Walleye lake, Northern pike lake, Bass lake, Crappie lake, Sunfish lake

Nichols Lake

Public accessStocked 2025

Nichols Lake is a 419-acre lake in St. Louis County, 31 feet at its deepest. The DNR last surveyed its fish in 2025. Recorded species include walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie.

Details

DNR lake ID
69062700
County
St. Louis
Surface area
419 acres
Maximum depth
31 feet
Mean depth
8 feet
Shallow water (littoral) area
362 acres, 86% of the lake
Shoreline
4.9 miles
Average water clarity
6.2 feet (Secchi disk, 4 readings)
Nearest town (DNR)
Payne
Latest DNR fish survey
August 2025, targeted survey
Surveys on record
8, since 1990
Game fish caught in the 2025 survey
bluegill 478, largemouth bass 148, yellow perch 98, pumpkinseed 51, northern pike 3, black crappie 2, walleye 2
Fish species recorded
black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, and 10 other species
Stocked in 2025
walleye fingerlings (8,379)
Stocked in 2023
walleye fingerlings (8,298)
Stocked in 2021
walleye fingerlings (12,308)
Stocking years on record
5 of the last 10 (2017 to 2025)
Nichols Lake Public Water Access Site
trailer launch, concrete slab ramp, 1 dock, 4 trailer spaces, toilet, run by DNR Division of Parks and Trails
Fish consumption
Follow the northeast guidelines; fish from this lake have been tested
Size
100 to 499 acres
Deepest point
30 to 59 feet
Public access
Yes
Stocked in the last 3 years
Yes

Sources

Survey catches show what DNR nets and electrofishing found on the survey date, not how the fishing is today. Check the current regulations and the Department of Health advice before you keep fish, and confirm access conditions before you tow a boat.

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