Sletten

Sletten Lake is located approximately 7 miles north of Ely. It has a surface area of 32 acres and a maximum depth of 46 ft. Access is by portage from Tee Lake (120 rods) or Little Sletten Lake (70 rods). Largemouth bass, green sunfish and yellow perch were sampled in 2012. All three species were sampled in numbers below the long term average for all assessments on this lake. The largest bass was 14.3" and the largest perch was 12.6".

Sletten Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 10, which consists of 76 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small and have very soft (unmineralized) water. Sletten Lake is typical of lakes in this lake class except that it is smaller than most.Sletten Lake stratifies thermally in midsummer and has poor oxygen (less than 2 ppm) below 18 ft, where the temperature is 48 F. The lake bottom along the shoreline is boulder, ledgerock, and muck. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 9 ft; waterlilies and burreed are the most common. There are no inlets. The outlet to Tee Lake has a beaver dam which limits fish movement. The total catch of fish (all species combined) in the gillnets in 1997 of 10 fish/net (2 lb/net) was lower than normal for this lake class, but similar to the average catch of 6 fish/net (3 lb/net) in one previous fisheries survey and three population assessments on Sletten Lake dating back to 1975. Lake Class 10 is one of the least productive lakes in northeast Minnesota, in terms of fish numbers and biomass in gillnet catches.Perch numbers in 1997 (8/gillnet) were higher than normal for this lake class, and were higher than the average catch of 4/gillnet in previous assessments on Sletten Lake. Perch sizes in 1997 averaged 7", which was smaller than the average of 10" for all previous assessments. The largest perch in 1997 was 12.9". Most perch in 1997 were from the 1993 and 1994 year classes. Perch growth (7" at age four) was normal for the area.Largemouth bass numbers in 1997 (1/gillnet) were normal for this lake class, and were lower than the average catch of 2/gillnet in all previous assessments. Largemouth sizes averaged 12"; the largest was 14.6". Most largemouth were from the 1994 year class. Largemouth growth (11" at age three) was faster than normal for the area. Largemouth bass were examined externally for diseases; one had Neascus (black spot) and one had yellow grub. Both of these are small parasites that grow in or under the skin. They are often removed by filleting, are killed by cooking, and cannot infect humans.Several green sunfish were also captured in the 1997 assessment. Green sunfish had also been observed in two of the previous assessments. Two "hybrid" sunfish were also captured in 1997. Green sunfish are one of the parental species for these hybrids, but the other parental species is unknown, since other sunfish species have not been captured in fisheries assessments in this lake.

Largemouth bass are present in above average numbers; yellow perch are present in below average numbers. Some large perch are present. Bass were mostly small and dominated by age IV fish. Green sunfish, observed in previous assessments, were not captured during this one.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch and Largemouth Bass in Sletten. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sletten has a maximum depth of 46 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sletten is from 2012. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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