Forsyth Pit

Forsyth Mine Pit has been managed primarily as a rainbow trout lake since it was reclaimed in 1981, and has occasionally been stocked with brook trout. The catch rate in this assessment is within the range observed in the past for this lake, but the pounds per net is higher than in the past. The trout that were sampled ranged from 13.7 to 22.8 inches in length. The mean length was 15.8 inches and the mean weight was 1.8 pounds. Stickleback minnows were the only other species of fish sampled.

Rainbow trout numbers in Forsyth Pit remain at a low density level. A total of seven rainbow trout were captured during sampling. Gill net catch rates were 1.0 rainbow trout per gill net while trap net catch rates were 0.2 trout per trap net. Low catch rates are probably an indication that considerable harvest of yearling rainbow trout occurs after stocking (Doran and Hauff 1985). High fishing pressure and harvest coupled with hatchery reared fish stocked into a sterile mine pit make these rainbow trout susceptible to anglers. It appears as though this system is operating as a "put grow-and-take fishery". Age classes making up the current population structure consist of age 1 (14%), 2 (43%), 3 (29%), and 4 (14%) year old trout. No mean back-calculated length-at-age data was determined due to the difficulty of determining annuli of hatchery-reared fish (lack of annulus formation at age 1).Other species noted in the survey included white sucker, fathead minnows, and painted turtles. One white sucker was captured during sampling. Fathead minnows were observed in the littoral areas of the pit although none were caught during the assessment period. Six painted turtles were also caught and released from the trap nets.References - Doran, P. D. and K. Huff. 1985. An evaluation of the rainbow trout fishery on eight stocked iron ore pits in the Mesabi Iron Range. Vermilion Community College, Ely, Minnesota.Crew: Chris Freiburger/Daryl Arola/Richard Thompson

Dipnetted young of year fathead minnows at landing several large schools observed.It's believed that all of the fish caught, with the exception of the 2-11 inch fish and the 2-13 inch fish, were stocked on 10/1/87.Crew: Richard Thompson/Blake Hanson

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Forsyth Pit. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Forsyth Pit has a maximum depth of 51 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Forsyth Pit is from 1996. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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