Minnesota Fishing Guide

Esther

Cook County, Minnesota — DOW #16002300

55 Surveys
77.5
Acres
35 ft
Max Depth
16 ft
Mean Depth
3
Fish Species
10
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

White Sucker

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2003-10-13 Standard trap nets 7.0 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 0.62 lb 84
1983-06-23 Standard gill nets 12.0 (normal) 1.7 – 12.5 1.04 lb 12
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 — — 1
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 0.3 — — 2
2011-09-20 Standard gill nets 13.0 (above normal) 1.7 – 12.5 0.84 lb 26
2011-09-20 Standard trap nets 4.1 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 0.87 lb 49
2024-10-28 Standard trap nets 3.8 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 1.35 lb 38
1997-10-08 Standard trap nets 7.6 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 0.86 lb 91
1986-05-06 Standard trap nets 7.0 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 — 28
1988-09-21 Standard trap nets 3.3 (normal) 0.5 – 3.4 1.71 lb 30
2015-10-19 Standard trap nets 9.6 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.4 1.09 lb 106
2015-10-19 Standard gill nets 9.0 (normal) 1.7 – 12.5 0.91 lb 18
2000-07-24 Survey seining 6.0 — — 6
2000-07-24 Standard trap nets 2.7 (normal) 0.5 – 3.4 1.21 lb 16
2000-07-24 Standard gill nets 5.5 (normal) 1.7 – 12.5 1.12 lb 11

Rainbow Trout

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2003-10-13 Standard trap nets 0.5 — 0.54 lb 6
2011-09-20 Standard trap nets 0.5 — 0.48 lb 6
2011-09-20 Standard gill nets 2.5 — 0.48 lb 5
2024-10-28 Standard trap nets 0.5 — 0.58 lb 5
1997-10-08 Standard trap nets 0.4 — 0.58 lb 5
1986-05-06 Standard trap nets 4.5 — 0.79 lb 18
1988-09-21 Standard trap nets 2.6 — 0.73 lb 23
1991-09-18 Standard trap nets 2.2 — 0.82 lb 22

SPT

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2003-10-13 Standard trap nets 0.8 — 0.57 lb 10
1983-06-23 Standard gill nets 12.0 — 0.40 lb 12
2011-09-20 Standard gill nets 9.5 — 0.38 lb 19
2011-09-20 Standard trap nets 1.4 — 0.41 lb 17
2024-10-28 Standard trap nets 1.2 — 0.40 lb 12
1997-10-08 Standard trap nets 2.5 — 0.60 lb 30
1986-05-06 Standard trap nets 0.8 — — 3
2015-10-19 Standard gill nets 8.0 — 0.57 lb 16
2015-10-19 Standard trap nets 2.6 — 0.63 lb 29
2000-07-24 Standard gill nets 6.0 — 0.70 lb 12
2000-07-24 Standard trap nets 2.0 — 0.40 lb 12
1991-09-18 Standard trap nets 8.2 — 0.33 lb 82

Fathead Minnow

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 2.7 — 16
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 37.1 — 26

NRD

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 0.3 — 2
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 — 1

BNT

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-09-20 Standard gill nets 1.0 — 0.26 lb 2
2015-10-19 Standard trap nets 0.3 — 1.56 lb 3

BST

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 4.3 — 3

PRD

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 0.3 — 2
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 — 1
1988-09-21 Standard trap nets 0.6 — 5
2000-07-24 Survey seining 3.0 — 3

Iowa Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 0.2 — 1
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 7.1 — 5

FND

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 0.2 — 1
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 — 1

BNS

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-09-20 Backpack electrofishing 1.4 — 1
2011-09-20 15-ft beach seine 1.2 — 7
2000-07-24 Survey seining 1.0 — 1

Brook Trout

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1988-09-21 Standard trap nets 5.6 — 0.43 lb 50
1991-09-18 Standard trap nets 0.2 — 3.75 lb 2

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

Bear Track Outfitting Co.

Grand Marais, MN

(800) 795-8068

★ 3.3

Buck's Hardware

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-2280

★ 4.5

Clearwater BWCA Outfitters

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 260-2253

★ 5

Hungry Jack Canoe Outfitters

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 388-2275

★ 4.7

Lake Superior Trading Post

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-2020

★ 4.6

Moose Tracks

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-9125

★ 4.5

Northern Goods

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-2706

★ 4.7

The Fisherman's Daughter at Dockside Fish Market

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-2906

★ 4.7

Nearby Marinas

Bearskin Wilderness Outfitters

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 388-2292

★ 4.7

BoatPAL Services

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 264-9934

★ 5

Grand Marais Boat Rides

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-4159

Grand Marais Campground & Marina

Grand Marais, MN

(800) 998-0959

★ 4.6

Grand Marais Harbor

Grand Marais, MN

Grand Marais Marina Photogenic Point

Grand Marais, MN

★ 4.9

Resorts & Lodges Near Esther

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Esther.

Eve's Place Lakeside Cabins
Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 370-9834
SAGONTO Wilderness Resort
Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 370-1074
Timberlund's Resort
Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 387-1147
Borderland Lodge
Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 388-2233

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Rainbow TroutSplakeWhite Sucker

Fishing Guides Near Esther

Devil Track Lake Cabins
Fishing Guide

(218) 877-7502
Fly Box And Company
Fishing Guide

(218) 370-9659
Grand Marais Charters
Fishing Guide

(218) 370-5800
Little Vince's Guide Services
Fishing Guide

(218) 388-9942
Northshore Outdoors
Fishing Guide

(218) 370-8726
Riptide Charters
Fishing Guide

View all 10 guides →

Other Lakes in Cook County

Abita

92.69 acres

Ada

23.49 acres

Agnes

68.31 acres

Alder

528.93 acres

Allen

47.8 acres

Alpine

908.63 acres

Plan Your Trip to Esther

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