Lac la Croix Fishing
St. Louis County, 29,597 acres, 168 feet deep.
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Key facts on Lac la Croix
Lac la Croix covers 29,597 acres of St. Louis County, by the LakeFinder record. The deepest hole runs 168 feet. Shallow water under 15 feet covers 8,500 acres, roughly 29% of the surface. The closest incorporated city is Winton, about 31 miles away. DNR fisheries staff in Tower oversee it. Fishing rules follow the Canada-Minnesota border water tables.
Fish recorded in DNR nets include walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, cisco and lake whitefish. DNR netting for the standard survey took place on June 23, 2025.
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Catch per net set from the standard survey dated June 23, 2025, beside the range the DNR treats as normal for similar lakes.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Shallow gill nets | 127 | 9.07 | 1.68 | ||
| Walleye | Deep gill nets | 14 | 0.48 | 3.52 | ||
| Northern pike | Deep gill nets | 14 | 0.48 | 4.04 | ||
| Northern pike | Shallow gill nets | 78 | 5.57 | 2.45 | ||
| Yellow perch | Shallow gill nets | 3 | 0.21 | 0.13 | ||
| Smallmouth bass | Shallow gill nets | 6 | 0.43 | 1.83 | ||
| Tullibee (cisco) | Deep gill nets | 342 | 11.79 | 0.37 | ||
| Tullibee (cisco) | Shallow gill nets | 30 | 2.14 | 0.56 | ||
| Lake whitefish | Shallow gill nets | 8 | 0.57 | 2.19 | ||
| Lake whitefish | Small-mesh gill nets | 2 | 0.25 | 1.99 | ||
| Lake trout | Small-mesh gill nets | 1 | 0.12 | 0.04 | ||
| Lake trout | Deep gill nets | 55 | 1.9 | 4.75 |
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
What the survey report says about Lac la Croix
“Lac la Croix is a large, sprawling body of water located northwest of Ely that lies along the Canadian border.”
“The whole lake is 34,070 acres with 19,820 acres in Minnesota and 14,250 in Ontario.”
“All of the water in Minnesota is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and nearly all of it is non-motorized.”
“The only area of Minnesota water where motorboats can legally be used is on the portion between Beatty Portage and south of Snow Bay.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Lac la Croix (report). Checked October 2026.
Boat landings on Lac la Croix
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
How deep Lac la Croix gets
Lac la Croix has 9 clarity readings on file since 2014.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
Species in the Lac la Croix surveys
LakeFinder builds the Lac la Croix list from survey catches; a fish not netted may still be present.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Rules for fishing Lac la Croix
Nothing beyond the statewide rows is posted for Lac la Croix.
Shared Canada-Minnesota rules for Lac la Croix
| Species | Area | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | All Canada-Minnesota border waters except exceptions below | 6 combined total (only 1 over 20" in possession) | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Lake of the Woods and tributaries from mouth to upstream boundaries listed on p. 67 | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Four Mile Bay (southeast bay of Lake of the Woods) | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – April 14 each year |
| Walleye and sauger | Four Mile Bay (southeast bay of Lake of the Woods) | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Namakan, Sand Point and Little Vermilion lakes | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26") | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy Lake | 8 (not more than 4 can be walleye; walleye from 18-26" must be immediately released; only 1 walleye over 26") | May 10, 2025 – April 14, 2026; May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy River (mouth to the dam at International Falls and all tributaries from the mouth to the upstream boundaries liste | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – April 14 each year |
| Walleye and sauger | Rainy River (mouth to the dam at International Falls and tributaries) | 6 (not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28"; walleye 19.5-28" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Walleye and sauger | Saganaga Lake | 3 (only 1 walleye over 20") | May 9, 2026 – April 14, 2027 |
| Northern pike | All Canada-Minnesota border waters except exceptions below | 3 (only 1 over 30" in possession) | Continuous |
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession, all from 30-40" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (Northeast Zone) | 2 (only 1 northern pike over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 8, 2026 |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
Pike and bass rows follow the Northeast Zone, where the map puts Lac la Croix; posted boundaries govern near the zone lines.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Nearby lakes against Lac la Croix
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lac la Croix | 29,597 | 168 | 0 | 9.07 | |
| Pocket Lake, St. Louis County | under a mile southeast | 241 | 27 | 0 | 3.75 |
| Takucmich Lake | 2 miles west | 338 | 150 | 0 | |
| Finger Lake, St. Louis County | 2 miles southwest | 272 | 60 | 0 | 4.8 |
| Trygg Lake | 3 miles west | 24 | 35 | 0 | |
| Ge-Be-On-Equat Lake | 3 miles south | 660 | 55 | 0 | 1.33 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
In the neighborhood of Lac la Croix
Neighbor lakes around Lac la Croix
- Pocket Lake, St. Louis Countyunder a mile southeast
- Takucmich Lake2 miles west
- Finger Lake, St. Louis County2 miles southwest
- Trygg Lake3 miles west
- Ge-Be-On-Equat Lake3 miles south
Bait and tackle closest to Lac la Croix
- Handberg's Marinemarine supply store, Crane Lake, 16 miles
- Voyageur Tacklebait and tackle shop, St. Louis, 20 miles
Minnesota towns closest to Lac la Croix
- Winton31 miles
- Ely32 miles
- Soudan35 miles
Lac la Croix, county lines
- St. Louis Countyseat: Duluth
Piscifun gear suited to Lac la Croix
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Lac la Croix questions with short answers
What part of Minnesota holds Lac la Croix?
Find it in St. Louis County, managed from the Tower fisheries office, about 31 miles from Winton.
How deep is Lac la Croix?
Roughly 29,597 acres, 168 feet at the deepest.
Which landing do I use on Lac la Croix?
Only unmapped LakeFinder accesses (0 accesses).
Which fish has the DNR netted in Lac la Croix?
Survey records show walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, cisco, lake whitefish and lake trout.
How does Lac la Croix compare in DNR nets?
The standard survey of June 23, 2025. walleye ran 9.07 per shallow gill net.
Which DNR rules apply on Lac la Croix?
Statewide inland limits apply; the Northeast Zone rows cover pike and bass.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Lac la Croix?
On border water a Minnesota license ($25 resident, $51 nonresident) works under the shared rules; on Canadian water the Canadian portion needs a Canadian license.
What is the ice-out date for Lac la Croix?
Secchi readings average 9.4 feet.
Which bait shop is closest to Lac la Croix?
Handberg's Marine is about 16 miles from the lake.
Spend a weekend on Lac la Croix
Read the special regulations before you keep fish.