St James Pit

St. James Pit is a former mine pit now managed for stream trout; however, it is not a designated trout lake. A trout stamp is required to harvest trout from St. James Pit. The main access is a concrete ramp along the southeast shore just north of the town of Aurora. This 100-acre lake has a maximum depth of 381 feet and the water is very clear. On May 22, 2024, the water temperature ranged from 54 F at the surface to 43 F at 50 feet. Oxygen levels were adequate for trout throughout this range. This population assessment consisted of 6 gillnets, as has been the standard for all assessments of this lake since 1986. Stocking of trout on St. James Pit began in 1984 when lake trout and rainbow trout were introduced. From 1986 to 1996 rainbow and brook trout were the only species being stocked. No trout were stocked from 1997 to 2002. Since 2003, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) has taken over the stocking by providing funds and arranging to stock rainbow trout purchased from private growers. Typically, the IRRRB has stocked the pit twice every year in the spring and fall with fingerlings. The rainbow trout gillnet catch rate in 2024 was 2.2 fish/net or 1.8 pounds/net. Both of these values were about average for the pit and were improvements from some of the more recent surveys. Lengths ranged from 9 to 19 inches with an average of 12 inches. The average length was the largest on record and was one inch larger than the historical average for this waterbody. Fish weights averaged 0.8 pounds/fish. Other species sampled in this survey included white sucker with a catch rate of 2.2 fish/net, along with low numbers of bluegill, black crappie, and walleye. White sucker catches have remained consistent throughout the years, while other species are encountered occasionally in low numbers.

St. James Pit is a former mine pit now managed for stream trout; however it is not a designated trout lake. Its main access is a concrete ramp along the southeast shore just north of the town of Aurora. This 100 acre lake has a maximum depth of 381 feet and the water is very clear. On June 10, 2013 the water temperature ranged from 60 F at the surface to 39 F at 100 feet. Oxygen levels were adequate for trout throughout this range. This population assessment consisted of 6 gillnets which captured two fish species, rainbow trout and white sucker. Stocking of trout on St. James Pit began in 1984 when lake trout and rainbow trout were introduced. From 1986 to 1996 rainbows and brookies were the only species being stocked. No trout were introduced from 1997 to 2002. Since 2003, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) has taken over the stocking by providing funds and arranging to privately stock rainbows. This has freed up fish in the DNR quota, so another local designated stream trout lake can be stocked. Typically, the IRRRB has stocked the pit twice every year in the spring and fall. The rainbow trout gill net catch rate in 2013 was 1.2 fish/net or 0.9 pounds of fish/net. Lengths ranged from 7 to 18 inches with an average of 10 inches. The average length is also slightly lower than the historical average (11 inches) and the lowest on record for the pit. Fish weights averaged 0.8 pounds/fish. Eleven white suckers were sampled for a catch rate of 1.8 fish/net. Lengths ranged from 6 to 18 inches with an average of 13 inches which is similar to historical averages. No other fish species were surveyed.

Six gillnets set in depths ranging from 10' to 95' captured only four trout and seven white sucker. This is an average of 1.8 fish/gillnet (all species), which is far below average, and continues a downward trend of fish populations in this lake since the initial assessment in 1983.Trapnets, which are normally also used for fish population assessments, have never been used in St. James Pit due to the steep dropoff of the shoreline.The captured trout (two rainbow and two brook) ranged is size from 10.5" to 12.7". They had been eating insects and were in good condition. Absent in this assessment were bluegill sunfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, and walleye, all of which had been observed in two or more previous assessments.

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

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

St James Pit has a maximum depth of 381 feet and a mean depth of 114.7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — St James Pit has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.