Mitchell

Mitchell Lake is a 270-acre lake with a maximum depth of 38 feet located three miles south and three miles west of Ely in northern St. Louis County. There is no public access on the lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical and chemical characteristics. Mitchell is in lake class 5. Other area lakes in the same lake class include Armstrong, Eagles Nest Lakes, Low, and Wolf Lakes. Walleye abundance (3.8 walleye/gillnet) fell within the range typically found in lake class 5 lakes. Since no stocking occurs on the lake in recent times, all walleye captured in 2011 were the result of natural reproduction. Walleye ranged in length from 18.8 inches to 26.8 inches with a mean length and weight of 21.3 inches and 3.4 pounds. Mitchell Lake northern pike abundance (2.8 northern pike/gillnet) is typical of other class 5 lakes. Pike sampled in 2011 ranged in length from 25 inches to 40 inches with a mean length and weight of 32.6 inches and 8.3 pounds. This is the highest mean length of any assessment conducted on Mitchell Lake. NOP age analysis identified ages 4 to 9 with no particularly strong year class. Growth rates were above average. The most likely forage fish available for these large northern pike and walleye is white sucker which had an abundance rating that was above average. Yellow perch abundance was the lowest recorded over the past four assessments. In 2011, eleven different fish species were sampled in the near-shore nets. This compares to seven species captured in 1988. Bluegill is a recent newcomer to Mitchell Lake and was sampled for the first time in 2011. Bluegill were also the most abundant species sampled with an abundance rating that was well above what you would typically find in a class 5 lake. Bluegill ranged in length from 3.6 inches to 8.1 inches with a mean length of 5.1 inches. Bluegill growth was slow. After four years of growth, a typical bluegill in Mitchell Lake is only 3.7 inches long. Another member of the sunfish family that was sampled for the first time in 2011 was black crappie. Their abundance was typical of other lakes in the same lake class. Crappie ranged in length from 4.3 inches to 12.4 inches with a mean length of 8.8 inches. Other members of the sunfish family sampled in 2011 were green sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.

White sucker, rock bass, and smallmouth bass are present in above average numbers; largemouth bass, yellow perch, and walleye are present in average numbers; northern pike are present in below average numbers. Pumpkinseed sunfish are also present. Walleye growth is average. Walleye and northern pike reproduction appears somewhat erratic, but sample sizes were quite small.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Black Crappie in Mitchell. 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 Mitchell. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Mitchell has a maximum depth of 38 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Mitchell is from 2011. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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