Koma Lake
Making Connections
- Portage North, 24 rods, to Malberg
- Paddle South, up the Kawishiwi River, towards Polly
Maps
Links
- DNR Lake No. 380098
- Lake Map No. C1371
- Lake Table No. 9D
- MDH Fish Consumption Advisory
- N/A
- MPCA Water Quality - N/A
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Scale 1:21420
Full image approximately 2
miles square
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Description
Koma is a moderate-size, shallow lake
in the upper Kawishiwi River watershed, 18 miles SSW of Gunflint Trail's
End and 33¾ miles east of Ely. Roughly triangular in form, its 260
acres have a maximum depth of but 14'. The Kawishiwi River enters the lake
near its southern end and drops out of the northwest corner into Malberg.
Neither of these stretches of the Kawishiwi is generally navigable and both
are bypassed by well-traveled portages, 127 rods upriver towards Polly
and 24 rods into Malberg.
Campsites
Koma supports five designated campsites,
three ranged along the northern shore east of the portage into Malberg,
one on the prominent point in the center of the lake, and one along the
southern shore. This being a well traveled route, these sites can fill early,
especially during peak travel times.
Planning Considerations
Koma sits on the upper Kawishiwi River
route, which runs north from the river's headwaters at Kawishiwi
Lake through Square,
Kawasachong,
Townline, Polly,
and Koma into Malberg. This is a popular and
heavily traveled route into the interior lakes from the Sawbill
entry. Expect to see other parties along the Kawishiwi here during the busier
summer travel periods.
Wildlife
Koma supports populations of Bluegill
(Lepomis macrochirus),
Lake Whitefish (Coregonus
clupeaformis), Northern Pike (Esox
lucius), Rock Bass (Ambloplites
rupestris), Tullibee (Cisco) (Coregonus
artedi), Walleye (Stizostedion
vitreum), White Sucker (Catostomus
commersoni), and Yellow Perch (Perca
flavescens). With the great variety of fishes, it's not surprising
that one often sees Bald Eagles in the area. We've seen several on our trips
through Koma and its near neighbors.
Notes and Comments
The name is from the Ojibwe Gomâ, "middling".
Last updated on 11 April, 2004
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