Agassa

Agassa is a 72-acre lake located 11 miles northwest of Ely in the Superior National Forest. It is a shallow, bog-stained walleye fishery similar to Muckwa, Maude, and Nina Moose. The lake sits in low-relief and is fringed by mature spruce and pine in areas where it does not abut to bog. Aquatic vegetation is sparse and generally grows tight to shore. A single USFS designated campsite is present on the west side of the lake. Although outside of the Boundary Waters, and motor use is permitted, the lake is best accessed by canoe. Walleye fry are currently stocked every other year. Agassa is accessed from the Angleworm Entry Point parking lot up the Echo Trail. The mile long portage begins south of the road and was in decent shape at the time of the survey. Recent heavy rains had eroded the trail significantly in spots, but the boardwalk through the bog was in good repair. Recent beaver activity has raised the water level in Agassa by a foot and a half and turned a final stretch of the portage into a quagmire with logs laid across it. A simple fish community comprised largely of the three species surveyed resides in Agassa. Walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch were all sampled in numbers below their long-term averages. Walleye abundance (4.5/net) was lower than in past surveys and less than the average of similar area lakes. Lengths ranged from 17.5 to 23 inches, and the average length of 19 inches was higher than typical for the lake. Many of the walleyes were more than ten years old, with a year class from 2012 representing the bulk of the catch. About two-thirds of the fish sampled were not from stocked years.

Agassa Lake is located approximately 11 miles NW of Ely within the Superior National Forest. This 72 acre lake has an irregular shoreline where ledgerock outcrops and small bog areas are common. The surrounding forest is dominated by conifers. There is a 0.8 mile portage from the Echo Trail (CR 116) for public access. The parking lot is located at the Angelworm Lake Trailhead. There is one designated campsite located on the lake for overnight use. Three species of fish were sampled during the 2019 survey of Agassa Lake. White sucker and yellow perch were sampled in above average numbers. Walleye numbers were near their respective long term averages. Walleye numbers in 2019 (5.5/gill net) were identical to the long term average for Agassa Lake and nearly identical when compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average walleye sampled was 17.6 inches. Walleye sizes ranged from 15.1 to 26.6 inches. Walleye fry are stocked during odd-numbered years in Agassa Lake and in 2019 most of the walleye sampled were from years when stocking occurred. Yellow perch numbers in 2019 (10.0/gill net) were higher than the long term average (8.3/gill net) for this lake and above average (7.6/gill net) when compared to other similar area lakes. The average perch sampled was 6.4 inches.

Agassa Lake is in Ecological Lake Class 17, which consists of 99 lakes in northeast Minnesota that are small, very shallow, and have bog stained and very soft (low mineral content) water. Agassa Lake does not stratify during the summer and retains good oxygen to near the bottom. A small inlet drains a swamp, and the outlet to Big Lake has beaver dams and flows through swamps which limit fish movement. Shallow water lake bottom substrates are mostly ledgerock, boulder, and muck. Aquatic plants are sparse and grow to a depth of 8 feet. The 2009 population assessment consisted of two gillnet sets. Six previous fisheries investigations, dating back to 1977, also consisted of two gillnets sets. Trapnets have not been used in Agassa Lake due to the difficult portage access. Fish populations in 2009 consisted of walleye, yellow perch, and high numbers of white sucker. The total catch of fish (all species combined) in 2009 of 40.5 fish/gillnet (42 lbs/gillnet) was lower than the median (45.5 fish/gillnet) of all investigations on this lake. Walleye were absent in the initial survey in 1977, and walleye stocking began in 1982. Agassa Lake has been stocked biennially with walleye fry since 1993 with the most recent stocking in 2009. The walleye catch rate in 2009 was identical to the median (5.5/gillnet) of all investigations since walleye first appeared (1984-2009) and in the third quartile for Lake Class 17. Walleye sizes averaged 13.3 inches in 2009, lower than the average from all previous investigations of 14.1 inches. The largest walleye caught in the 2009 assessment was 16.5 inches. The 2009 catch was distributed relatively evenly across 6 age classes (Age 2-8). Growth varied widely by age class, due in part to small sample sizes. The 2009 white sucker catch rate (28.5/gillnet) was above average for Lake Class 17 but at the median of all investigations on this lake. Sucker numbers in Agassa have been high in all investigations, ranging from 22.5/gillnet to 40.0/gillnet. The average white sucker size in 2009 was 14.3 inches; the largest was 19.9 inches. Yellow perch numbers in 2009 (6.5/gillnet) were normal (in the second quartile) for this lake class and at the median of all Agassa Lake investigations. Perch numbers have varied widely in previous assessments, ranging from 4.5/gillnet to 28.0/gillnet. The largest yellow perch caught in 2009 was 10.5 inches, but perch size averaged 9.3 inches. The 2009 catch was dominated by age 3 and 4 fish. Growth was faster than normal (in the fourth quartile) by area standards. None of the fish examined in 2009 had signs of parasites or diseases.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye and Yellow Perch in Agassa. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Agassa has a maximum depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Agassa is from 2024.

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