Cub

Cub is a 7.5-acre designated stream trout lake located 12 miles southwest of Ely in Bear Head State Park. Cub has clear water with a light green tint, and historic Secchi visibility has averaged 15 feet. Aquatic vegetation is extremely sparse, and the basin forms an uninterrupted bowl shape with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Bottom substrates vary from boulder to gravel with limited organic muck. Access is by a 90-yard carry-down from a small lot near the park headquarters. A fringe of old-growth pine accents a forest of regenerating birch. These large trees find Cub as their final resting place and submerged timber is abundant. The floating logs decay slowly and support a unique bog micro-habitat. A State Park parking permit is required to fish the lake. A lone 9-inch white sucker was the only fish caught during the survey. White sucker have been intermittently sampled in low abundances and in limited sizes since trout stocking began. A trout catch of zero is not unprecedented from Cub. Catch rates have varied from 0-8.0/net, with a modern average of 1.9/net. Angling reports have remained positive and the zero is likely a byproduct of both intensive fishing pressure and limited sampling.

Cub Lake is located within Bear Head Lake State Park and about 12 miles southwest of Ely. A valid state park permit is required on your vehicle if parking within the state park boundary. The lake is accessed by a carry down off a trail near the park headquarters. Shore fishing is quite popular on Cub Lake although a canoe could also be used. Cub Lake is an eight acre lake with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Rainbow trout were stocked in Cub in 2020, otherwise only brook trout have been used annually since 2018. The 2022 survey captured one brook trout in two nets for a catch rate of 0.5 fish/net. The lone individual was 12 inches and likely came from the 2021 stocking. Fathead minnows were found in the stomach.

Cub Lake is located approximately 12 miles SW of Ely within Bear Head Lake State Park. This popular stream trout lake is currently stocked annually with yearling brook trout. Yearling rainbow trout were stocked in 2016 and 2017 during a brook trout shortage. There is a steep portage of approximately 100 yards off the Bear Head Lake State Park Road for public access. A state park permit is required to fish Cub Lake. Shore fishing is an option, however there are numerous fallen trees surrounding the shoreline. Brook trout numbers in 2019 (8.0/gill net) were above the long term average (3.0/gill net) for Cub Lake. The average brook trout sampled was 11.0 inches. Brook trout sizes ranged from 9.1 to 12.3 inches long. Fathead minnows and crayfish were identified from stomach samples. No rainbow trout were sampled.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Splake, Rainbow Trout, and Brook Trout in Cub. 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 Cub. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Cub has a maximum depth of 39 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Cub is from 2022.

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