Fond du Lac Reservoir
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Fond du Lac Reservoir is mapped to a depth of 60 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 201 acres in Carlton County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1993.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 60 ft
- Survey year
- 1993
- Surface area
- 201 acres
- Shoreline
- 5.68 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Carry-In · St. Louis River, Fond du Lac Reservoir Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–60 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 60 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 46.66193, -92.32502
- MN DNR lake ID
- 09016700
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.64×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.7 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Fond du Lac Reservoir has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, generally sheltered geometry, some nearby classified roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 30.6 of 35 | 88% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (73% forest, 11% wetland; 6% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Very Good | 24.1 of 29 | mean fetch 652 m · 21% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · generally short fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Excellent | 17.6 of 18 | 1 DNR public access site · carry-in or canoe launch |
| Road isolation | Good | 10.4 of 18 | some nearby classified roads · 4 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,422 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 2% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 73% forest and 11% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: St. Louis River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys11 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
White Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
StonecatAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2015Gamefish Channel Catfish 140 · Walleye 22 · Smallmouth Bass 20 · Northern Pike 4
Panfish Rock Bass 47 · Black Crappie 24 · Yellow Perch 7
All survey species11 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
Not on the Minnesota DNR’s infested waters list as of September 9, 2026. This does not mean the lake is free of invasive species: the list covers certain species only, and a species can be present before anyone finds it.
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Fond du Lac Reservoir — common questions
How deep is Fond du Lac Reservoir?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Fond du Lac Reservoir is 60 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Fond du Lac Reservoir?
Fond du Lac Reservoir covers about 201 acres in Carlton County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Fond du Lac Reservoir?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 11 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Fond du Lac Reservoir?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists a public access site on Fond du Lac Reservoir: a carry-in launch. It is administered by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails. DNR directions: "From Carlton, take Hwy 210 west through Jay Cooke State Park to the Superior Hiking Trail parking lot."
