Shagawa

Shagawa Lake is located on the north side of Ely. There are two main accesses, one each on the north and south sides of the lake. The access on the north side is basically a ramp immediately adjacent to Co Rd 88. There is very little parking at this location. The other access on south side consists of two concrete ramps and a decent sized parking lot. This 2,345 acre lake contains one substantial inlet and one outlet. The Burntside River comes in on the west end of the lake and the Shagawa River leaves out the east side of the lake. Shagawa has a maximum depth of 48.0 feet and the water color at the time of the survey was light green. On July 11, 2022, Shagawa Lake was weakly thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 71 F and a bottom temperature of 60 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish to a depth of 35.0 feet where the water temperature was 61 F. Shoal-water substrates consist of mostly boulder with some areas gravel and sand. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 72.2 fish/net which was higher than average for the lake. Total yield was 55.4 lbs/net which was average for the lake. Fish species sampled were yellow perch, tullibee, white sucker, walleye, northern pike, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, and black crappie. The overall trapnet catch rate for all fish combined was 18.7 fish/net which was slightly better than average. Total yield was 17.8 lbs/net which was also average for the lake. Smallmouth bass and bluegill were the only additional species sampled in trap nets that weren't also sampled in gill nets. Sixty-four walleye were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 7.1 fish/net which was better than average compared to other similar lakes but the lowest catch rate on Shagawa Lake since 1987. Sizes ranged from 8 to 23 inches with an average of 15 inches. Growth rates were good compared to other lakes in the area with the average walleye reaching 14 inches at age-4. Ages ranged from 2 to 16 years. The northern pike gillnet catch rate of 2.6 fish/net was above average for Shagawa and better than average when compared to other similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 19 to 34 inches with an average of 24 inches. The yellow perch gillnet catch rate was 33.9 fish/net which was very good compared to other similar lakes and the highest catch rate on Shagawa since 1999. The average length was just over 6 inches which was the smallest on record for the lake. Max length was nearly 13 inches which was on par with past surveys. One hundred forty-nine cisco were sampled for a catch rate of 16.6 fish/net. This was the highest catch rate on Shagawa since 1967. Sizes were 8 to 18.5 inches with an average of nearly 11 inches. Sizes were similar to past surveys. Eight hundred eighty-five rusty crayfish were sampled in the gill nets for a catch rate of 98.3 crayfish/net. This was right at the average for Shagawa.

Shagawa Lake is located just N of the city of Ely. This popular lake is highly developed and historically one of the best walleye lakes in the area where anglers pursue them nearly year round. Shagawa is highly productive compared to other lakes in the area and algae blooms are common in late summer. Spiny water fleas were identified in 2013 and as such Shagawa's waters are considered infested. Rusty crayfish were discovered in 1985 and their presence was still apparent in the net catches from 2017. There are four public accesses located around the lake. The most commonly used of the four is located on the south side off the Pioneer Road. There are two concrete planked ramps with a dock and ample parking nearby. Ice roads are also common during most winters providing anglers with access options. Eight species of fish were sampled during the 2017 survey of Shagawa Lake. White sucker (37%) and walleye (30%) were the most common species sampled in the gill nets. Large cisco or tullibee and northern pike were also sampled in 2017. There is an annual sport netting season in late autumn for cisco. Smallmouth bass and one 22 inch muskie were sampled by night electrofishing. Walleye numbers in 2017 were slightly lower than the historical average (16.4/gill net) for Shagawa Lake and much higher than average (6.2/gill net) when compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average walleye sampled was 12.3 inches and about 3 years old. The largest walleye measured 26 inches in length. Walleye fry are currently stocked every third year on Shagawa Lake. Age analysis from the 2017 catch indicated that only 17% of the walleye sampled were from years where fry stocking occurred. Seventy-three percent of the walleye sampled in 2017 were from the 2014 and 2015 year classes, both non-stocked. Cisco numbers in 2017 were higher than the historical average of 4.8/gill net and above average compared to other similar lakes in the area with cisco. The average cisco sampled was 10.6 inches long which is smaller than the historic average length of 12.8 inches. The largest cisco sampled in 2017 measured 18.3 inches. Periodic summer-kills of cisco have been historically observed on Shagawa Lake. Northern pike numbers in 2017 (2.1/gill net) were identical to the historic average and identical to the average when compared to other similar pike lakes in the area. The average pike sampled measured 23.0 inches which is similar to the historic average length of 22.2 inches. Thirty-seven percent of the pike sampled in 2017 were 24 inches or greater with a maximum length of 35.5 inches observed. Smallmouth bass numbers from electrofishing in 2017 (20.7/hour) were above the historic average (8.9/hr) for Shagawa Lake. The average smallmouth sampled was 11.9 inches and about 4 years old. Several year classes were represented in the catch. Fifty-two percent of the smallmouth in the sample were 12 inches or greater up to a maximum of 19.7 inches.

Shagawa Lake is a 2,370 acre lake with a maximum depth of 48 feet located just north of Ely, Minnesota. Shagawa's bog-stained waters are relatively productive especially compared to other lakes in the area. Shagawa is a very popular lake and receives considerable fishing pressure and attention from other water recreationalist. There were 142 houses/cabins counted on Shagawa Lake during the 1999 survey. Shagawa is managed as a walleye lake. It is stocked with 2.4 million fry every third year. A fisheries assessment was conducted on Shagawa Lake during the summer of 2012. Nine gill nets were set to assess the fishery. Standard survey trap nets were not set in 2012 because species typically sampled by this gear (bluegill and black crappie) are not common in this lake. Walleye gill-net abundance in 2012 (19.4/net) was above average for Shagawa Lake as well as other lakes in the same classification. Assessments have consistently indicated high walleye abundance. Walleye caught in 2012 ranged from 7.4 to 24.5 inches with an average length of 13.0 inches. Three size groups of fish were common in the catch. These groups averaged 9.0, 11.5 and 16 inches. Only 2% of the catch was of fish over 20 inches. Ten age groups, one through ten, were present in the catch but age-1, age-2 and age-4 made up 75% of the total. Growth of Shagawa Lake walleye was below average for lakes in the Tower management area. By using age data from a number of assessments, its possible to calculate an estimate of mortality rates for walleye in Shagawa Lake. The number of walleye of each age from 1981 through 2012 was combined. Three year old walleye are the most common age group in our nets but numbers decline quickly after that. The rate of decline is an indication of mortality. On average for Shagawa, 49% of each age group dies each year either due to either angling or natural causes. This is high compared to other walleye populations in the area. An evaluation of walleye fry stocking indicated that, since 1981, 62% of our assessment catch was from 17 years in which fry stocking occurred. The other 38% were from 21 years in which no stocking occurred. This indicates that fry stocked years appear to contribute twice the number of fish when compated to non-stocked years. The gill-net abundance of northern pike in 2012 (0.8/net) was the lowest its been since 1993 and was the second lowest on record. Abundance in 2012 was unusually low compared to other lakes in the same classifcation. Northern pike lengths ranged from 19.8 to 35.6 inches with an average of 26.1 inches. The seven northern pike caught during the assessment had a average weight of 4.2 pounds which was exceptionally high for lakes in the same classification as Shagawa. Smallmouth bass first appeared in Shagawa Lake during an assessment in 1967. They were not present in the four previous investigations dating back to 1948. Catches of bass have generally increased since introduction. In 2012, gill-net abundance (0.4/net) was the third highest on record. The average length from all assessments was 11.5 inches and the largest individual ever captured was 18.9 inches taken in 2012. The cisco gill-net abundance in 2012 (1.0/net) was exceptionally low compated to previous assessments of Shagawa Lake. Like many Area lakes, cisco abundance appears to be declining in this lake. The average gill-net catch rate between 1948 and 1967 was 20.2/net. From 1970-1999 the average was 5.0/net and since 2000 the average was 0.9/net. The summer of 2012 was very warm and we received many reports of a substantial cisco die-off. Yellow perch gill-net abundance has been highly variable in Shagawa Lake. The long-term average (16.0/net) is exceptionally high compared to other lakes in the same classification. In 2012, however, abundance was 4.6/net, very low compared to previous catches on Shagawa Lake. Yellow perch is an important forage species in this lake for walleye. Over 1,300 rusty crayfish were also captured during the 2012 assessment. Rusty crayfish are an invasive species that out compete native crayfish and can cause negative impacts like the loss of aquatic vegetation in lakes where they are present.

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

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

Shagawa has a maximum depth of 48 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Shagawa is from 2022.

Yes — Shagawa has confirmed spiny waterflea. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.