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3,420-acre lake near St. Louis County. The lake tops out around 55 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
On the chart, St. Louis River Estuary draws 3,420 acres inside 46.8 miles of shoreline, with 2 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 5.7, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 71% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 6.6 mi end to end and 6.1 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Douglas County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Saint Louis River, 6 mi southwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 20 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 9 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: splake in 5 to 25 ft. As the season builds they drop to 17 to 55 ft, wintering in 10 to 45 ft. Top water on the chart: Sharp break, a drop-off in the 9 ft range, prime in winter. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (47 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 30 ft before dropping to 8 to 40 ft for winter. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Sharp break (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Summer is a 17 to 55 ft game here, winter a 5 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Deep basin — deep basin, 47 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 17 to 55 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 15 to 35 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 14 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Main-lake point (14 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Deep basin (47 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Spring yellow perch on St. Louis River Estuary hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Sharp break (9 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 12 to 35 ft | midday | Sharp break (9 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
St. Louis River Estuary also holds northern pike (8 to 20 ft in summer), muskellunge (8 to 25 ft in summer), smallmouth bass (10 to 30 ft in summer), largemouth bass (8 to 20 ft in summer), rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer), white bass (8 to 25 ft in summer), white perch (15 to 40 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), burbot (17 to 55 ft in summer), freshwater drum (8 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), lake sturgeon (15 to 40 ft in summer), black bullhead (3 to 15 ft in summer), yellow bullhead (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
St. Louis River Estuary carries 11 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 47 ft down.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to St. Louis River Estuary specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
St. Louis River Estuary is about 55 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout, splake, rainbow trout, brown trout, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, white bass, white perch, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, channel catfish, burbot, freshwater drum, common carp, lake sturgeon, black bullhead, yellow bullhead on St. Louis River Estuary.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for yellow perch in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on St. Louis River Estuary 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.
Saint Louis River 6 mi, MN/WI · Wild Rice 11 mi · Fond du Lac Reservoir 12 mi · Pike 13 mi · Forbay 14 mi · Mud 15 mi · Caribou 15 mi · Fish Lk Flowage(East Bay) 15 mi · Lake Superior - Duluth and the Western Arm 15 mi, MN/WI · Cameron 15 mi · Thomson Reservoir 16 mi · Scanlon Reservoir 16 mi
See how St. Louis River Estuary stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best smallmouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best white bass lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Douglas County fishing maps (103 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. 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.