the state stream trout program. The presence of smallmouth bass, and corresponding decreases in assessment catches, result in the decision to cease stocking. Previously rainbow trout, lake trout, splake, and brook trout had been stocked. Access to Ahsub is from either a 26-rod portage to Disappointment Lake or a 24-rod portage to Jitterbug Lake. Two USFS maintained campsites are present. This is a busy travel route, and campers can expect plenty of canoe traffic during peak season. Although Ahsub is no longer managed for stream trout it is still listed as a designated trout lake. Anglers wishing to pursue other species are required to possess a trout stamp. The 2024 survey consisted of four gillnet sets. Bluegill (7.8/net), white sucker (6.5/net), and yellow perch (2.8/net) represented the bulk of the catch. Hybrid sunfish (1.5/net) and smallmouth bass (0.5/net) were present in low numbers. A single 35.5 inch northern pike was captured as well. This was the first-time bluegill, hybrid sunfish, or northern pike had been sampled in Ahsub. The bluegills were small, ranging from about 4-6 inches with an average length of 4.5 inches. Smallmouth bass lengths were 6.5 and 14 inches. Smallmouth bass were likely more abundant than gill nets suggest.

Ahsub Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 3, which consists of 72 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are deep, have irregularly shaped shorelines, and have clear and soft (unmineralized) water. Ahsub Lake is smaller than most of the lakes in this lake class.Ahsub Lake was thermally stratified on 05/31/2005 with a surface temperature of 63 F and a bottom temperature of 39 F. Good oxygen for trout (more than 5 ppm) was retained to a depth of 40 ft, where the temperature was 41 F. Ahsub Lake has no inlets. The outlet has a filter barrier (which is in disrepair) and a beaver dam with a 3 ft head that limits fish movement upstream from Jitterbug Lake. Bottom substrates along the shoreline of Ahsub Lake are 40% ledgerock, 40% boulder, 10% rubble, and 10% muck. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 15 ft; there is a concentration of plants in the shallow outlet bay.Ahsub lake was first surveyed with gillnets in 1966, and was poisoned in 1967 to remove populations of northern pike, white sucker, and yellow perch. Trout stocking began in 1969. Eight subsequent trout assessments each consisted of 2-4 gillnets, mostly done in late May or early June, or in October. Trapnetting has not been done in this lake due to the difficult portage access, and shoreline seining has not been done due to the lack of suitable seining areas.Fish species captured in 2005 were brook trout and white sucker. A dozen smallmouth bass nests were observed by the survey crew, and one of these nests was occupied. Smallmouth bass were first reported in Ahsub Lake by anglers in 1997.Brook trout biomass in 2005 (1.4 lb/gillnet) was lower than the average trout catch of 7.7 lb/gillnet (all species) in previous assessments on this lake and was also lower than the median trout catch of 3.9 lb/gillnet (all species) in recent assessments of 25 stream trout lakes (excluding mine pit lakes) in the Tower Fisheries Management Area.Ten of 11 brook trout captured in 2005 ranged in size from 6" to 8" and had been stocked the previous fall as fingerlings. One 18" brook trout was also captured. The stomachs of the small trout were empty, while the stomach of the large brook trout contained chironomids and dragonfly larvae.White sucker numbers in 2005 (11.7/gillnet) were similar to the average catch of 11.9/gillnet in previous trout assessments on this lake.

Ahusb Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 3, which consists of 72 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are deep, have irregularly shaped shorelines, and have clear and soft (unmineralized) water. Ahsub Lake is smaller (58 acres) than the lake class average size of 263 acres.Ahusb Lake was thermally stratified on 09/07/99 and retained good oxygen for trout (more than 5 ppm) to a depth of 33 ft, where the temperature was 43 F. Ahusb Lake has no inlets; the outlet has a beaver dam and an artificial rock barrier at the outlet which prevent fish movement upstream from Jitterbug Lake. Lake bottom substrates are mostly ledgerock and boulder. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 15 ft; mostly in the shallow outlet bay. Ahsub Lake was poisoned in 1967 to remove populations of northern pike, white sucker, and yellow perch. Some sucker apparently survived the 1967 poisoning and have been present, along with stocked trout. Trout stocking began in 1969.Fish species captured in the 1999 assessment were brook trout, white sucker, and smallmouth bass.The weight of brook trout captured in 1999 (6.9 lb/gillnet) was similar to the average catch of 7.8 lb trout/gillnet captured in six previous assessments since trout stocking began. The 1999 trout catch was also near the median trout catch of 5.4 lb trout/gillnet (all trout species) in recent assessments of 25 stream trout lakes in the Ely Management Area.Brook trout sizes in 1999 averaged 14.8"; the largest was 16.8". Two of eleven brook trout stomachs examined contained insects and zooplankton; the remaining nine were empty.White sucker numbers in 1999 (6.3/gillnet) were lower than the average catch of 12.8/gillnet in previous assessments after the 1967 poisoning. Sucker sizes averaged 17.2"; the largest was 19.3".Smallmouth bass have been reported by anglers in Ahsub Lake beginning in 1997. Three smallmouth bass were captured in 1999 assessment; the smallest was 11.4" and the largest was 16.6".

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Lake Trout, and Splake in Ahsub. 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 Ahsub. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Ahsub has a maximum depth of 78 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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