Farm

Farm Lake is five miles east of Ely, covers 1,292 acres, and is one of three connected water bodies, including South Farm and Garden Lakes, that comprise the Garden Reservoir. This system is also connected to White Iron Lake via the South Kawishiwi River. A public access with a concrete plank boat ramp is on the west side of the lake off CR 16 (Kawishiwi Trail). Farm Lake can also be accessed by boat from both Garden and White Iron Lakes and serves as the access to South Farm Lake. A hydroelectric dam at the outlet of Garden Lake affects water levels seasonally on Farm Lake and the other connected lakes. The 2020 lake management plan for the Garden Reservoir lakes listed walleye and northern pike as the primary management species and the plan also listed bluegill, smallmouth bass, and black crappie as capable of providing quality fishing. A standard survey was conducted in mid-summer 2023 to assess the populations of these species and to monitor lake quality and habitat. The survey crew sampled fish with gill nets and trap nets and measured water quality. Farm Lake was thermally stratified, with a surface temperature of 67 F and a temperature of 47 F at 27 feet. Adequate oxygen levels for gamefish were present to a depth of about 21 feet. Farm Lake has brown, bog-stained water with visibility around 7 feet. Walleye harvest by anglers on the Garden Reservoir chain is restricted with a special regulation that requires releasing all fish from 17 to 26 inches, with only one fish over 26 inches allowed in a 6-fish limit. This regulation has been in place since 2006 with the goal of maintaining overall catch rates while increasing the number of fish over 17 inches and applies to all the connected lakes mentioned above. The gill-net catch for walleye was right at the historic median for the lake. Walleye were 14.2 inches long on average and only 28% of the fish sampled were over 14.0 inches. Some fish were also caught in trap nets and they were about the same size as the gill-netted fish, at 14.8 inches on average. Large walleye are present in this lake, with three fish over 28 inches sampled in 2023. Walleye ages ranged from 1 to 16 and indicated natural reproduction is occurring in the system. Northern pike (pike) harvest by anglers on the Garden Reservoir chain is restricted with a special regulation that requires releasing all fish from 24 to 36 inches, with only one pike over 36 inches allowed in a 3-fish limit. This regulation, which applies to all the connected lakes mentioned above, has been in place since 2003 with the goal of maintaining the overall catch rate and increasing the abundance of pike over 24 inches. Northern pike were caught at slightly higher rates than the historic median for Farm Lake. Northern pike were 25.4 inches long on average, which was close to the historical average. The largest pike was 39.1 inches long. Some pike were also caught in trap nets. These fish tended to be smaller, averaging 21.2 inches. Bluegill were caught about the same rate as have historically been sampled in the lake. Bluegill were 7.1 inches long on average and they displayed some of the fastest growth compared to other bluegill populations in the Tower area. The largest bluegill sampled was 9.1 inches in length, and ages ranged from 2 to 8. Black crappie were caught about the same rate as have historically been sampled in the lake. Black crappie averaged 9.5 inches in length. The largest black crappie sampled was 12.8 inches long, and ages ranged from 2 to 10. Additional species sampled in 2023 included brown bullhead, burbot, cisco, rock bass, smallmouth bass, white sucker, and yellow perch.

Farm Lake is located approximately 5 miles E of Ely within the Superior National Forest. This popular lake is highly developed by local standards with many cabins, homes and several resorts. Farm is one of four connected lakes that with South Farm, White Iron and Garden comprise the Garden Reservoir. There is a dam and hydro-electric plant located at the outlet of Garden Lake which can contribute to seasonal water level fluctuations on the reservoir. The most common access is a concrete planked boat ramp located on the W side of the lake off CR 16 (Kawishiwi Trail). The navigable channels from Garden and White Iron Lakes are also often used for access. Eight species of fish were sampled in 2017 with 9 gill nets used. Cisco made up 50% of the sample, followed by walleye (17%), yellow perch (12%), rock bass (7%) and northern pike (6%). Several good sized smallmouth bass were sampled and one black crappie. Farm Lake has a reputation for its quality crappie fishing although the lack of crappie in the gill net sample does not reflect this. Walleye abundance in 2017 (6.1/gill net) was slightly higher than historic average (5.2/gill net) for this lake and nearly identical to the average for other similar lakes in the area. The average walleye sampled was 15.3 inches long and about 6 years old with the largest measuring 28 inches. Average size in 2017 was the best of all surveys completed on Farm Lake. Walleye fingerlings are stocked during odd numbered years, and in 2017, seventy-one percent of the walleye aged came from years where stocking occurred. There has been a protected slot for walleye in Farm Lake from 17" to 26" with only one over 26 inches allowed in possession since 2006. Northern pike numbers in 2017 (2.3/gill net) were slightly higher than the historic average (1.1/gill net) for Farm Lake and nearly identical to the average when compared to other similar area lakes. The average pike sampled was 22.7 inches long and the largest pike measured 30.8 inches. There has been a protected slot for northern pike in Farm Lake from 24" to 36" with one over 36" in possession since 2003.

Farm Lake is a 1,328 acre lake located about two miles east of Winton, MN. Farm, along with Garden and South Farm Lakes make up the Garden Lake Reservoir. There is a dam located at the outlet of Garden Lake that discharges into Fall Lake. This dam, owned by Minnesota Power, impounds the reservoir and is used to generate hydropower. The lakes of the Garden Lake Reservoir are managed primarily for their walleye and northern pike fisheries. A population assessment was conducted on Farm Lake during the summer of 2012 to determine the status of the fish community, the effectiveness of walleye fingerling stocking (1.0 lb/littoral acre biennially)and protected length limit (protected length limit of 17-26" with one over 26" in possession) and the impacts of a northern pike special regulation (protected length limit of 24-36" with one over 36" in possession). Walleye made up 42% of the 2012 Farm Lake gill-net catch by number and 51% by weight. Abundance in the gill-net catch (10.0/net) was the highest ever recorded for Farm Lake. Abundance was above average for lakes in the same classification as Farm. Walleye lengths in the catch ranged from 7.1 to 25.0 inches with an average of 12.6 inches. Seventy percent of the catch was from years in which fingerling stocking occurred. Growth of Farm Lake walleye was slow. Because the Garden Lake Reservoir is an open system, fingerling stocking was evaluated concurrently for all three lakes. The results of the evaluation showed that walleye cohorts from years that were fingerling stocked contributed approximately 50% more to assessment catches than those cohorts from years in which no stocking occurred. A special regulation was implemented for walleye in 2006 on the Garden Lake Reservoir requiring the immediate release of fish between 17 and 26 inches. One walleye over 26 inches is allowed in possession. The two assessments that have occurred since 2006 indicate that this regulation has met the goal of increasing abundance of walleye greater than 17 inches. The average gill-net catch of walleye greater than 17 inches from 2008-2012 was 0.93/net. The 1991-2004 average was 0.30. The number of walleye over 17 inches has tripled while the number over 24 inches has doubled since the regulation was put in place. Northern pike gill-net abundance in Farm Lake in 2012 (1.0/net) was approximately equal to the historic average since 1965. Pike abundance in Farm Lake has typically been below average compared to other lakes in the same classification. Pike sampled during the assessment ranged from 14.4 to 33.7 inches with a mean of 23.9 inches. The average weight for all pike caught during the 2012 assessment (3.9 lbs) was above average for lakes in the same classification. Evaluation of the northern pike length regulation also included all the lakes of the reservoir. The special regulation on pike went into effect in 2003 and requires the immediate release of pike between 24 and 36 inches with one over 36 inches allowed in possession. The goal of the northern pike regulation was to increase the overall abundance of northern pike in the reservoir and specifically to increase the abundance of pike over 24 inches. The evaluation indicated that the special regulation appears to have attained its goal. The catch rate of pike over 24 inches increased from 0.38/net in 1991-1999 compared to 0.86/net in 2004-2012. The cisco gill-net abundance in 2012 (4.9/net) was below the historic average for Farm Lake. Generally, cisco abundance in Farm Lake has been decreasing. The average gill-net abundance from 1965-1986 was 20.9/net however, from 1988-2012 it was 6.4/net. Declining cisco abundance in Area lakes is not uncommon and may be related to increases in predator populations, rainbow smelt invasions or loss of habitat. The bluegill trap-net abundance in 2012 (3.7/net) was equal to the historic average for Farm Lake but was well below the average abundance since 1994. The bluegill catch was dominated by small, presumably two year old fish. Lengths ranged from 3.1 to 8.9 inches with an average of 4.8 inches. The historic average length is 6.8 inches. Two year olds made up 68% of the total bluegill catch. Bluegill growth in Garden Lake was average. Other species present during the 2012 survey included black crappie, rock bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and white sucker. Twenty-six rusty crayfish, a non-native species, were also captured during the assessment. Rusty crayfish have had significant negative impacts on fish habitat in other Area lakes where they are present.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Walleye in Farm. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Farm has a maximum depth of 56 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Farm is from 2023.

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