For years, a mystery on a northern Minnesota lake had local anglers speculating about the origins of an unusual underwater "structure."

Some believed it was a piece of a dock lost in the historic 2012 flood. But as it turns out, it wasn’t a dock at all.

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A Shocking Discovery Beneath the Ice Near Duluth

The St. Louis County Rescue Squad, working with the Superior/Douglas County Dive Team and several other agencies, recently investigated the object in Spirit Lake, a section of the St. Louis River near Duluth.

Using sonar, the team discovered an exhaust system, eliminating any lingering dock theories and confirming that a vehicle was submerged. That meant one thing: They had to pull it up to ensure no one was inside.

A Massive Recovery Effort in Minnesota Lake

Extracting the Jeep was no small feat. After more than a decade underwater, thick layers of mud had built up inside, ballooning the vehicle’s weight from 4,000 pounds to an estimated 15,000 pounds. Rescuers had to remove literal tons of thick, fudge-like mud to lighten the vehicle before it could be safely towed to shore.

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Inside, no human remains were found, but there were 10 rock bass, a perch, and two catfish that had made the Jeep their home.

Stolen Jeep, Unusual Circumstances

The Jeep had been reported stolen in February 2012. However, its location in the middle of Spirit Lake makes this far from a typical "stolen and dumped" situation. Law enforcement has identified the owner, but any further investigation is now in their hands.

Anglers, Stay Alert Near Scene

With the recovery operation complete, a large hole in the ice now marks the spot where the Jeep was pulled up. It has been well-marked with brush, caution tape, and other warnings. If you’re planning to ice fish on Spirit Lake, steer clear of that area until the ice has fully refrozen.

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And About Those Catfish…

One curious social media commenter asked how big the catfish inside the Jeep were. The answer? One was "about as long as your thumb!" Not exactly a record-breaker, but still a fun discovery in this rescue mission.

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