Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin)
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Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin) is mapped to a depth of 70 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 6,317 acres in St. Louis County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1965.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 70 ft
- Survey year
- 1965
- Surface area
- 6,317 acres
- Shoreline
- 66.66 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 2% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Island Lake, Abbot Road (E) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 2 more
Additional depth details8 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–70 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 70 ft, 50 ft, 50 ft, 50 ft, 40 ft, 30 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
- 47.01341, -92.18386
- MN DNR lake ID
- 69037201
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.4 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin) has a partly natural setting, long open-water fetch, nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Good | 21.4 of 35 | 67% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (34% forest, 31% wetland; 22% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 2.9 of 29 | mean fetch 3,562 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water 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 | 3 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Mixed | 4.9 of 18 | nearby higher-volume roads · 18 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 3,425 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
- Moderate — 34% forest and 31% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Cloquet River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking19 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
Golden Shiner
Logperch
Spottail Shiner
Iowa Darter
Johnny DarterAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2021Gamefish Walleye 173 · Northern Pike 59 · Smallmouth Bass 39 · Channel Catfish 5
Panfish Yellow Perch 312 · Bluegill 159 · Rock Bass 109
All survey species19 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2016–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedOther invertebrates
- Spiny WaterfleaConfirmed in this water in 1990 (listed 1995).
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
Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin) — common questions
How deep is Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin)?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin) is 70 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 Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin)?
Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin) covers about 6,317 acres in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin)?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye. The page lists all 19 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin)?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 3 public access sites on Island Lake Reservoir (W.Basin): Island Lake, Abbot Road (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Island Lake, Dam Site Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Cloquet River Public Water Access Site (carry-in launch).
