Iron Chief Complex

St. Louis County

Near Buhl

DOW: 69142800

Black CrappieGood · 52Green SunfishPoor · 21

A 207-acre lake near Buhl in St. Louis County — best known for panfish. Last surveyed 2008.

Fish Species (7)

Black Crappie

Good · 52

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.5"

Avg Weight

1.08 lbs

Catch rate: 0.22 per trap net · typical 0.8–4.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	0.22	11.5"	1.08 lbs	Standard trap nets

Green Sunfish

Poor · 21

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.9"

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 1.2 per trap net · typical 0.3–12.1 for a lake like this

Size of catchable green sunfish0% keeper-size (7"+)

3–6" · 100%Largest sampled 5"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	1.22	3.9"	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 9, 2008	0.50	3.9"	0.03 lbs	Small-mesh gill nets
Jun 9, 2008	3.75	3.9"	-	Minnow traps

Northern Pike

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

28.0"

Avg Weight

6.28 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	0.11	28.0"	6.28 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	0.75	-	-	Minnow traps

Lake Trout

Stocked 2025

Last Stocked

2025

Size Class

yearlings

Total Fish

10,088

Frequency

every year

Stocking Details

Year	Size	Number	Pounds	Agency
2025	yearlings	1,250	145.7	-
2023	yearlings	1,150	122.3	-
2021	yearlings	1,240	98.7	-
2020	yearlings	650	157.0	-
2019	yearlings	4,091	751.2	-
2018	adults	108	736.6	-
2017	yearlings	1,095	93.8	-
2017	adults	398	255.1	-
2016	adults	106	919.8	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Other species in this lake (2)

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

Black Bullhead

Average · 42

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.0"

Avg Weight

0.93 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	0.11	11.0"	0.93 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Poor · 22

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2008

Last surveyed 2008 — treat with caution

Avg Size

16.3"

Avg Weight

1.61 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 2.3–8.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 9, 2008	0.33	16.3"	1.61 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 9, 2008	0.11	16.3"	2.43 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best black crappie lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

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

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

June 9, 2008Iron Chief Complex is a series of three abandoned mine pits (now connected) near the town of Buhl. Like most pit lakes, the water is relatively infert…

Iron Chief Complex is a series of three abandoned mine pits (now connected) near the town of Buhl. Like most pit lakes, the water is relatively infertile and clear. Rainy and windy weather occasionally loosens sediment from the pit walls causing the water to cloud up temporarily. There is a city-owned public access on the south side of the lake. DNR Fisheries has done no stocking or management of the lake, and the 2008 assessment was the first ever conducted on the pit. Very few fish were captured in the test nets. Green sunfish was the most numerous species in the standard assessment gears, at 1.2/gill net and 1.2/trap net. These fish were rather small, ranging from 3.7 to 5.6 inches in length. Four rainbow smelt were also captured in the gill nets for a catch rate of 0.7/net. Two small-mesh gill nets specifically designed to sample small fish such as rainbow smelt were also used in this assessment. A total of 32 smelt were captured for a catch rate of 16/net. These fish ranged from 4.6 to 6.3 inches in length. One northern pike (28.4 inches) was captured in a trap net. This was the only large predator fish sampled. Other fish sampled in low numbers were black bullhead, black crappie, blacknose shiner, bluegill and white sucker. Good water quality characteristics and the presence of a modest population of rainbow smelt appear to make Iron Chief Complex suitable for a cold-water species such as lake trout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Iron Chief Complex?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie and Green Sunfish in Iron Chief Complex. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Iron Chief Complex?

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

How deep is Iron Chief Complex?

Iron Chief Complex has a maximum depth of 262.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Iron Chief Complex last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Iron Chief Complex is from 2008. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Iron Chief Complex have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Iron Chief Complex?

No — Iron Chief Complex has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.