Tooth

St. Louis County

Near Kettle Falls

DOW: 69075600

Northern PikeAverage · 40

A 59-acre lake near Kettle Falls in St. Louis County — best known for pike. Last surveyed 2008.

Fish Species (2)

Northern Pike

Average · 40

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.4"

Avg Weight

1.80 lbs

Catch rate: 3.5 per gill net · typical 1.3–5.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike8% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 92%Largest sampled 24"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 21, 2008	3.50	20.4"	1.80 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 25, 1973	8.50	-	1.59 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

2.3"

Avg Weight

0.01 lbs

Catch rate: 3.0 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 21, 2008	3.00	2.3"	0.01 lbs	Minnow traps

Biologist Notes

July 21, 2008Tooth is a small (58 acre) bog-stained lake located within Voyageurs National Park's Proposed Wilderness. The lake is remote with only a lightly-worn…

Tooth is a small (58 acre) bog-stained lake located within Voyageurs National Park's Proposed Wilderness. The lake is remote with only a lightly-worn trail connecting it with Net Lake. To access Tooth, our survey crew boated to the southern end of Junction Bay of Namakan Lake and then portaged into Net Lake. We then paddled across Net to the Tooth Lake trailhead. We then portaged the 0.80 mile trail into Tooth. In spite of its small size, Tooth has a maximum depth of 43 feet. There are no developed campsites on Tooth Lake however, there are several suitable locations. The 2008 northern pike gill-net abundance was 3.50 per net and well below the 1973 catch rate (8.50 per net). The low abundance noted in 2008 was not unusual for lakes in the same classification as Tooth. Most of the northern pike captured were small. Lengths of captured fish ranged from 12.1 to 24.7 inches with an average length of 20.9 inches. Sizes may have improved slightly since the 1973 investigation. Northern pike in Tooth Lake grow very slowly (13th percentile of all pike lakes in the International Falls Management Area). Yellow perch were the only other species captured in Tooth Lake. These perch were likely one year olds and were taken in minnow traps. Tooth is a beautiful lake and well worth the extensive travel required to get there. The small northern pike present will likely provide sufficient catch rates to interest most anglers.

July 25, 1973(rolls of old chicken wire and wire from (stakes in the water.

(rolls of old chicken wire and wire from (stakes in the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Tooth?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike in Tooth. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Tooth?

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

How deep is Tooth?

Tooth has a maximum depth of 43 feet and a mean depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Tooth last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Tooth is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.