Beaver

Beaver Lake is a 65-acre (82.83 littoral acres), class 40 lake that borders the cities of St. Paul and Maplewood. The lake is currently managed by the Fishing in the Neighborhood (FiN) program. Beaver Lake County Park, operated by Ramsey County, is located along the west shoreline and provides grills, a playground, a walking path, picnic shelters and tables, ample shorefishing opportunities, and a fishing pier. The fish community in Beaver Lake is primarily composed of Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Black Crappie. Bluegill were sampled at a rate of 21.0 fish per trap net (above average for lake class), representing an increase from 9.63 fish per trap net in 2015Bluegills sampled ranged from 3.5 to 7.6 inches, with a mean length of 6 inches, which is slightly larger than the 2015 mean length of 4.8 inches. Hybrid Sunfish and Pumpkinseed Sunfish were sampled in low abundance, with both species averaging 5.7 inches in length. Black Crappie were sampled at a rate of 3.6 fish per trap net, slightly higher than the 2015 catch rate of 2.3 fish per trap net. This catch rate is below average for the lake class. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 5.5 to 11.3 inches, with a mean length of 7.7 inches, comparable to the 2015 mean length of 7.8 inches. Northern Pike and Yellow Perch were sampled in low numbers using trap nets. The Northern Pike sampled in this survey ranged from 21.1 to 24.3 inches, with a mean length of 22.8 inches. The single Yellow Perch sampled measured 6.3 inches. Other species observed in low abundance during the survey were Black Bullhead.

Beaver Lake is a 65-acre, class 40 FiN lake that borders the cities of St. Paul and Maplewood. Managed by Ramsey County, Beaver Lake County Park provides grills, playground, walking path, picnic shelter and tables, ample shorefishing, and a fishing pier. The sport fish community consists of Black Crappie, Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and Yellow Perch. Fingerling and yearling Channel Catfish have been stocked every year from 1997 to 2009 (total number = 28,026 catfish) from 2012 -2014 another 6400 yearlings and in 2014 100 adults were stocked. Beaver Lake recently experience back to back winter kill events (2013 and 2014) with a severe event occurring in the winter 2013. The large predator community is still trying to recover from these 2 events. Northern Pike and Channel Catfish provide anglers at Beaver Lake an opportunity to catch larger gamefish. Northern Pike gill net catches stayed consistent the last 3 fish surveys (2000, 2005, and 2010) ranging from 5 to 6 pike/gill net but declined in 2015 to 1.5/gill net. Gill netted pike averaged 21.6 inches and 2.24 lb. Beaver Lake has a history of providing a quality Largemouth Bass fishery however none were observed in any of the sampling gears during this survey. It is anticipated that Largemouth Bass adults will be stocked in 2016 to reestablish the Largemouth Bass community in Beaver Lake. Channel Catfish have been a primary management species since 1997. Two (2014 yearling stocking) channel catfish averaging 14.48 inches were sampled using gill nets. Anecdotal angler information has revealed anglers were catching adult Channel Catfish prior to the winter of 2013, however many large dead catfish were observed after the recent winter kill events (2013-2014) and it appears that the large catfish are gone from the system at this time. Panfish numbers varied during 2015 fish survey. Bluegill numbers (9.63/trap net) were down from 2010 survey (30.2/trap net). Of the Bluegills (n=80) sampled using trap and gill nets, none were above 6.0 inches. Black Crappie numbers are modest (4.5/gill net, 2.25/trap net). Approximately 75% of the crappies sampled were 7.0 inches or longer, with one fish exceeding 10.0 inches. Yellow Perch numbers (25.5/gill net) are high and are an improvement from the 2005 gill net catch of 1.5/gill net. Yellow Perch relative abundance ranged from 1 to 186 perch/gillnet in the 5 fish surveys prior to 2010 (1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010). The reestablishment of a decent Yellow Perch forage base should bode well for the predator populations of Beaver Lake. Other fish seen during this survey in low abundance were 3 Green Sunfish, 8 Pumpkinseed Sunfish, 1 Golden Shiner and 9 Black Bullheads.

Beaver Lake is a 65-acre, class 40 FiN lake that borders the cities of St. Paul and Maplewood. Managed by Ramsey County, Beaver Lake County Park provides grills, playground, walking path, picnic shelter and tables, ample shorefishing, and a fishing pier. The sport fish community consists of black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed sunfish, and yellow perch. Fingerling and yearling channel catfish have been stocked every year from 1997 to 2009 (total number = 28,026 catfish). Northern pike, largemouth bass, and channel catfish provide anglers at Beaver Lake an opportunity to catch large gamefish. Northern pike gill net catches have stayed consistent the last 3 fish surveys (2000, 2005, and 2010) ranging from five to six pike/gill net. Gill netted pike averaged 17.6 inches and 1.9 lb. Sampled pike were essentially in two length groups: six pike were between 11 and 13 inches while five pike were between 22 and 26 inches. Beaver Lake has a history of providing a quality largemouth bass fishery. Two largemouth bass averaging 16 inches and 2.7 lb were caught in trap nets. Channel catfish have been a primary management species since 1997. Two age-6 (2004 yearling stocking) channel catfish averaging 16.9 inches were sampled using both gill and trap nets in 2010. Anecdotal angler information has revealed anglers are catching adult channel catfish. Panfish numbers varied during 2010 fish survey. Bluegill numbers (30.2/trap net) were down from 2005 survey (86.0/trap net). Of the 272 bluegills sampled using trap nets, approximately 63% were above 6.0 inches with no fish exceeding 7.5 inches. Black crappie numbers were low (0.5/gill net, 0.9/trap net). Approximately 75% of the crappies sampled were between 7.0 and 8.5 inches, with no fish exceeding 8.5 inches. Similarly, yellow perch numbers (1.0/gill net) were low and consistent with the 2005 gill net catch of 1.5/gill net. Yellow perch relative abundance ranged from 22 to 186 perch/gillnet in the four fish surveys prior to 2005 (1980, 1990, 1995, 2000). The establishment of predator populations (largemouth bass and northern pike) may have led to decreases in perch numbers in 2005 and 2010.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, and Northern Pike in Beaver. 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 Beaver. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Beaver has a maximum depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Beaver has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.