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207-acre lake near St. Louis County. The lake tops out around 260 ft. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2008 (a DNR lake survey). Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Traced from the shoreline, Iron Chief Complex runs 207 acres with 3.8 miles of edge. Index 1.9 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. Roughly 2% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 1.2 mi long by 0.7 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in St. Louis County. The nearest mapped water is Stubler Pit, 1 mi to the south.
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 50 to 120 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Main-lake point, a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Deep basin (253 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (253 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Main-lake point is the standout, a point at roughly 20 ft, rated prime for summer largemouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Back-bay flat (12 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (20 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Back-bay flat (12 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (182 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Deep basin, around 253 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* | Lake Trout (yearlings) | 1,250 | — |
* 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 Iron Chief Complex specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Iron Chief Complex is about 260 ft (79 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth data here comes from the Minnesota DNR survey of 2008 (a DNR lake survey).
Anglers target lake trout, largemouth bass on Iron Chief Complex.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For lake trout, the summer bite is best in 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, Iron Chief Complex was most recently stocked 2025 with 1,250 lake trout (yearlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Iron Chief Complex 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.
Stubler Pit 1 mi · Judson Mine Pit 1 mi · Kinney 3 mi · Forsyth Pit 3 mi · Scott 3 mi · Yates 3 mi · Six Mile 4 mi · Longyear 4 mi · Doherty 5 mi · McQuade 6 mi · West Two Rivers Reservoir 6 mi · Carey 6 mi
See how Iron Chief Complex stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best lake trout lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: St. Louis County fishing maps (429 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.