Knife Lake
About Knife Lake
Knife Lake is a 4,919-acre lake near Ely in Lake County, Minnesota. It reaches 179 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 65 feet, and has roughly 99.2 miles of shoreline. By surface area it ranks No. 3 among the 161 Lake County lakes in this directory. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 19.5 feet, which is exceptionally clear for Minnesota. The lake is a border water shared with Canada, so different seasons, limits and licensing rules can apply on the far side.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 9 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, bluegill, lake trout, and burbot. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.
Public access is carry-in only — plan on a canoe, kayak or small boat you can hand-launch. 31 campgrounds are mapped close to the shoreline for overnight stays.
Plan Your Visit to Knife Lake
- 4,919 acres, up to 179 feet deep, near Ely
- Carry-in access only — bring a boat you can hand-launch unless you confirm a ramp
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, bluegill, lake trout, and burbot
- Average water clarity around 19.5 feet — very clear
- Camping close to the water
- Border water with Canada — know which side of the line you are fishing on
Access & Fees
- Public access
- Carry-in access only
- Launch fee
- Permit or fee required
- Managed by
- US Forest Service
Conditions
- Surface area
- 4,919 acres
- Max depth
- 179 ft
- Average depth
- 65 ft
- Shoreline
- 99.2 mi
- Water clarity
- 19.5 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 1,037 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
- A trout and salmon stamp is required to fish designated trout lakes or to keep trout
- Border-water seasons and limits with Canada differ from Minnesota inland rules
- Recorded accesses require a permit or fee
Facilities
- 3 carry-in accesses
- Camping (31 mapped)
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Lakeside camping
- Quiet paddling
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 9
- Game fish
- 8
- Stocked
- No
- Last DNR survey
- 2025
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- No
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Camping & Reservations
31 campgrounds are mapped on or near Knife Lake. Minnesota state park sites are booked through the DNR reservation system, national forest campgrounds through Recreation.gov, and most state forest campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
Campground locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Confirm details with the operator.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Knife Lake
Compare Knife Lake against the top-ranked lakes nearby, then map your route.
See how Knife Lake ranks among fishing lakes nearby.
See how Knife Lake ranks among camping lakes nearby.
See how Knife Lake ranks among paddling lakes nearby.
See how Knife Lake ranks among ice fishing lakes nearby.
Nearby Lakes
Bonnie Lake
30 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage105 acres
1.8 miles away
Spoon Lake
46 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage256 acres
2.5 miles away
Kekekabic Lake
62 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage1,689 acres
4.1 miles away
Vera Lake
43 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely250 acres
4.6 miles away
Little Knife Lake
66 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Ely700 acres
4.6 miles away
Amoeber Lake
56 out of 100 Lake ScoreLake · Prairie Portage410 acres
4.7 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Knife Lake?
Knife Lake is in Lake County, Minnesota, near Ely. It covers 4,919 acres and reaches 179 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Knife Lake?
Knife Lake covers 4,919 acres with about 99.2 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 179 feet and its average depth is about 65 feet.
What fish can you catch at Knife Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Lake Trout, Burbot, Lake Whitefish, and Rock Bass. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Knife Lake?
Public access is on record, but not a trailer ramp: carry-in access only.
Can you swim at Knife Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Knife Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Is Knife Lake stocked?
The DNR has no stocking report on file for Knife Lake; its fishery is sustained by natural reproduction or has not been stocked recently.
Can you camp at Knife Lake?
Yes. A campground is mapped on or near the shore. Confirm whether sites are reservable or first-come, first-served before you go.