St. Louis County, Minnesota
Shagawa Lake
Best fishing times today, in local lake time.
Today
Good day
Next major bite
4:25–6:25 PM CT- Major bite (moon overhead): 3:53–5:53 AM
- Minor bite (moonset): 1:00–2:00 PM
- Major bite (moon underfoot): 4:25–6:25 PM
- Minor bite (moonrise): 8:55–9:55 PM
- Sunrise
- 7:49 AM
- Sunset
- 5:52 PM
- Moon
- Waning gibbous, 74%
Times in Central Time. Updated 7:57 AM CT.
Conditions
- Air
- 28°F
- Wind
- 5 mph SW
- Sky
- Sunny
- Pressure
- 30.30 inHgRising (+1 hPa in 3 h)
National Weather Service hourly forecast; pressure from station KELO at 6:55 AM CT.
7-day bite calendar
| Day | Rating | Major | Major | Minor | Minor | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 3:53–5:53 AM | 4:25–6:25 PM | 1:00–2:00 PM | 8:55–9:55 PM | Waning gibbous, 74% | |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 4:55–6:55 AM | 5:25–7:25 PM | 1:41–2:41 PM | 10:17–11:17 PM | Waning gibbous, 63% | |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 4:53–6:53 AM | 5:20–7:20 PM | 1:12–2:12 PM | 10:39–11:39 PM | Last quarter, 52% | |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 5:46–7:46 AM | 6:10–8:10 PM | 1:35–2:35 PM | — | Waning crescent, 40% | |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 6:34–8:34 AM | 6:57–8:57 PM | 11:59 PM–12:59 AM | 1:53–2:53 PM | Waning crescent, 30% | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7:20–9:20 AM | 7:42–9:42 PM | 1:15–2:15 AM | 2:10–3:10 PM | Waning crescent, 20% | |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8:04–10:04 AM | 8:26–10:26 PM | 2:29–3:29 AM | 2:25–3:25 PM | Waning crescent, 13% |
What's biting on Shagawa Lake in October
Shagawa Lake covers 2,345 acres and is 48 ft at its deepest. These are the sport fish DNR surveys found here, and what each typically does in October in Minnesota lakes.
- WalleyeFall walleye feed heavily on rocky points and breaklines; dusk and after dark are often best.
- Northern pikeFall pike feed heavily along the last green weeds and drop-offs.
- MuskieFall is a prime time for big muskies, which feed heavily before winter.
- Smallmouth bassFall smallmouth school on deep rocky structure and feed before moving to wintering areas. From mid-September through February, smallmouth are catch-and-release only in most of the state (outside the Northeast Zone).
- CrappieFall crappies school tightly in deeper basins and feed actively.
- BluegillFall bluegill move toward deeper weed edges and feed actively.
- Yellow perchFall perch school on deep flats and feed heavily.
Season notes: Minnesota statewide inland seasons from the DNR's 2026–27 fishing regulations. Check current regulations.
Fish in Shagawa Lake
Species found in Minnesota DNR fish surveys of Shagawa Lake in the last 10 years or its latest survey (July 11, 2022).
- WalleyeSpawns over gravel and rock in the shallows soon after ice-out, peaking in 42–50°F water; in summer it holds deeper and feeds in the shallows at dawn and dusk.
- Northern pikeSpawns in flooded, weedy shallows right after ice-out and keeps feeding in cold water, so it bites from spring through ice season.
- MuskellungeSpawns in shallow, weedy bays in spring. Muskies are scarce in any lake, which is why a catch can take many hours on the water.
- Smallmouth bassNests on gravel and rock in late spring and stays around rocky points, reefs and current through summer.
- Black crappieSpawns in May and June in shallow water in the mid-60s °F; schools roam open water and feed most at night, dawn and dusk.
- BluegillNests in colonies in firm-bottomed shallows from late May through much of summer, in 67–80°F water; bigger fish feed in open water.
- Yellow perchSpawns in early spring, draping egg ribbons over weeds and brush, and bites eagerly on worms all year, including through the ice.
- Rock bassNests over gravel near rocks and logs in late spring and stays close to rocky cover all summer.
- Tullibee (cisco)A cold-water fish of deep, well-oxygenated lakes that spawns in the shallows in late fall.
Also found
- Cisco species
- Shorthead redhorse
- White sucker
Lake facts
- Area
- 2,345 acres
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- County
- St. Louis County
- Nearest town
- Ely
- DNR lake ID
- 69006900
Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder (retrieved October 30, 2026).
Nearby lakes
- Burntside Lake5 mi
- White Iron Lake5 mi
- Bear Island Lake10 mi
- Big Lake12 mi
- Birch Lake12 mi
- Trout Lake20 mi