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MN Fish Finder

Burntside

St. Louis County
Near Ely
DOW: 69011800
Lake TroutGood · 50Smallmouth BassGood · 50Northern PikeGood · 50

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

Good · 50

Average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
17.3"
Avg Weight
2.07 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net

Size of catchable lake trout17% keeper-size (22"+)
14–21" · 83%Largest sampled 26"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20241.7517.3"2.07 lbs
Jun 28, 20211.0019.5"2.96 lbs
Jul 16, 20180.0814.9"0.06 lbs

Smallmouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
13.5"
Avg Weight
2.78 lbs

Catch rate: 1.4 per gill net

Size of catchable smallmouth bass64% keeper-size (12"+)
7–11" · 36%Largest sampled 20"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20241.4213.5"2.78 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.6013.5"0.38 lbs
Jun 28, 20211.4211.9"1.22 lbs

Northern Pike

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
21.7"
Avg Weight
2.54 lbs

Catch rate: 0.47 per trap net

Size of catchable northern pike42% keeper-size (24"+)
14–23" · 58%Largest sampled 32"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.4721.7"2.54 lbs
Jul 22, 20243.0021.7"2.73 lbs
Jun 28, 20212.6723.2"3.51 lbs

Walleye

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
16.5"
Avg Weight
1.88 lbs

Catch rate: 2.8 per gill net

Size of catchable walleye63% keeper-size (15"+)
10–14" · 37%Largest sampled 23"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20242.8316.5"1.88 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.0716.5"1.00 lbs
Jun 28, 20213.8317.7"2.45 lbs

Rock Bass

Average · 29

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
5.3"
Avg Weight
0.18 lbs

Catch rate: 2.6 per trap net · typical 1.2–4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass0% keeper-size (8"+)
4–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20242.605.3"0.18 lbs
Jul 22, 20243.835.3"0.14 lbs
Jun 28, 20213.675.4"0.16 lbs

Bluegill

Average · 28

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
5.9"
Avg Weight
0.23 lbs

Catch rate: 5.3 per trap net · typical 6.8–33.1 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill6% keeper-size (8"+)
3–7" · 94%Largest sampled 8"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.085.9"0.09 lbs
Jul 22, 20245.275.9"0.23 lbs
Jul 13, 201511.404.6"0.09 lbs

Yellow Perch

Poor · 20

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
5.7"
Avg Weight
0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net · typical 2.2–8.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch5% keeper-size (9"+)
5–8" · 95%Largest sampled 9"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.135.7"0.15 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.175.7"0.01 lbs
Jul 22, 20241.505.7"0.13 lbs

Green Sunfish

Poor · 17

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
4.0"
Avg Weight
0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net

Size of catchable green sunfish0% keeper-size (7"+)
3–6" · 100%Largest sampled 4"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.134.0"0.07 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.084.0"0.07 lbs
Jul 13, 20150.733.7"0.06 lbs

Black Crappie

Poor · 8

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
8.2"
Avg Weight
0.42 lbs

Catch rate: 0.53 per trap net · typical 1.3–2.6 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie0% keeper-size (10"+)
5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.178.2"0.21 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.538.2"0.42 lbs
Jul 13, 20150.178.0"0.40 lbs

Hybrid Sunfish

Poor · 7

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2015

Last surveyed 2015 — treat with caution

Avg Size
4.0"
Avg Weight
0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net

Size of catchable hybrid sunfish0% keeper-size (8"+)
3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 4"

Size from the Jul 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.503.3"0.05 lbs
Jul 13, 20150.134.0"0.07 lbs

Pumpkinseed

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2011

Last surveyed 2011 — treat with caution

Avg Size
5.0"
Avg Weight
0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 25, 20110.085.0"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

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
18.0"
Avg Weight
2.51 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per trap net · typical 0.5 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.6718.0"2.51 lbs
Jul 22, 20241.6718.0"2.62 lbs
Jun 28, 20210.4220.0"3.72 lbs

Golden Shiner

Average · 28

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
5.5"
Avg Weight
0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 0.13 per trap net · typical 0.2 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.135.5"0.07 lbs
Jul 13, 20150.086.0"0.09 lbs
Jul 16, 20070.096.0"0.12 lbs

White Sucker

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
16.8"
Avg Weight
2.25 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20241.0016.8"2.25 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.0716.8"2.25 lbs
Jun 28, 20210.6717.0"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
View on DNR LakeFinder

Invasive Species Alert

  • spiny waterflea

Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to prevent spread.

Location

47.9454°N, 91.9743°W

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