LivewellMinnesota · St. Louis County · Lake
Esquagama Lake
Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Esquagama Lake, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.
7 species with advisories · contaminants: Mercury
Northeast Minnesota guidance (Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties) applies here
Esquagama Lake falls under Minnesota's regional guidance — 50 recommendations covering 24 species, stricter than the statewide rules for several — in addition to anything listed for Esquagama Lake below.
Strictest regional rule: Muskellunge — For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury.
See all Northeast Minnesota guidance (Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties) →
What's safe to eat from Esquagama Lake
Bluegill
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Cisco
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Green Sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Northern Pike
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Under 26" | Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| Over 20" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| Over 26" | Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Pumpkinseed
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Sunfish
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| All sizes | General population | Limit to two meals per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Walleye
| Size | Who | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Under 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. |
| Under 17" | Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| Over 14" | General population | Limit to one meal per month due to elevated Mercury. |
| Over 17" | Children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant | For children under 15 and people who are or may become pregnant: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. |
Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-23
Is it legal to keep?
These are Minnesota's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.
| Species | Size | Daily limit | Open season | Keep season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | — | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Sauger | — | 6 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Northern Pike | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Muskellunge | 54" min | 1 | 06-01 – 12-01 | Same as open |
| Largemouth Bass | — | 6 | Year-round | 05-24 – 02-25 |
| Smallmouth Bass | — | 6 | Year-round | 05-24 – 02-25 |
| Bluegill | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Black Crappie | — | 10 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Yellow Perch | — | 20 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Channel Catfish | — | 5 | Year-round | Same as open |
| Lake Trout | — | 2 | Year-round | Same as open |
Official rules: Minnesota — Minnesota DNR
Getting on the water
- Eshquaguma Boat Landing boat ramp 0.4 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.6 mi Directions
- Boat ramp boat ramp 4.8 mi Directions
Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.