Low

Low is a 316-acre lake located four miles northeast of Ely in the Superior National Forest. It is comparable to Armstrong, Mud, and Wolf lakes. Low was stratified on 07/15/24 with a thermocline at 20 feet, and dissolved oxygen levels sufficient for fish absent below. Secchi visibility was seven feet, and the lake was brown with bog-stain. Aquatic vegetation is locally abundant, especially in the east bay and outlet to the Range River and grows to a depth of 10 feet. A majority of the shoreline is publicly owned with few private parcels. Shoreline development is limited to a property north of the public landing and a wilderness field station owned by Coe College on the eastern shore. Total catch in gill nets (27.0/net) was close to the long-term average for Low. Yield (37.5 lb/net) was identical to the lake average. Gill net catches were an almost even mix northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye. Relatively high catches of black crappie and bluegill occurred. Average numbers of white sucker and a pair of yellow perch were also sampled. The trap net catch (57.6/net) was the second highest sampled from Low. Bluegill were the primary species sampled along with black crappie. Northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye and yellow perch were also present in low numbers. Walleye catch (3.2/gill net) was lower than typical. Lengths ranged from 12 to 22 inches with an average of 16 inches which was greater than normal for Low. Ages ranged from two to seven years, and all walleye were from stocked years. Both 2019 and 2021 were notable year classes. Northern pike abundance (3.2/net) was typical for both Low and similar area lakes. Lengths ranged from 16 to 36 inches with an average length of 26 inches higher than normal. Northern pike greater than 30 inches represented 37% of the catch. The bluegill catch (45.7/trap net) was the second highest sampled from Low. It was well above average for a lake in the Tower area. Bluegill lengths ranged from 3 to 9 inches with a mean length of 6.5 inches, in-line with the lake average. Quality size structure remained with about 18% of the catch greater than eight inches in length. Bluegill growth was slightly greater than average. Black Crappie numbers (6.4/trap net) were greater than normal for Low and for the area. Lengths ranged from 4 to just shy of 11 inches with a mean length close to 9 inches typical for the lake. The black crappie gill net catch (9.7/net) was also notable. The largest crappie sampled in the survey (11.8 inches) was captured in a gill net. Three electrofishing stations were sampled, each fished for 30 minutes. Ninety-eight total bass were captured in 90 minutes of on-time for a catch rate of 65.3/hour. This was greater than the catch rate of the previous survey at 51.3/ hour. Smallmouth bass catch (56.7/hour) was greater than the previous survey (43.3/hour) and high compared to other area lakes. Lengths ranged from 4 to nearly 20 inches with a mean length of 12 inches. Smallmouth size distribution approximated a normal curve, and many larger fish were present in the catch. Fish greater than 15 inches represented 21% of the catch. An additional 18 smallmouth up to 18 inches in length were captured in gill nets. Growth was faster than average. Largemouth bass catch (8.7/hour) was greater than the previous survey (5.2/hour) but modest for the area. Fourteen additional largemouth were captured in trap nets. Lengths ranged from 4 to almost 19 inches with a mean length of 10 inches, which was lower than the previous survey (13.3 inches).

Low Lake is a 316 acre lake located 5 miles north of Ely. The main access is a ramp off the Cloquet Line but there is also a portage access on the southwest end coming from Bass Lake. The lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and brown water. Low Lake was thermally stratified on July 24, 2017 with a surface temperature of 73 F and a bottom temperature of 46 F. Low has two inlets and one outlet. The main river system running through it is the Range River which enters on the southwest side and exits out the north end. The other inlet is immediately adjacent to the main access coming from Bright and Hobo Lakes. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly boulder and ledge rock with muck in the bays. A large gravel point sticks out in the southwest bay, which formed when an abandoned logging sluiceway between Bass Lake and Low Lake failed in 1925, lowering Bass Lake by nearly 60 feet. The blowout moved a large amount of gravel down to Low Lake forming the point. Aquatic plants are abundant in the bays at each end and along the shore in the north arm, and grow to a depth of 10 feet. There is one designated campsite on the north shore of the southwest basin although the gravel bar in the southwest is also often used for camping. Most of the shoreline is US Forest Service owned and the only private parcels are along the east shore. A mix of walleye fry and fingerlings were stocked from 1968 to 1985. Since 1987, about 300,000 fry are stocked in odd years. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 10.0 fish/net which was the lowest rate compared to other surveys on Low Lake. Yield was 17.5 lbs/net which was also the lowest for the lake. Fish species sampled were walleye, black crappie, northern pike, bluegill, white sucker, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch. Trap nets caught fish at an overall rate of 72.9 fish/net which was by far the highest rate on record for the lake. This was due mostly to a very high bluegill catch. Yield was also the highest it had ever been at 26.8 lbs/net. In addition to the fish caught in gill nets, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, and hybrid sunfish were also sampled in trap nets. Twenty-four walleye were captured in gill nets for a catch rate of 2.7 fish/net. This catch rate was the lowest on record for Low Lake and below average compared to other similar lakes. Lengths ranged from 9 to 21 inches with an average of 17 inches, which was better than several other past surveys on Low. Average weight was nearly two pounds, which was good compared to other similar lakes. Growth rates were very fast with the average walleye being nearly 17 inches at four years old. Fish up to 8 years old were sampled and the 2011 year class was quite strong. Natural reproduction is certainly occurring but overall, stocked year classes made up 62% of the total catch. Electrofishing was used for the first time on Low Lake for smallmouth and largemouth bass sampling. Seventy-seven total bass (smallmouth and largemouth combined) were captured in 1.5 hours of fishing for a total catch rate of 51.3 bass/hour. Sixty-five smallmouth were captured in the 1.5 hours of fishing for a catch rate of 43.3 fish/hour. This was very good compared to other area smallmouth lakes. Lengths ranged from 3 to 20 inches with an average of 11 inches. The average weight was just shy of two pounds which was second highest in the smallmouth electrofishing surveys in the Tower area. Eight additional smallmouth were sampled in trap nets and gill nets. Growth rates were average compared to other smallmouth populations. Twelve largemouth bass were captured while electrofishing for a catch rate of 8.0 fish/hour. This was below average compared to other area largemouth lakes. Six additional largemouth were captured in trap nets which was above average compared to other similar lakes. Lengths of all 18 fish ranged from 6 to 20 inches with an average of 12 inches. The average weight from bass collected while electrofishing was nearly two pounds which was very good compared to other largemouth surveys in the area. Growth was good with the average four year old fish being around 11 inches. The bluegill population in Low Lake has always been relatively high but took a jump in the 2017 survey. The trapnet catch was 64.7 fish/net which was in the top ten of all bluegill lakes in the Tower area. Sizes ranged from 4 to 10 inches with an average of 7 inches and an average weight of around 0.3 pounds. Sizes were very good with more than 70% of the fish measuring over 6 inches long. Fish up to 12 years old were sampled with strong representation from the 2011 and 2012 year classes. Growth rates were a little above average with the average five year old fish being 6 inches long. The black crappie trapnet catch was 4.6 fish/net which was above average compared to other similar lakes but slightly below average compared to other surveys on Low Lake. Lengths ranged from 5.5 to 13 inches with an average of 10 inches. Over 75% of the catch was over 9.5 inches long with the average crappie needing 5 years to reach that size. Fish up to 10 years old were included in the sample with good year classes from 2010, 2012, and 2014. The northern pike gillnet catch was 1.7 fish/net which was low compared to other similar lakes and low for Low Lake in general. Sizes were decent though with lengths ranging from 17 to 37 inches and an average of 24.5 inches. The average weight was nearly four pounds which was very good compared to other similar lakes in the state. The white sucker gillnet catch was 1.2 fish/net which was the lowest on record for Low Lake. Sucker numbers have been trending down throughout the years but sizes have remained stable. Other species sampled in low numbers (both this survey and historically) were yellow perch, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, and rock bass.

Low Lake is a 345-acre lake with a maximum depth of 40 feet located one mile east and five miles north of Ely in the Superior National Forest. Low Lake is one of 29 lakes in northeastern Minnesota categorized as lake class 5. Lakes in this class are typically moderate in size (average=383 acres), deep (average maximum depth=45 feet), and have soft and very clear water. There is a DNR public access with a concrete plank boat ramp on the east side of the lake off USFS 1036 (Cloquet Line), a rough gravel road There is also a portage from Bass Lake and a canoe route up the Range River to the north. The lake is managed primarily for walleye. Walleye fry are stocked in odd numbered years. Low Lake is a popular destination for walleye and panfish anglers. In 2010, walleye abundance was typical for lakes in this category. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 8 to 21 inches with an average length and weight of 16 inches and 1.5 pounds. There were seven different year classes identified in the sample. Of the 30 walleye sampled, sixteen walleye were from stocked years and 14 walleye were from non-stocked years indicating that both stocking and natural reproduction are contributing walleye to the Low Lake fishery. Growth of walleye was slow. It takes four years for a Low Lake walleye to attain a length of 15 inches. There is a low-density population of quality sized northern pike in Low Lake. In 2010, pike sampled ranged in length from 16 to 34 inches with an average length and weight of 26 inches and 4.5 pounds. There were seven different year classes identified in 2010 sample. Pike growth was slow. It took four years for a Low Lake pike to attain 19 inches in length. Bluegill and black crappie are abundant in Low Lake. Based on the 2010 investigation, anglers can expect to catch bluegill up to 9 inches and black crappie up to 13 in length. When anglers are having success catching bluegill and crappie, they need to practice selective harvest. In this practice, anglers need to release the bigger fish and keep the smaller to medium-sized fish for eating. This will maintain a quality size structure in Low Lake. Smallmouth bass is another species anglers will have success catching in Low Lake. Smallmouth bass abundance was above average in assessment nets in 2010. In past assessments, smallmouth bass up to 18 inches have been sampled. Other fish sampled include largemouth bass, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow perch. There is fish consumption advisory for Low Lake due to mercury. For information see http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html.

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

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

Low has a maximum depth of 40 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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