Burntside
A 7,314-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County — best known for trout and bass. Last surveyed 2024.
Fish Species (14)
Lake Trout
Average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1.75 | 17.3" | 2.07 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 1.00 | 19.5" | 2.96 lbs |
| Jul 16, 2018 | 0.08 | 14.9" | 0.06 lbs |
Smallmouth Bass
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 1.4 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1.42 | 13.5" | 2.78 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.60 | 13.5" | 0.38 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 1.42 | 11.9" | 1.22 lbs |
Northern Pike
Large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.47 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.47 | 21.7" | 2.54 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 3.00 | 21.7" | 2.73 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 2.67 | 23.2" | 3.51 lbs |
Walleye
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 2.8 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 2.83 | 16.5" | 1.88 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.07 | 16.5" | 1.00 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 3.83 | 17.7" | 2.45 lbs |
Rock Bass
Typical numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 2.6 per trap net · typical 1.2–4 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 2.60 | 5.3" | 0.18 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 3.83 | 5.3" | 0.14 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 3.67 | 5.4" | 0.16 lbs |
Bluegill
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 5.3 per trap net · typical 6.8–33.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.08 | 5.9" | 0.09 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 5.27 | 5.9" | 0.23 lbs |
| Jul 13, 2015 | 11.40 | 4.6" | 0.09 lbs |
Yellow Perch
Small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net · typical 2.2–8.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.13 | 5.7" | 0.15 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.17 | 5.7" | 0.01 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1.50 | 5.7" | 0.13 lbs |
Green Sunfish
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.13 | 4.0" | 0.07 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.08 | 4.0" | 0.07 lbs |
| Jul 13, 2015 | 0.73 | 3.7" | 0.06 lbs |
Black Crappie
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.53 per trap net · typical 1.3–2.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.17 | 8.2" | 0.21 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.53 | 8.2" | 0.42 lbs |
| Jul 13, 2015 | 0.17 | 8.0" | 0.40 lbs |
Hybrid Sunfish
Below-normal numbers · small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015
Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net
Size from the Jul 2024 survey
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.50 | 3.3" | 0.05 lbs |
| Jul 13, 2015 | 0.13 | 4.0" | 0.07 lbs |
Pumpkinseed
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2011
Last surveyed 2011 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25, 2011 | 0.08 | 5.0" | 0.15 lbs |
Other species in this lake (3)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Shorthead Redhorse
Large fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.67 per trap net · typical 0.5 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.67 | 18.0" | 2.51 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1.67 | 18.0" | 2.62 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 0.42 | 20.0" | 3.72 lbs |
Golden Shiner
Small fish
Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net · typical 0.2 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.13 | 5.5" | 0.07 lbs |
| Jul 13, 2015 | 0.08 | 6.0" | 0.09 lbs |
| Jul 16, 2007 | 0.09 | 6.0" | 0.12 lbs |
White Sucker
Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024
Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2024 | 1.00 | 16.8" | 2.25 lbs |
| Jul 22, 2024 | 0.07 | 16.8" | 2.25 lbs |
| Jun 28, 2021 | 0.67 | 17.0" | 2.37 lbs |
Biologist Notes
August 20, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quant…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as Tulibee are present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 124.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 43.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 113.0 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 69.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4.7 degrees C (40.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2011 and 2024 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
August 20, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quant…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as Tulibee are present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 124.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 43.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 113.0 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 69.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4.7 degrees C (40.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2011 and 2024 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
August 20, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quant…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Burntside Lake on August 20th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as Tulibee are present). During the summer, Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 124.6 feet), the water temperature decreased below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 43.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 113.0 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 69.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Lake Trout. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4.7 degrees C (40.5 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2011 and 2024 also indicate suitable oxythermal habitat. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Burntside?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, and Rock Bass in Burntside. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Burntside?
Minnesota DNR records list public access for Burntside. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.
How deep is Burntside?
Burntside has a maximum depth of 126 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Burntside last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Burntside is from 2024.
Does Burntside have any invasive species?
Yes — Burntside has confirmed spiny waterflea. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 7,313.87 acres
- Max Depth
- 126 ft
- Shoreline
- 103.46 mi
- Public Access
- Yes
Invasive Species Alert
- spiny waterflea
Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to prevent spread.