---
type: lake
name: "Colby Lake"
county: "St. Louis"
nearest_town: "Hoyt Lakes"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 518
max_depth_ft: 30
latitude: 47.53013
longitude: -92.14602
lake_score: 59
dnr_lake_id: "69024900"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/colby-lake
---

# Colby Lake

Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Hoyt Lakes

- **Surface Area**: 518 acres
- **Max Depth**: 30 ft
- **Shoreline**: 12 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 3.4 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Lake Score**: 59/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Colby Lake is a 518-acre lake near Hoyt Lakes in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 30 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 12 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 3.4 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (asphalt surface) managed by the city. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. Ice typically goes out around April 21, based on 10 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (asphalt)
- **Managed by**: city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: No
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Burbot, Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 21
- **Years of record**: 10
- **Earliest**: 2000-04-02
- **Latest**: 2022-05-06

## Nearby Lakes

- [Whitewater Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/whitewater-lake) - 2.2 miles, 1,212 acres
- [St James Pit](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/st-james-pit) - 4.2 miles, 124 acres
- [Sabin Lake (Embarrass Mine)](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/sabin-lake-embarrass-mine) - 6.4 miles, 156 acres
- [Wynne Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/wynne-lake) - 7 miles, 279 acres
- [North Twin Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/north-twin-lake) - 7.5 miles, 65 acres
- [South Twin Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/south-twin-lake) - 7.5 miles, 118 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.53013,-92.14602)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=69024900)
- [All lakes in St. Louis County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/colby-lake)*