Ed Shave

Ed Shave is a 90 acre lake located 12 miles north of Tower. It is accessed by a concrete ramp off the Echo Trail. This lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet and clear water. On June 22, 2021 the lake was completely mixed with a surface temperature of 69 F and a bottom temperature of 67 F. Oxygen levels were adequate for gamefish throughout the water column. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline are mostly ledge rock, rubble, and gravel, with muck in the bays. The overall gillnet catch rate for all fish combined was 22.7 fish/net which was right at the average of past surveys on the lake. Yield was 18.5 lbs/net which was just below the average of past surveys. Fish species sampled were walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and white sucker. Trap nets caught fish at an overall rate of 13.6 fish/net which was better than average when compared to past surveys on the lake. Yield was 15.4 lbs/net which was the second highest on record for the lake. A bluegill was the only additional fish species sampled in the trap nets. Fifty-six walleye were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 18.7 fish/net, which was very good compared to other similar lakes and the second highest on record for Ed Shave. This catch rate also ranked 5th out of 198 surveys of walleye populations in the Tower area. Walleye lengths ranged from 7 to 22 inches with an average of 13 inches. Walleye growth was good with the average fish taking four years to reach 15 inches long. Ages ranged from 1 to 14 years with no overly strong year classes represented. A total of 11 smallmouth bass were captured between the gill nets and trap nets. The trapnet catch rate of 1.0 fish/net was above average when compared to other similar lakes and right at the average when compared to past surveys on Ed Shave. Lengths from fish caught in trap nets ranged from just over 6 to nearly 18 inches with an average of just over 12 inches. Ages ranged from 1 to 7. Nine yellow perch were sampled in gill nets for a catch rate of 3.0 fish/net which was below average compared to other similar lakes and below average compared to past catches on Ed Shave Lake. Sizes were similar to past surveys with a range of 7 to 12.5 inches and an average of 10.5 inches.

Ed Shave Lake is located approximately 12 miles NW of Ely in the Superior National Forest. There is a concrete boat ramp located on the W side of the lake off the Echo Trail (CR116) for public access. There are no campsites for overnight use on this lake. Walleye were the most common fish species sampled in 2016. Smallmouth bass, yellow perch and white sucker were also sampled. Walleye fingerlings are currently stocked once every third year in Ed Shave Lake. Walleye numbers in 2016 (8.3/gill net) were lower than the historic average (10.8/gill net) on this lake. The average walleye sampled was 12.5 inches long and about 3 years old. Eighty-eight percent of the walleye sampled from the gill nets were 1 to 3 years old and only 12% were from years where fingerlings were stocked. The largest walleye sampled in 2016 came from a trap net and was 23.4 inches long. Smallmouth bass numbers in 2016 were slightly below both the historic average and the average compared to other similar lakes in the area. The average smallmouth sampled in the gill nets was 16 inches long and about 8 years old. The largest smallmouth was 16.9 inches long. Smallmouth bass were first sampled in Ed Shave Lake during the 2010 lake survey.

Ed Shave Lake is located approximately 12 miles NW of Ely, MN. It has a surface area of 82 acres and a maximum depth of 17 feet. Ed Shave Lake was weakly stratified on 7/19/2010, the first day of the survey, with a surface temperature of 75*F and a bottom temperature of 72*F. Water clarity is above average compared to other lakes in this class. There is a public access with a concrete boat ramp located on the west central shoreline. This access can be found off St. Louis Co. Rd. #116 (Echo Trail). Walleye numbers in 2010 (13.0/gill net) were identical to the long term average for all assessments on this lake. Walleye sizes averaged 15.3" and the growth rate was faster than average compared to other lakes in this class. The largest walleye was 19.6". Smallmouth bass were sampled for the first time in 2010. Smallmouth sizes averaged 12.3" and the growth rate was faster than average for other area lakes. The largest smallmouth was 15.1". Yellow perch numbers in 2010 (4.5/gill net) were lower than the long term average for all assessments on this lake. Perch sizes averaged 6.8" and the growth rate was faster than average compared to other lakes in this class. The largest perch was 14.3". The only other fish species sampled was white sucker. Northern pike were last sampled in 1995.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike in Ed Shave. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Ed Shave has a maximum depth of 17 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Ed Shave is from 2021.

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