Ole

Ole Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 13, which consists of 84 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small, shallow, and have very soft (unmineralized) water. Ole Lake has water that is less clear, due to bog stain, than most of the lakes in this lake class. Ole Lake ranks as eutrophic-to-mesotrophic, according to Carlson's Trophic State Index.Ole Lake was thermally stratified on 08/13/2001 with a surface temperature of 71 F and a bottom temperature of 50 F, and retained 2 ppm oxygen to a depth of 7 ft, where the temperature was 68 F. Several small inlets drain local wetlands. The outlet to Maxine Lake has beaver dams which limit fish movement. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly boulder, detritus, and ledgerock. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 7 ft; watershield, white waterlily, and plants associated with rocky shorelines are the most common plants.Ole Lake is entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and is not on a designated route. There are no campsites on the lake.Fish sampling in the 2001 fisheries lake survey consisted of two standard gillnet sets. Trapnets were not used due to the difficult portage access, and shoreline seines were not used due to the difficult access and lack of suitable seining areas.The total catch of fish (all species combined) in the gillnets in 2001 of 21.0 fish/net (28.9 lb/net) was in the third quartile for this lake class. Fish populations were dominated by white sucker.White sucker numbers in 2001 (13.0/gillnet) were in the fourth quartile for this lake class. Sucker sizes averaged 13.8" (1.3 lb), which was in the second quartile for this lake class. The largest sucker was 21.0".Yellow perch numbers (4.0/gillnet) were in the second quartile for this lake class. Perch sizes averaged 7.9" (0.2 lb), which was in the third quartile for this lake class. The largest perch was 9.5". Perch scales were difficult to read, but perch growth appeared to be normal by area standards.Bluegill numbers (2.0/gillnet) are probably underrepresented by the gillnet catch. Bluegill sizes averaged 6.1" (0.2 lb). Bluegill growth appeared to be normal by area standards.Only one largemouth bass was captured in 2001, but their numbers are probably underrepresented by the gillnet catch. The largemouth was 8.5".Three large walleye, one age 7 (24") and two age 10 (26") were captured in 2001.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Largemouth Bass in Ole. 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 Ole. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Ole has a maximum depth of 19 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ole is from 2001. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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