Steele

Steele Lake is a 70-acre lake located approximately 3 miles north of the town of Elysian in Le Sueur County. It has a maximum depth of 27 feet and most of the shoreline is undeveloped with a cattail fringe. Water quality is generally poor with frequent algae blooms due to elevated nutrient levels. A county-owned public access is located on the south side of the lake off County Highway 11. Steele Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill and Northern Pike and secondarily for Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. All four species are stocked as needed following reclamation or winterkill events. The last recorded winterkill was in 2014 and 432 adult Northern Pike, 175 adult Bluegill, and 50 adult Black Crappie were stocked as a result. Additionally, adult Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2015. Steele Lake is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program every 6 years. The 2025 standard survey was completed the week of 16 June using 2 gill nets, 9 trap nets, and 43 minutes of standard daytime boat electrofishing. Water quality parameters were also measured. A total of 453 Black Crappie were sampled with the trap nets for a catch rate of 50.3/net. After catching zero in the 2014 survey following the winterkill, the Black Crappie population has rebounded to the second highest catch rate since 1993 (n =8). Black Crappie ranged from 5.1 to 10.4 inches with an average of 8.4 inches. An additional 19 Black Crappie ranging from 4.3 to 8.3 inches were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 9.5/net. Fish from both gears ranged from age-1 to age-8 with 8 year classes present. Each year-class was well represented. Growth was moderate. Bluegills were abundant in trap nets with a catch rate of 48.9/net. High catch rates have been common since 1993 (n = 8) with an average catch rate of 68.6/net during that time. Bluegills sampled in 2025 ranged from 5.2 to 8.7 inches with an average of 7.3 inches. Bluegills ranged from age-2 to age-9 with 7 year classes present. Growth was moderate, with fish averaging 7 inches by age-4. Largemouth Bass were common in 2025. A total of 40 were sampled with standard daytime boat electrofishing for a catch rate of 55.8/hour. Largemouth Bass ranged from 9.0 to 20.3 with an average of 14.6 inches. Largemouth Bass from all gears ranged from age-2 to age-5 with 3 year classes present. Most of the sample was age-3 from 2022. Growth was moderate with a length of 12 inches exceeded by age-4. The Steele Lake Largemouth Bass population offered an excellent fishing opportunity in 2025 and should continue in the absence of winterkill events. Northern Pike were also common in 2025 with a total of 10 sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 5.0/net. Catch rates since 1993 have varied from 0.0/net to 15.0/net with an average of 5.9/net. Northern Pike sampled in 2025 ranged from 20.6 to 29.1 inches with an average of 29.1 inches. Approximately sixty percent of the sample was larger than the legal minimum length limit of 24 inches. Black Bullheads were common in the 2019 survey with a catch rate of 118.5/ gill net, which is typical of lakes with a recent history of winterkill. In 2025 only a total of 15 were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 7.5/net. Most Black Bullheads were medium sized with an average length of 11.0 inches. Catch rates since 1993 have been variable with a range of 0.5/net to 210.5/net and an average of 72.2/net. Local anglers looking for a meal of bullheads should find Steele Lake appealing as the size of bullheads are most accepted as the best eating. Other Species sampled in 2025 include Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish (Lepomis spp.). Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of 10.0 feet, which was far higher than typical observations (2019 was 2.0 feet). Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 7.9 ppm and 70.0 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.1 ppm and 56.3 degrees Fahrenheit at 23 feet. A thermocline was detected between 13 and 15 feet. -Tyler Fellows, fisheries specialist

Status of the Fishery Steele Lake is a 70-acre lake located approximately 3 miles north of the town of Elysian in Le Sueur County. Steele Lake has a max depth of 27 feet with approximately 75% of the lake less than 15 feet deep. Most of the shoreline is undeveloped with a cattail fringe. Water quality is generally poor with frequent algal blooms due to elevated nutrient levels. A county-owned public access is located on the south side of the lake off County Highway 11. Steele Lake is primarily managed for Bluegill and Northern Pike and secondarily for Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. All four species are stocked as needed following reclamation or winterkill events. The last recorded winterkill was in 2014 and 432 adult Northern Pike, 175 adult Bluegill, and 50 adult Black Crappie were stocked as a result. Additionally, adult Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass were stocked in 2015. Steele Lake is designated as a Tier-2 Lake and will be surveyed as part of a regularly scheduled monitoring program every 6 years. The 2019 standard survey was completed the week of June 17, 2020 using 2 gill nets, 6 trap nets, and 81 minutes of standard daytime boat electrofishing. A standard survey is used for sampling a wide range of fish species during the summer months using standard methods (i.e. standard time of year, set sampling stations, taking water clarity readings and oxygen/temperature profiles, etc.) and gears (i.e. lake survey gillnets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing for Largemouth Bass). A total of 170 Black Crappie were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 28.3/net, indicating high numbers were present. After catching zero in the 2014 survey following the winterkill, the Black Crappie population has rebounded to the second highest catch rate since 1993. Lengths ranged from 3.8 to 10.0 inches with a mean of 5.7 inches. Size structure was poor with only 2 fish larger than 10 inches. An additional 38 fish ranging from 4.1 to 6.4 inches were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 19.0/net. Black Crappie from both gears ranged from 1 to 3 years old with 3 year classes present. Each year class was well represented. Growth was moderate with fish exceeding 6 inches at year 2. The population appeared to still be recovering with few fish large enough for anglers to harvest. Bluegills were extremely abundant in trap nets with a catch rate of 113.0/net. High catch rates have been common since 1993 with an average catch rate of 71.4/net during that time. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 3.6 to 6.6 inches with an average of just 4.7 inches. Size structure was poor with few quality fish available. Ages ranged from 2 to 6 years old with 5 year classes present. Growth was slow with fish growing on average 1 inch a year. The Bluegill population has recovered in numbers only with very slow growth limiting its potential to angling. Largemouth Bass were common in 2019. A total of 78 Largemouth Bass were sampled with standard daytime boat electrofishing for a catch rate of 57.3/hour. This was the first standard boat electrofishing sample conducted in Steele Lake. Largemouth Bass lengths ranged from 3.1 to 18.7 inches with a mean of 15.2 inches. Sizes structure was good with many fish over 15 inches. Three more Largemouth bass, averaging 16.4 inches long, were sampled with trap nets. Ages from both gears ranged from 1 to 8 years old with 5 year classes present. Most of the sample was from 2015. Growth was fast with quality length of 15 inches exceeded by year 4. The Steele Lake Largemouth Bass population offered an excellent fishing opportunity in 2019 and should continue in the absence of winterkill events. Northern Pike were also common in 2019 with a total of 25 sampled with the gill nets for a catch rate of 12.5/net. Since 1993, catch rates have varied from 0.0/net to 15.0/net with an average of 6.0/net. Lengths in 2019 ranged from 24.1 to 36.0 inches with an average of 28.1 inches. This indicated good size structure with the entire sample larger than the legal minimum length limit of 24 inches. An additional 10 fish ranging from 21.0 to 30.3 inches were sampled with the trap nets. Fish from both gears ranged from 3 to 7 years old with 5 year classes present. Approximately 74% were either 4 or 5 years old. Growth was fast with quality length of 21 inches exceeded by year 2. Steele Lake is located in the Southern Northern Pike management zone. In order to harvest a Northern Pike the fish must be over 24.0 inches in length. The daily bag limit in this zone is 2 Northern Pike per day. Black Bullheads were common in the 2019 survey which is typical of lakes with a recent history of winterkill. A total of 237 Black Bullheads were sampled with gill nets for a catch rate of 118.5/net. Most were small with an average length of just 5.4 inches. Since 1993, catch rates have been extremely variable with a range of 0.5/net to 210.5/net and an average of 81.4/net. Black Bullheads will continue to dominate the fish community as long as periodic winterkill events occur in Steele Lake. Common Carp were successful in migrating back into Steele Lake after the 2014 winterkill event as indicated by high trap net catch rate in the 2014 survey. However, only 9 were sampled in 2019. Lengths ranged from 15.5 to 18.0 inches. The low catch rate and absence of smaller fish in the sample indicate the population has not expanded to problematic numbers in Steele Lake. The high catch rates of piscivores and egg-eating Bluegills should continue to suppress the Common Carp population. Other Species sampled in 2019 include Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish (Lepomis spp.). Water clarity was poor with a secchi depth of just 2.0 feet. Dissolved oxygen and water temperature readings ranged from 13.2 ppm and 72.9 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 0.0 ppm and 55.6 degrees Fahrenheit at 23 feet. A thermocline was detected between 11 and 14 feet. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural reproduction. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish populations and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. Cattails and bulrushes are particularly beneficial for fish spawning, rearing, and feeding. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations. - Sky Wigen, fisheries specialist

Introduction Steele Lake is a 75 acre lake located in Le Sueur County north of the town of Elysian. A county operated public access is located on the south side of the lake at the end of Steele Lake Lane. Steele Lake is a small, mostly undeveloped lake with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Based on limnological variables and lake characteristics, Steele Lake is placed in Lake Class 30. Other area lakes with this classification include George Lake (Blue Earth County), Sunfish Lake (Le Sueur County), and Roemhildts Lake (Le Sueur County). Steele Lake is managed primarily for bluegill and northern pike and secondarily for largemouth bass and black crappie. After a winterkill event in the winter of 2014, adult fish stocking took place to initialize the fish community. Fish species that were stocked in 2014 included northern pike (432 adult fish), bluegill (175 adult fish), and black crappie (50 adult fish). A post-winterkill assessment is scheduled for spring of 2015 to determine how the fish community responded from stocking and if more fish potentially need to be stocked. Steele Lake was surveyed the week of June 23, 2014 as part of a regular monitoring program conducted by Minnesota DNR. This survey was intended to assess the fish community after a winterkill event by deploying two gill nets and eight trap nets, as well as recording water quality parameters. Fish Community Typical of post-winterkill lakes, black bullhead and common carp dominated the survey. Black bullhead were sampled at a rate of 8.8 fish/net, which is low abundance for Lake Class 30. Lengths ranged from 4.4 to 6.7 inches and averaged only 5.9 inches, indicating that larger individuals were likely victims of winterkill. Common carp have historically been in low abundance in Steele Lake. The 2014 catch rate of 6.3 fish/net was the highest abundance in recent history. Nearly all common carp were small individuals, with 90% measuring less than 8.0 inches. The only other fish species observed in this survey in low abundance was golden shiners (N = 6). Steele Lake showed typical signs of a severe winterkill. As stated above, northern pike, black crappie, and bluegill were stocked following this survey to initiate the fish community. A post winterkill assessment will be conducted during spring of 2015 to determine if additional stocking is necessary. Anglers can play an important role in maintaining or improving a fish population by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest allows for the harvest of smaller fish for consumption, while encouraging the release of medium to large fish that may contribute to natural recruitment. This practice helps maintain balance in the fish community and provides anglers the opportunity to catch more and larger fish in the future. Additionally, smaller fish often taste better and have fewer contaminants than larger, older fish from the same water body. Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, White Crappie, Hybrid Sunfish, and Black Crappie in Steele. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Steele. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Steele has a maximum depth of 27 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Steele is from 2025.

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