Knife

Lake County, Minnesota — DOW #38040400

61 Surveys

4,919.46

Acres

179 ft

Max Depth

65 ft

Mean Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Knife. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Tullibee (Cisco)

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	12.6 (above normal)	1.1 – 10.1	0.14 lb	226
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	5.9	—	0.11 lb	95
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	1.1 – 10.1	0.11 lb	7
1993-07-07	Deep gill nets	2.6	—	0.24 lb	67

Burbot

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	2.0 (above normal)	0.1 – 0.3	0.94 lb	36
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	0.9	—	0.84 lb	14
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	0.7	—	0.62 lb	11
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.2 (normal)	0.1 – 0.3	1.10 lb	2
1993-07-07	Deep gill nets	0.7	—	1.66 lb	19

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.1 – 2.4	11.50 lb	3
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	2.6	—	3.42 lb	26
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	0.3	—	3.59 lb	4
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	1.7	—	3.95 lb	20
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	0.4	—	3.56 lb	6
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	3.0 (above normal)	1.1 – 2.4	3.25 lb	30
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	1.0	—	5.20 lb	10

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	1.4 – 3.0	2.17 lb	12
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	2.4	—	1.86 lb	24
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	4.4	—	1.35 lb	53
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	2.2 (normal)	1.4 – 3.0	1.14 lb	22
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	3.1	—	4.24 lb	31

Lake Trout

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.1 – 1.8	4.97 lb	9
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	1.8	—	4.08 lb	28
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	2.1	—	4.08 lb	34
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.1 (normal)	0.1 – 1.8	4.00 lb	1
1993-07-07	Deep gill nets	1.6	—	4.92 lb	41

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	2.6 (below normal)	3.6 – 10.8	1.41 lb	47
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	0.1	—	2.48 lb	1
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	8.6	—	1.29 lb	86
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	0.6	—	1.83 lb	10
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	9.2	—	1.57 lb	110
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	3.1 (below normal)	3.6 – 10.8	1.19 lb	31
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	7.1	—	1.58 lb	71

Smallmouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.3 (normal)	0.2 – 0.6	1.84 lb	5
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	0.5	—	2.53 lb	8
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	0.9	—	1.32 lb	9
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	0.6	—	3.13 lb	10
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	1.0	—	2.27 lb	12
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	1.2 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.6	1.17 lb	12
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	0.5	—	1.60 lb	5

Shorthead Redhorse

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.3 (normal)	0.1 – 1.0	1.83 lb	6
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	0.1	—	9.64 lb	1

LKW

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	4.1 (above normal)	0.1 – 3.0	1.26 lb	73
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	0.5	—	1.21 lb	5
2006-07-10	Deep gill nets	6.0	—	1.08 lb	96
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	0.7	—	2.76 lb	8
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	5.8	—	1.08 lb	93
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.1 – 3.0	1.37 lb	15
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	3.0	—	3.32 lb	30
1993-07-07	Deep gill nets	5.8	—	2.76 lb	152

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.6 – 1.6	0.20 lb	2
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	3.3	—	0.19 lb	33
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	2.4	—	0.19 lb	29
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	1.7 (above normal)	0.6 – 1.6	0.18 lb	17
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	1.6	—	0.32 lb	16

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2006-07-10	Shallow gill nets	0.6	—	0.11 lb	6
1983-07-25	Standard gill nets	0.1 (below normal)	1.4 – 6.8	0.20 lb	1
1993-07-07	Shallow gill nets	0.1	—	0.07 lb	1

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	0.9	—	0.19 lb	11

CIS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2017-09-11	Deep gill nets	3.9	—	0.11 lb	63
2017-09-11	Shallow gill nets	0.1	—	0.14 lb	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

Entry Point 24

Ely, MN

★ 4.7

Harbor Kayak & Paddleboard Rental

Two Harbors, MN

(218) 393-4545

★ 5

Knife River Marina

Knife River, MN

(218) 834-6076

★ 4.7

Landing Sports Bar

Two Harbors, MN

(218) 834-5191

★ 4.6

Leroy's Repair

Two Harbors, MN

(218) 834-0743

★ 4.6

Meierhoff Marine

Two Harbors, MN

(218) 341-4588

★ 5

Resorts & Lodges Near Knife

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Knife.

The Moose Bay Co

Fishing Resort Ely

(218) 365-6285

Bell Sheep Homestead

Fishing Resort Two Harbors

(218) 226-4614

Bob's Cabins On Lake Superior

Fishing Resort Two Harbors

(218) 834-4583

Breezy Point Cabins On Lake Superior

Fishing Resort Two Harbors

(218) 389-4522

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Knife. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Bluegill Burbot Cisco Species Lake Trout Lake Whitefish Northern Pike Rock Bass Smallmouth Bass Walleye White Sucker

Fishing Guides Near Knife

Boreal Triangle Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 830-2148

Boundary Waters Fishing Guide

Fishing Guide

(218) 235-9595

Duluth Superior Charter Fishing with Capt Paul Morris aboard Freedom II

Fishing Guide

(218) 428-5562

Ely Ice Fishing Company

Fishing Guide

(218) 365-3466

James Addiction Charter Fishing

Fishing Guide

(218) 213-8816

Muskie Doom Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 491-3277

View all 8 guides →

Other Lakes in Lake County

Plan Your Trip to Knife

Weather forecast for Knife — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 48.0983°N, 91.1850°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Knife

DNR Fish Surveys

Tullibee (Cisco)

Burbot

Northern Pike

White Sucker

Lake Trout

Walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Shorthead Redhorse

LKW

Rock Bass

Yellow Perch

Bluegill

CIS

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Agate Bay Outfitters LLC

Boundary Waters Outfitters

Canadian Border Outfitters

Granite Gear Inc

North Country Canoe Outfitters

Red Rock Wilderness Store

Seagren's Home Hardware Outdoors

Veness Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

Entry Point 24

Harbor Kayak & Paddleboard Rental

Knife River Marina

Landing Sports Bar

Leroy's Repair

Meierhoff Marine

Resorts & Lodges Near Knife

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Knife

Other Lakes in Lake County

Abinodji

Adams

Adventure

Ahmakose

Ahsub

Alger

Plan Your Trip to Knife