Flash

Flash is an 83-acre lake located 18 miles northeast of Ely in the Superior National Forest. It is comparable to Erickson, Hatchet, and Oriniak lakes in the Tower area. The lake is clear, moderately productive, and has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The surrounding forest is regenerating from a severe windstorm and resulting prescribed fire. Beaver activity has raised the lake level enough to drown out some shoreline trees. There are no designated campsites on the lake but a few user maintained spots are present. Access is by a 250-rod portage from the Secret-Blackstone trailhead on the Moose Lake Road and by a 140-rod portage from Snowbank Lake. Walleye dominated the survey catch, followed by northern pike and yellow perch. Low numbers of white sucker have been present since the initial survey, and a single green sunfish was the first documented catch of the species in Flash. Walleye numbers (11.0/net) were better than average compared to Area lakes but fewer than normal for Flash. Average length (14.1 inches) was somewhat lower than typical as well. Lengths ranged from seven to 20 inches. Walleye growth was slightly greater than normal for the area. Most fish in Flash were young, with the 2020- and 2021-year classes representing most of the catch. Recruitment was generally consistent with occasional strong years. Northern pike abundance (8.7/net) was the highest sampled from Flash in many decades. Lengths ranged from 19 to 25 inches and averaged 21 inches, which was close to typical. Pike numbers decreased as the walleye population took hold, bottoming out at 0/net in 1998 when the walleye catch was 53/net. As walleye numbers have dropped following this peak northern pike numbers have begun to rebound.

Flash Lake is located approximately 16 miles NE of Ely in the Superior National Forest. The forest surrounding the lake has been logged in recent years and a prescribed burn on the south side was completed. During the 2014 population assessment, the water levels on Flash Lake were very high resulting in dying trees occurring frequently along the shoreline. Access is by portage from the Moose Lake Road (250 rods) or a 140 rod portage from Snowbank Lake. There are no designated campsites on the lake, however there is evidence of camping at a couple of locations. The 2014 assessment sampled northern pike (14%), walleye (71%), white sucker (4%) and yellow perch (10%). Only walleye were sampled during the previous assessment in 1998. Northern pike numbers in 2014 (3.3/gill net) were lower than the long term average for all assessments on this lake. Pike sizes averaged 22.3 inches long which is slightly larger than in the past. The largest pike sampled was 25.2 inches. Walleye abundance in 2014 of 16.3/gill net was higher than the long term average on this lake of 10.5. Walleye averaged 14.0 inches long and were about 4 years old. The largest walleye sampled was 22.0 inches. Walleye were last stocked in 1989. Yellow perch numbers in 2014 (2.3/gill net) were lower than in the past. Most perch were about 6 inches long.

Flash Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 13, which consists of 84 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small, shallow, and have very soft (unmineralized) water.Flash Lake was thermally stratified at the time of the June, 1998 fish population assessment, and retained 2 ppm oxygen to a depth of 18 ft, where the temperature was 61 F. The bottom temperature, at 20 ft, was 59 F. There is an inlet from Blackstone Lake which seeps through a sedge bog. There is no outlet. Lake bottom substrates are mostly muck, boulder, and rubble. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 10 ft; the most common plants are largeleaf pondweed, bladderwort, and white and yellow waterlilies. There is a large bog fringe along the south shoreline.The 1998 fish population assessment consisted of two gillnet sets. Four prior fish population assessments and a fisheries lake survey have been done, dating back to 1978, with each consisting of two or three gillnet sets. No trapnets have been set on Flash Lake due to the difficult portage access.Walleye were the only fish species caught in 1998. Walleye were introduced in 1979 and were stocked four additional times through 1989, after which stocking was discontinued to see if natural reproduction could maintain the population. Walleye numbers in 1998 (53/gillnet) were extremely high, and as a consequence the third "standard" gillnet for this lake was not set. Most walleye captured in 1998 (78 percent) were from strong 1994 and 1995 year classes, although seven other year classes were present. Walleye sizes averaged 14.5", which was smaller than in previous surveys and assessments. Walleye growth (12" at age three, 14" at age four) was normal for the area, but was slower than in previous surveys and assessments on Flash Lake.Northern pike numbers declined from 12/gillnet in 1978 to 5/gillnet in 1993, and none were caught in 1998. Yellow perch numbers declined from 43/gillnet in 1978 to 11/gillnet in 1993, and none were caught in 1998. White sucker numbers were low during the period 1978-88, averaging less than 1/gillnet. No sucker were caught after the 1988 assessment.

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

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

Flash has a maximum depth of 24 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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