Chant

Chant is a 26-acre designated stream trout lake located five miles northwest of Ely in the Superior National Forest. It is most comparable to fellow stream trout lakes Alruss, Louis, and Trygg. All four are proven brook trout producers. Maximum depth is 37 feet and the lake is clear. Chant was thermally stratified during the survey with a surface temperature of 70 °F and a bottom temperature of 43 °F. Dissolved oxygen levels suitable for trout were present to 18 feet where the temperature was 50 °F. Aquatic vegetation is limited to the two shallow bays but is locally abundant. Access is by a steep 40-rod portage from the North Arm of Burntside Lake. An alternate winter route has been established through the bog-fringe and out the black ash drainage south to Burntside. Both trails require equal measures of finesse and commitment with a snowmobile due to rock features. The lake is situated in a steep bedrock bowl accented with mature pines and a lone island. A user-developed campsite with limited tent pad options is present on the east shore of the lake. There are few locales that are more scenic to fish trout in the area. Only trout were captured in the 2025 survey. Total catch was 13.0/net with a yield of 13.4 lb/net, both of which were above average. This was the second highest catch on record for Chant, topped only by a very high splake catch in the 1990 survey. Brook trout abundance (10.5/net) was over four times greater than the historic average. Lengths ranged from 8.5 to 16.5 inches, with an average length of 12.5 inches. Length-frequency suggests the presence of two year classes. Fish 8 to 9 inches long would be fingerlings stocked the previous fall, while the remainder ranging from 13-16 inches were likely all three years old. Rainbow trout numbers (2.5/net) were above average for Chant. Lengths ranged from 15 to nearly 19 inches, with an average length of 16 inches high for the lake. Length-frequency suggests two year classes present. Catches of rainbow trout have been sporadic for decades in Chant, but this may be more related to sampling methods than presence.

Chant Lake is located about 6 miles northwest of Ely. The lake is accessed by an 80 rod portage from the east side of the north arm of Burntside Lake. This 16 acre lake has a maximum depth of 37.0 feet and clear water. On May 24, 2021 Chant Lake was thermally stratified with a surface temperature of 70 F and a bottom temperature of 42 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for trout to a depth of 19 feet where the water temperature was 44 F. Shoal-water substrates consist of mostly rubble, boulder, and ledge rock. Rainbow trout were stocked from 2015 through 2019. A domestic cross strain of brook trout were stocked in 2020. The 2021 survey captured a total of 14 brook trout (4.7 brook trout/gill net) and no rainbow trout. The brook trout catch was the highest on record for the lake. Lengths ranged from 8 to 10 inches with an average weight of 0.4 pounds. These sizes indicate all the fish came from the fall of 2020 stocking.

Chant Lake is a 16 acre, 37 foot deep, designated stream trout lake located about 6 miles northwest of Ely. The lake is accessed by an 80 rod portage from the east side of the north arm of Burntside Lake. Previously Chant Lake had been stocked with both rainbow trout and brook trout. The last stocking of brook trout occurred in 2014 but due to supply issues with brookies, only rainbow trout were stocked in 2015 and 2016. For the near future, only rainbow trout will be stocked in the lake every fall. The 2017 survey captured a total of six brook trout from gill nets. This number of fish is on par with recent surveys conducted on Chant Lake. Sizes were impressive with fish ranging from 17 to 20 inches with an average of 18 inches and a weight of around 2.5 pounds per fish. Although no rainbows were sampled in nets, it is likely they are still in the lake having been stocked in 2015 and 2016.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Splake in Chant. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Chant has a maximum depth of 37 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Chant is from 2025.

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