Section Twelve

Section Twelve is a 49-acre lake located 15 miles east of Ely off the Fernberg Road. It has clear water, rocky shores interspersed with sand and muck, and a maximum depth of 52 feet. Aquatic vegetation is limited. Secchi visibility at the time of the survey was 14 feet. The lake was stratified during a midsummer cold-water habitat survey. A thermocline formed at 28 feet and excellent cisco habitat was present. The lake is largely undeveloped with the exception of a church-owned tent camp on the North shore. A panorama of cedar and pine gives it a classic Canadian Shield feel. Access is off the Old Fernberg Road but no improved landing exists. With finesse a small boat can be trailered in, but parking space is limited. Catches in both gears were lower than normal. Gill net yield was 10.7 lb/net compared to the average of 21.9 lb/net and consisted predominantly of walleye, cisco, and rock bass. Low numbers of northern pike, yellow perch, and white sucker were also present. A single burbot was captured and is the first time the species has been reported from Section Twelve. Trap net yield (1.1 lb/net) was low compared to the lake average. Trap net catch was dominated by bluegill and rock bass. A few smallmouth bass, two northern pike, and a walleye were also sampled. Overall, catches of most species were noticeably below average. Walleye abundance (1.3/net) lower than usual. However, average length was high at 17.3 inches. Lengths ranged from 14 to 21 inches. Walleye fingerlings are stocked every other year, and most of the walleyes were from the 2020 stocked year class. Northern pike have only recently reappeared in Section 12 and are present in low abundance. Gill nets captured two, at 27 and 31 inches, and trap nets sampled another two, both 21 inches in length. Cisco numbers (2.3/net) were a bit below normal. Mean length (16.0 inches) was once again high. Cisco lengths ranged from 14 to 17 inches. Bluegill numbers (0.7/trap net) were unusually low. Trap net catches the past three decades of surveys ranged from 5.3/net to 20.3/net, making the apparently sudden decline of bluegill numbers surprising. Bluegill lengths were small, ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 inches, with an average of 5 inches typical for Section 12. Smallmouth bass were present (0.3/net) in trap nets in their lowest numbers to date. Lengths were typically modest, ranging from seven to ten inches with an average of eight inches. Smallmouth exceeding twelve inches are uncommon in Section 12, and anglers seeking bass may want to look elsewhere.

Section Twelve Lake is located approximately 15 miles E of Ely within the Superior National Forest. This scenic lake has a landscape with abundant pines and the shorelines are lined with white cedar. Other than a seasonal tent camp, the lake is undeveloped. A public access can be found by driving E on CR 18 (Fernberg Rd) and turning rt on Old CR 18. The access is along the gravel road right-of-way near the NW shore. A canoe or small boat would be best suited for use. There are no official campsites located near the lake for overnight use. Nine species of fish were sampled during the 2017 survey of Section 12 Lake. The total number of fish sampled were some of the lowest ever recorded on this lake. Large cisco or tullibee comprised 48% of the gill net catch, while small bluegill (58%) dominated the trap net catch. Low numbers of walleye and northern pike were recorded. Smallmouth bass, one largemouth bass and rock bass were also sampled in 2017. Walleye numbers in 2017 (2.0/gill net) were slightly lower than the historic average (3.3/gill net) and slightly above average (1.4/gill net) compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average walleye sampled was 19.2 inches which is larger than historic average length of 15.8 inches and the largest walleye was 25.5 inches long. Walleye fingerlings are stocked during even numbered years on Section 12 Lake. Bluegill numbers in 2017 (6.1/trap net) were identical to the historic average for Section 12 Lake and similar to the average (6.5/trap net) when compared to other lakes in the area that are similar. The average bluegill sampled was 5.0 inches which is nearly identical to the historic average length of 5.1 inches. The largest bluegill sampled was 6.7 inches. Cisco numbers in 2017 (3.5/gill net) were similar the the historic average (3.1/gill net) for this lake. The average cisco sampled was 14.8 inches which is larger than the historic average length of 13.2 inches. The largest cisco sampled in 2017 was 20.5 inches long.

Section 12 lake is a 43-acre lake with a maximum depth of 52 feet located 14 miles east and 4 miles north of Ely in northwestern Lake County. Section 12 is entirely within the Superior National Forest with all of the shoreline under public ownership. There is a user developed carry-in access off the old Fernberg Road on the north end of the lake. Based on physical and chemical characteristics, Section 12 is categorized in lake class 4. Lakes in this class are typically small, deep, very soft and have clear water. Section 12 is managed primarily for walleye and is stocked with fingerlings. In 2010, walleye abundance was comparable to past assessments and other class 4 lakes. Walleye ranged in length from 12.0 inches to 24.4 inches with an average length and weight of 17.5 inches and 2.1 pounds. Walleye fingerlings are stocked in even-numbered years. All walleye sampled were aged to stocked years. Walleye growth was above average. After three years of growth, Section 12 walleye were 15.5 inches long. In 2010, one northern pike was sampled for the first time since 1974. The pike was 26 inches long and age 7. In 2010, bluegill abundance was the highest ever recorded on Section 12 and was comparable to other class 4 lakes. Bluegill were generally small with only 11% of the bluegill sampled greater than 6 inches in length. Bluegill grew slowly in Section 12 reaching 3.8 inches in length after four years of growth. Rock bass were sampled in moderate numbers with fish up to 7.5 inches long sampled. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass exist in moderate numbers in Section 12. Smallmouth bass are slightly more abundant than largemouth bass but generally both are small with the largest smallmouth bass sampled being 11 inches in length and the largest largemouth bass being13 inches.

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

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

Section Twelve has a maximum depth of 52 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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