---
type: lake
name: "Shagawa Lake"
county: "St. Louis"
nearest_town: "Ely"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 2345
max_depth_ft: 48
latitude: 47.91208
longitude: -91.87778
lake_score: 70
dnr_lake_id: "69006900"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/shagawa-lake
---

# Shagawa Lake

Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, near Ely

- **Surface Area**: 2,345 acres
- **Max Depth**: 48 ft
- **Shoreline**: 23.4 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 9.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 4 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 70/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Shagawa Lake is a 2,345-acre lake near Ely in St. Louis County, Minnesota. It reaches 48 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 23.4 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 9.5 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 11 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. 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 2022.

There are 4 public boat launches (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR, county, and city. OpenStreetMap shows a swim beach on or beside the lake. The lake is listed as infested with spiny waterflea — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 28, based on 106 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 4 public boat launches (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR, county, city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 11
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2022
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling, Swimming

## Amenities

Boat Ramp, Swim Beach

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Tullibee (Cisco), Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker

## Invasive Species

spiny waterflea. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 28
- **Years of record**: 106
- **Earliest**: 2012-03-27
- **Latest**: 1996-05-16

## Nearby Lakes

- [Miner's Pit](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/miner-s-pit) - 1.2 miles, 141 acres
- [Little Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/little-long-lake) - 2 miles, 322 acres
- [Minister Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/minister-lake) - 3.3 miles, 56 acres
- [Bass Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/bass-lake-ely) - 3.5 miles, 169 acres
- [High Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/high-lake) - 4.1 miles, 274 acres
- [Hobo Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/hobo-lake) - 4.2 miles, 74 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.91208,-91.87778)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=69006900)
- [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/shagawa-lake)*