Alden

Big Alden is a 180 acre lake with 159 (88%) acres of littoral area and a maximum depth of 29 feet . Big Alden Lake is located 14 miles northeast of Duluth off St. Louis County Highway #44. Big Alden does not have a developed public access along the shoreline but can be accessed by canoe through the Cloquet River. The primary management species is walleye, with secondary management for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Walleye abundance of 3.5 per gillnet lift was average compared to Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of walleye was 13.5 inches. Growth was slow with length at age four of 12.6 inches. Recruitment was steady with all year classes from 1992 through 2000 represented. Northern pike abundance of 0.8 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Northern pike mean length of 24.2 inches was large. Growth was average with length at age four of 20.1 inches. Yellow perch abundance of 11.3 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Yellow perch mean length of 6.6 inches was small. Growth was average with length at age four of 5.7 inches. All year classes from 1993 through 1998 were represented, with a strong 1998 year class. White sucker abundance of 9.3 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of white sucker was 15.4 inches. Black crappie abundance of 0.7 per trapnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black crappie mean length of 11.3 inches was large. Growth was average with length at age four of 8.2 inches. Four year classes were represented from 1994 through 1998, with a strong 1998 year class. Bluegill abundance of 2.3 per trapnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Mean length of 7.9 inches was large. Growth was fast with length at age four of 6.0 inches. Eight year classes were represented from 1989 through 1998, with a strong 1997 year class. A largemouth bass and smallmouth bass electrofishing assessment was conducted in the spring of 2001. A total of 3 smallmouth bass and 0 largemouth bass were sampled. Mean length of sampled smallmouth bass was 9.9 inches. Other fish species sampled in Big Alden Lake include largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, shorthead redhorse and tadpole madtom. Fifteen largemouth bass were sampled as young-of-the-year in a shoreline seine. Due to limited public access on Big Alden Lake, fishing pressure is considered light. Future management will be limited by its low fisheries management priority rating.

Abundance of fish species within Alden Lake in 1993 were very similar to those documented in 1991. Walleye, white sucker, yellow perch, black crappie and bluegill exhibited slight decreases, while northern pike and rockbass increased. Pumpkinseed abundance remained the same.

NOP NUMBERS ARE BELOW LOCAL AVERAGES SHOWING AVERAGE GROWTH. BLG AND BLC GROWTH RATES ARE ABOVE LOCAL AVERAGE, HOWEVER, CATCH RATES ARE LOW. YEP POPULATION IS ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS. ALTHOUGH NATURALLY REPRODUCED WAE OCCUR IN ALDEN LAKE AND THE CLOQUET RIVER, THERE MAY BE EVIDENCE OF A SUCCESSFUL FRY STOCKING IN 1983. WITH AGE GROUPS IV THRU VII ABSENT IN THE ASSESSMENT, SUPPLEMENTAL FRY STOCKING MAY RESULT IN A MORE BALANCED AGE STRUCTURE. WAE CATCH RATES AND GROWTH ARE BELOW STATE AND LOCAL AVERAGES.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rock Bass, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie in Alden. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Alden. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Alden has a maximum depth of 29 feet and a mean depth of 6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Alden is from 2001. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

No invasive species are on record for Alden in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.

No — Alden has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide walleye and sauger limit is: 6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20". Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.