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49-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 35 ft. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1937, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map). Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The outline encloses 49 acres, worked by 1.6 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.6) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 55% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 0.6 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. Cook County claims this one. If the bite dies, Devilfish is 1 mi to the northwest.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 11 to 35 ft, wintering in 5 to 35 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 20 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (1 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (20 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 35 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: MN DNR Water Access Sites (struc_water_access_sites), Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Brown Trout (yearlings) | 800 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Chester specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Chester is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1937, a decades-old survey (the DNR's original lake-survey map).
Anglers target brown trout on Chester.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Chester was most recently stocked 2025 with 800 brown trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Chester is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Devilfish 1 mi · Esther 1 mi · Margaret 1 mi · Olga 2 mi · Loft 2 mi · Edith 2 mi · Sunfish 3 mi · Otter 4 mi · Greenwood 4 mi · Tom 4 mi · Stump 5 mi · McFarland 5 mi
See how Chester stacks up: best brown trout lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.