Dam Lake

Aitkin County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 01009600

DNR records show 13 stocking entries at Dam Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (250,000 fish).

• Dam Lake has 13 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): walleye (13).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 555,612 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 48 ft, mean depth 19 ft; surface area 598 acres, 256 littoral acres, 4.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.8 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, and 5 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 23, 2025 (targeted survey).
• Aitkin County, nearest town Aitkin; DNR lake number (DOW) 01009600.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 6/22/1960 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

² fish purchased by the DNR for stocking.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

This report includes results from multiple targeted surveys (TS) conducted throughout Aitkin County in 2025. Bigmouth Buffalo are present throughout Aitkin County. They are most abundant in the Mississippi River but are also common in lakes that have direct or distant connections to the Mississippi River via tributaries and drainage ditches. Bigmouth Buffalo in the Aitkin area have only been recorded during standard surveys and are primarily captured with trap nets due to their low susceptibility to gill nets. However, most Bigmouth Buffalo observations occur in targeted trap net and electrofishing assessments as by-catch and are often not recorded or captured. In 2025, an effort was made to capture, record, and tag any Bigmouth Buffalo by-catch during targeted Walleye, Bass, and panfish assessments. Furthermore, multiple targeted surveys were conducted in 2025 around the Aitkin area to identify locations where Bigmouth Buffalo could consistently be captured for future investigations. Special electrofishing assessments were carried out on parts of Dam Lake (TS 7/23/2025), Sandy River (below Libby dam, TS 7/25/2025), Rice River (TS 6/3/2025), and Ripple River (TS 6/2/2025) targeting Bigmouth Buffalo. Additionally, small mesh trap net (1/4 inch mesh) assessments were done in known spawning grounds of the upper Rice River to target young-of-year (YOY) migrating downstream. Electrofishing was conducted on 6/03/2025 and 7/22/2025 at the confluence of the Rice River and Mississippi River. Zero Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled in the June assessment, and one was sampled in the July assessment. The one fish was an adult and measured 32.5 inches. Other species observed included Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Walleye, and White Sucker. Small mesh trap net (1/4 inch mesh) assessments were executed on 7/22/2025 and 9/19/2025 downstream of known spawning areas in the Rice River to target YOY Bigmouth Buffalo. Zero YOY Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled during these assessments. Other species observed included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Tadpole Madtom, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch. Electrofishing was conducted on 6/03/2025 at the confluence of the Ripple River and Mississippi River. Zero Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled. Other species observed included Channel Catfish, Greater Redhorse, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and White Sucker. Electrofishing was conducted on 7/25/25 in the Sandy River…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 23, 2025.

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