Morcom

St. Louis County

Near Melrude

DOW: 69053600

BluegillGood · 70Black CrappieGood · 68Northern PikeGood · 66

A 206-acre lake near Melrude in St. Louis County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1997.

Fish Species (11)

Bluegill

Good · 70

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.6"

Avg Weight

0.36 lbs

Catch rate: 4.7 per trap net · typical 2.3–7.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill37% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 63%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	1.33	4.6"	0.42 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	95.00	4.6"	-	Survey seining
Aug 18, 1997	4.67	4.6"	0.36 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 68

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.5"

Avg Weight

0.38 lbs

Catch rate: 6.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–5.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie19% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 81%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	6.00	4.5"	0.38 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	299.00	4.5"	-	Survey seining
Aug 18, 1997	0.89	4.5"	0.32 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 66

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.5"

Avg Weight

2.31 lbs

Catch rate: 9.0 per gill net · typical 3–8.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike20% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 80%Largest sampled 28"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	9.00	20.5"	2.31 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	1.00	20.5"	-	Survey seining
Aug 18, 1997	1.44	20.5"	1.46 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 40

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.5"

Avg Weight

0.11 lbs

Catch rate: 6.7 per gill net · typical 4.5–19 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch9% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 91%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	6.67	5.5"	0.11 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	0.33	5.5"	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	2.33	5.5"	-	Special trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Poor · 16

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.5"

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 0.56 per trap net · typical 0.7–3.4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	0.33	4.5"	0.54 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	5.00	4.5"	-	Survey seining
Aug 18, 1997	0.56	4.5"	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

2.0"

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	0.33	2.0"	-	Special trap nets

Other species in this lake (5)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

White Sucker

Excellent · 76

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

13.8"

Avg Weight

2.59 lbs

Catch rate: 10.3 per gill net · typical 2–11.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	2.22	13.8"	2.79 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	3.67	13.8"	-	Special trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	10.33	13.8"	2.59 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 62

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.6"

Avg Weight

0.18 lbs

Catch rate: 29.4 per trap net · typical 0.8–24.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	304.33	5.6"	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	29.44	5.6"	0.18 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	2735.67	5.6"	-	Special trap nets

Golden Shiner

Good · 60

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.5"

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	0.67	5.5"	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 18, 1997	2.00	5.5"	-	Survey seining
Aug 18, 1997	0.33	5.5"	-	Special trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 48

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1997

Last surveyed 1997 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.5"

Avg Weight

0.58 lbs

Catch rate: 0.67 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	0.67	7.5"	0.58 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	4.00	7.5"	-	Special trap nets
Aug 18, 1997	1.67	7.5"	0.67 lbs	Standard gill nets

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 18, 1997	0.33	-	-	Special trap nets

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Northeast zone

Angling: 2 (not more than 1 over 40" in possession. All from 30-40" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 8, 2026

Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Northeast zone, north and east of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County.

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Northeast zone, north and east of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County.

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Northeast zone

Darkhouse spearing: 2 (Not more than 1 over 26").

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 18, 1997Morcom (Paleface) is a shallow, 178 acre, dark water lake located two miles northeast of Melrude. Access is gained from a developed public landing on…

Morcom (Paleface) is a shallow, 178 acre, dark water lake located two miles northeast of Melrude. Access is gained from a developed public landing on the outlet. Numerous logs and deadheads in both the river and lake create a hazard for boat travel. Black bullhead dominate the fish community in this lake that periodically winter kills. Black bullhead were abundant in the 1997 survey with sampled fish averaging 6.4 inches in length. Northern pike were also numerous with an average length of 21.6 inches and an occasional fish over 28 inches. Bluegill and black crappie were plentiful with average lengths of 7.6 and 8.5 inches respectively. Most of the bluegills were aged 8 and older while black crappie were generally 3 and younger. Pumpkinseed and yellow perch were not as common as the previous species, yet were near the normal range for lakes similar to Morcom. Anglers might also encounter: white sucker, yellow bullhead and largemouth bass when fishing on this undeveloped lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Morcom?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Pumpkinseed in Morcom. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Morcom?

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Morcom. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

How deep is Morcom?

Morcom has a maximum depth of 6 feet and a mean depth of 4.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Morcom last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Morcom is from 1997. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Morcom have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Morcom?

No — Morcom has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.