Highlife

Highlife Lake is a small remote lake located in Lake County near Isabella. A fisheries crew improved an existing user created hiking trail into a new carry-in access in the southwest corner of the lake in 2018. From State Highway 1 turn east on the minimum maintenance logging road about 300 yards north of the East Chub Lake public access. Proceed approximately 100 yards and stay left at the first intersection, then travel a quarter mile to the parking area. The improved carry-in access trail extends to the northeast and traverses approximately 500 feet to the lake. The purpose of the 2018 standard survey was to update the status of the Bluegill and Largemouth Bass populations and provide information that will guide future management decisions. Few adult Bluegill were captured during the assessment in any sampling gear but some young fish were caught. The limited data suggests the Bluegill population has been able to persist at a low density with sporadic natural reproduction. Largemouth Bass were sampled in good numbers on the other hand. Several thousand young-of-the-year fish were captured in special mini-trap nets used to sample the lake from a canoe. In addition, adult bass in the 12 to 14 inch size range were well represented. Age analysis identified 10 year classes with young-of-the-year through age-9 fish sampled. Growth was generally slow for the area. A mature population with slow growing fish can be susceptible to overexploitation so anglers are encouraged to practice selective harvest to maintain the current size structure.

Highlife Lake is a 19.8 acre lake in the Superior National Forest. The maximum depth is 23 feet and it has light brown bog stained water. The lake is located 12 miles west northwest of Isabella. From State Hwy 1 to unmaintained logging road about 300 yards north of East Chub Lake access, then east on logging road 325 ft. to Y, then left 0.25 mile to parking area, then a 500 foot carry in. This access was created new in spring 2018. Cold water temperatures and good dissolved oxygen levels are essential for trout growth and survival. To assess these important criteria, five automatic temperature loggers were deployed at the deepest location in the lake, they were suspended at depths of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 feet from June 25 to October 19, 2018. Dissolved oxygen checks were conducted throughout the summer at the same location. The results of the investigation indicate that during the summer of 2018, Highlife Lake maintained limited sufficient oxygen and thermal habitat for the survival of stream trout. These parameters will continue to be carefully monitored in future investigations to check the suitability of Highlife Lake for possible trout stocking.

Highlife Lake is not a designated trout lake; however, there are brook trout present as yearling brook trout were stocked in odd-numbered- years. The small number of trout collected in the 2008 population assessment had a mean length of 12.7 inches with a maximum length of 13.5 inches. Bluegills provide anglers with an opportunity for some panfish action. The average size was about 7 inches with fish over 9 inches present. Largemouth bass were also present; however, it is difficult to assess their numbers and size structure without utilizing specialized equipment that the difficult access will not allow. Access to Highlife Lake is on an unmarked logging road that wraps around the north side of the lake and ends on the northeast shore with a carry-down to the lake. This access road is rough and brushy with many tight corners, only high-clearance vehicles with well-worn paint should travel this route.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brook Trout, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and Pumpkinseed in Highlife. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Highlife has a maximum depth of 23 feet and a mean depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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