Cloquet

Cloquet Lake is a moderately sized lake with a maximum depth of seven feet located eleven miles west of Finland within the Superior National Forest. There is a small public access with an earthen boat ramp suitable for small boats and canoes on the southeast shore of the lake off Forest Service 102 (Cloquet Lake Road). The Walleye population is actively managed with the current plan to stock fingerlings in even numbered years. A standard fisheries survey was completed in July to monitor the fish community and evaluate stocking efforts. The 2024 Walleye catch rate of 4.0 per gill net was similar to the last survey of the lake and within the normal range for similar lakes in the area, but below the goal set in the current fisheries management plan. The average size of Walleye caught was 19.1 inches long and weighed an estimated 2.51 pounds. Nearly half of the fish sampled were from the naturally reproduced 2021-year class. The remaining Walleye age classes corresponded to the five most recent years when fingerling stocking occurred. It remains unclear how much stocking contributes to the population since natural reproduction was likely responsible for the largest year class sampled and may occur regularly in the lake. The 2024 Yellow Perch catch of 27.0 per gill net was above the normal range for similar lakes in the area, but within the range of previous surveys of Cloquet Lake. Perch ranged from 5 to 12 inches long with an average length of 9.3 inches and weight of about 0.4 pounds. Opportunities to harvest fish appear to be good as 33% of the catch was greater than 10 inches long. Northern Pike provide additional angling opportunities and the gill net catch rate of 7.7 per gill net was within the normal range for similar lakes and within the range of previous surveys. Pike size is generally poor and in 2024 they averaged just 17.4 inches long and 1.5 pounds, with few fish longer than 24 inches sampled. Survey results indicate the lake currently supports fair opportunities for larger sized Walleye, excellent opportunities for harvestable sized Yellow Perch, and good opportunities to catch small Northern Pike, as well as an occasional larger fish.

Cloquet Lake is located eleven miles west of Finland within the Superior National Forest. There is a small public access with an earthen ramp suitable for small boats and canoes on the southeast shore of the lake. Current management is for Walleye fingerlings to be stocked in the fall for two consecutive years followed by two non-stocked years. A standard fisheries survey was completed in June 2019 to monitor the fish community and evaluate stocking efforts. The Walleye catch rate of 2.33 per gill net was on the low end of the normal range for similar lakes, but below average compared to previous surveys of Cloquet Lake. Size ranged from 7.5 to 26.0 inches with an average length of 19.1 inches and average weight of 3.04 pounds. Age analysis determined a little over half the Walleye sampled (8 of 15) were from the 2015 year class, a stocked year. The remaining fish came from two non-stocked year classes and were either age-1 or age-15. These results are similar to recent surveys of the lake which have found inconsistent recruitment from both stocked and non-stocked years. Northern Pike catch was within the normal range and consistent with previous surveys of the lake. Size structure continues to be poor as pike averaged just 18.02 inches and 1.21 pounds in 2019 with just one individual greater than 24 inches long sampled. Only a handful of Northern Pike longer than 24 inches have been captured in the thirteen surveys completed on the lake to date. The Yellow Perch catch rate of 17.83 per gill net was similar to previous surveys and near the high end of the normal range for similar lakes. Size ranged from 6.1 to 13.1 inches with 38% of perch longer than 10 inches. Age distribution included fish from age-1 to age-17 with fourteen year classes identified. The quality size structure is largely the result of a mature population of older fish that can be sensitive to increased harvest.

Low water levels, abundance of wild rice and decline of Walleye have become a major concern on Cloquet Lake in recent years. Recently, MnDNR Section of Wildlife has begun to manage the lake for wild rice by removing beaver dams and lowering water levels. The Section of Fisheries has managed the lake for Walleye since 1961 through various stocking methods. Currently, Cloquet Lake is being stocked with fingerlings on a two out of four year basis. The purpose of this survey was to assess Walleye abundance using gill nets only. In September, four gill nets were set throughout the lake and sampled 15 Walleye. Five different year classes were sampled and nine of the fish were aged at 3 years old, which was not a stocked year. Historically there has been evidence of some natural reproduction but it is uncertain if natural reproduction could support a fishery acceptable to the public. The average size of Walleye sampled was 18.8 inches long and weighed 2.6 pounds. The largest fish sampled was 26.8 inches long and weighed 6.5 pounds. Similar to previous investigations, Walleye growth is much faster than average for Finland Area lakes. Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and White Sucker were also sampled. Northern Pike numbers are high but average size is small, mostly 20 inches and under, but an occasional large fish is caught. Yellow Perch numbers are high and average size is very nice with over half of the 2017 catch greater than 9 inches.

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

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

Cloquet has a maximum depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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