Little Sletten

St. Louis County

Near Ely

DOW: 69008600

Largemouth BassAverage · 38

A 19-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County — best known for bass. Last surveyed 2012.

Fish Species (3)

Largemouth Bass

Average · 38

Small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.7"

Avg Weight

0.47 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 31, 2012	0.75	9.7"	0.47 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1997	0.25	9.0"	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 31, 2012	0.50	5.0"	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (1)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Average · 48

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2012

Last surveyed 2012 — treat with caution

Avg Size

15.7"

Avg Weight

1.87 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 1.2–4.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 31, 2012	1.75	15.7"	1.87 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 28, 1997	2.25	17.4"	4.81 lbs	Standard gill nets

Biologist Notes

July 31, 2012Little Sletten Lake is located approximately 7 miles north of Ely. It has a surface area of 20 acres and a maximum depth of 32 ft. Access is by portag…

Little Sletten Lake is located approximately 7 miles north of Ely. It has a surface area of 20 acres and a maximum depth of 32 ft. Access is by portage from Fenske Lake (10 rods) or Sletten Lake (70 rods). Largemouth bass, bluegill and white sucker were sampled in the 2012 population assessment. All three species are present in low numbers. The largest bass was 12.2" and the largest bluegill was 5.8".

July 28, 1997Little Sletten Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 10, which consists of 76 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small and have very soft (unmineralized…

Little 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. Little Sletten Lake is typical of lakes in this lake class except that it is smaller than most. Little Sletten Lake stratifies thermally in midsummer and has poor oxygen (less than 2 ppm) oxygen below 19 ft, where the temperature is 42 F. The lake bottom along the shoreline is boulder, ledgerock, gravel, and rubble. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 6 ft. There are no inlets. The outlet has a steep and rocky watercourse that limits upstream fish movement. Only white sucker and one 9" largemouth bass (age three) were caught in 1997. The total catch of fish (all species) in 1997 of 2.6 fish/gillnet (5.1 lb/gillnet) was lower than normal for this lake class. Previous total catches of fish were similarly low. White sucker, three cisco, two 6" largemouth bass, and one 11" perch were caught in the 1965 survey. White sucker, one 9" largemouth bass, and two 6" bluegill were caught in gillnets in 1982. Lake Class 10 is one of the least productive lake classes in northeast Minnesota, in terms of fish numbers and biomass in gillnet catches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Little Sletten?

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

Is there public access at Little Sletten?

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

How deep is Little Sletten?

Little Sletten has a maximum depth of 32 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Little Sletten last surveyed?

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