Miner's Pit
About Miner's Pit
Miner's Pit is a 141-acre mine pit lake near Ely in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 140 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 3.9 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 20 feet, which is exceptionally clear for Minnesota.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 9 fish species here, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, brown trout, and rock bass. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2024.
There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the city.
Plan Your Visit to Miner's Pit
- 141 acres, up to 140 feet deep, near Ely
- 1 public boat launch (concrete) — managed by the city
- Game fish on the DNR survey: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, brown trout, and rock bass
- Average water clarity around 20 feet — very clear
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- city
Conditions
- Surface area
- 141 acres
- Max depth
- 140 ft
- Shoreline
- 3.9 mi
- Water clarity
- 20 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 25 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
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Picnic area
Best For
- Quiet paddling
- Mine pit lakes drop off steeply right from shore and stay cold at depth
- 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
- 6
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2024
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Miner's Pit
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Nearby Lakes
Shagawa Lake
70 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely2,345 acres
1.2 miles away
Little Long Lake
65 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely322 acres
2.7 miles away
Bass Lake
59 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely169 acres
3.5 miles away
Hobo Lake
36 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely74 acres
3.8 miles away
White Iron Lake
58 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely3,237 acres
4.1 miles away
Minister Lake
42 out of 100 Lake ScoreSt. Louis · Ely56 acres
4.2 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Miner's Pit?
Miner's Pit is in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Ely. It covers 141 acres and reaches 140 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Miner's Pit?
Miner's Pit covers 141 acres with about 3.9 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 140 feet.
What fish can you catch at Miner's Pit?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Rock Bass. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Miner's Pit?
Yes. Miner's Pit has 1 public boat launch (concrete), managed by the city. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Miner's Pit?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Miner's Pit. 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 Miner's Pit stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Miner's Pit; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.