Judson Mine Pit

Judson Mine Pit is a small designated stream trout lake, primarily managed for Rainbow Trout. Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board has contracted with a private vendor to stock yearling Rainbow Trout semiannually since 1997. The 2014 management plan goal was to have a gill net catch rate for Rainbow Trout to exceed 1.5/net with 75% greater than 12 inches and at least two year classes present. Brown Trout were listed as a secondary management species despite never being stocked. Rainbow Trout has been the only species stocked since the last survey, including the spring. Despite the stocking effort, only one trout was caught, similar to the previous survey. The absence of trout indicates poor survival. Competition is likely limiting trout abundance and will likely impact future management. Rainbow Smelt were first recorded during the previous survey. One small mesh gill net, targeting smelt, caught 58. Down from the previous survey that caught 183. Lengths ranged from 4.4 to 7.3 inches with an average length of 5.2 inches, suggesting multiple ages present. Trap net catches for Green Sunfish have steadily increased. The catch was 76.5/trap net, over double the previous survey (30.8/net). Lengths ranged from 2.4 to 7.8 inches. Green Sunfish were caught in all four gear types; standard gill net, small mesh gill net, near-shore trap net and wire-mesh minnow trap. White Sucker was the only other species captured.

JJudson Mine Pit is located just west of the City of Buhl, MN. The relatively small, 18 acre pit has very little littoral area (3 acres), a maximum depth of 64 feet, and about 0.8 miles of shoreline. The City of Buhl maintains two carry-in accesses; one on the southwest shore and a fishing platform on the northwest shore. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) has been the lead agency for a long-term reclamation project that has included reshaping pit walls, stabilizing erodible areas, and purchasing trout from a private hatchery for stocking. Trout management began in 1984 and IRRRB has biannually (spring and fall) purchased rainbow trout since 1997. Rainbow trout numbers appeared to be limited, as only one was sampled during the assessment. The gill net catch rate was 0.3/net, while the length was 10.3 inches. This fish was likely from the spring stocking. The absence of fish suggests poor survival from competition, environmental factors, or angler harvest. Angler reports suggested the invasive species, rainbow smelt, were present in the pit. A special small mesh gill net, specifically set to sample smelt, had a catch rate of 183.0/net. Lengths ranged from 4.6-8.3 with a mean length of 6.3 inches. The length frequency distribution suggests multiple age classes present. Standard gill nets also sampled two smelt with lengths near six inches. White sucker were the most numerous species sampled in gill nets (11.5/net), while green sunfish were sampled at a rate of 1.8/net. Both catch rates were similar to previous assessments (9.0/net and 2.6/net). Conversely, green sunfish were sampled at a rate of 30.8/trap net and white sucker at a rate of 1.8/trap net. Again, the catch was similar to the previous assessment (25.6/net and 1.2/trap net). This was the first assessment to sample yellow perch, at a rate of 4.0/trap net. Near shore sampling included a minnow trap which sampled only green sunfish. Crew notes indicated other species of minnows were observed in the shallows, but not sampled.

Judson Mine Pit is an 18-acre pit located just out side the City of Buhl, MN. The pit has a maximum depth of 64 ft and a littoral area of 3 acres. Judson Mine Pit is in lake class 4 and has a walk down access with a fishing platform on the northwest shore. Iron Range Resources (IRR) has been the lead agency for a long-term reclamation project that has included reshaping the pit walls and planting the erodible slopes with trees and grasses. As part of this reclamation project, IRR has been stocking the pit with 600 yearling rainbows, twice annually in the spring and fall. The rainbow trout catch in gill nets was 1.1/net, which was lower than the 2000 gill net catch of 2.6/net. The 2000 catch rate was higher than expected because the fall stocking of rainbow trout occurred 3 weeks prior to the assessment. No rainbow trout were sampled in trap nets in 2006. Rainbow trout varied in length from 13 to 15 inches and were most likely fish stocked in the spring of 2006. The absence of larger fish indicates poor over winter survival or high angler harvest. Trap nets sampled a high number of green sunfish with a catch rate of 25.6/net compared to 6.3/net in the 2000 assessment. Gill nets also sampled 9.0 white sucker/net, which was similar to the 2000 catch rate of 12.8/net. Baited minnow traps sampled moderate number of blacknose shiners and fathead minnows. Mine pits are rather sterile environments with limited littoral habitat and prey resources. The increasing abundance of green sunfish is a concern, because they likely compete with rainbow trout for limited prey.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Green Sunfish, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Splake in Judson Mine Pit. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Judson Mine Pit has a maximum depth of 64 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Judson Mine Pit is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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