Dan Lake
Lake County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38085300
DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Dan Lake since 2016, most recently splake fingerlings in 2025 (480 fish).
- Dan Lake has 10 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): splake (10).
- The most-stocked species by count is splake: 5,017 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 26 ft; surface area 8 acres, 5 littoral acres, 0.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Fish species DNR lists here: splake.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Lake County, nearest town Winton; DNR lake number (DOW) 38085300.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Splake | fingerlings | 480 | 19.6 |
| 2024 | Splake | fingerlings | 535 | 16.8 |
| 2023 | Splake | fingerlings | 480 | 14.4 |
| 2022 | Splake | fingerlings | 600 | 16.4 |
| 2021 | Splake | fingerlings | 515 | 13.2 |
| 2020 | Splake | fingerlings | 480 | 13.8 |
| 2019 | Splake | fingerlings | 500 | 13.4 |
| 2018 | Splake | fingerlings | 480 | 19.6 |
| 2017 | Splake | fingerlings | 447 | 21.9 |
| 2016 | Splake | fingerlings | 500 | 12.5 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | 300 yard carrydown from Madden Creek Road. Carrydown ends at NE corner of the lake. - From the gate near the gravel pit the road to the portage to Dan Lake is 1.4 miles. This road is non-motorized. |
DNR fish survey, 2025
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splake | Standard gill nets | 10.50 | 21 | 1.30 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Dan is an 8-acre designated stream trout lake located 10 miles East of Ely in the Superior National Forest. It is comparable to similarly small Norberg and Glacier Pond Two in the Tower Area. The lake is crystal clear, with Secchi visibility to the bottom in 26 feet of water. The usual water quality values for dissolved oxygen and temperature were not measured due to the early spring timing of the survey, but previous mid-summer checks have found excellent oxygen and thermal habitat. Aquatic plants are sparse but locally abundant in the east and west bays. A cedar fringe surrounds the lake, accenting an upland forest of mature white pine and aspen/birch regeneration. Dispersed camping is allowed but no choice sites are present. Access is by a 50-rod portage from Madden Creek Road, for which four-wheel drive and decent ground clearance are recommended. The road is no longer gated and is legal for vehicles to use year-round. The portage is wide enough for a snowmobile, but there is no turn-around for a wheeler in the open water season. Madden Creek Road is not plowed in the winter, and a longer alternative route exists from Madden Lake. Increased user-activity has improved the condition of the portage considerably in recent years. Splake were the only species sampled, and their abundance (10.5/net) remained high for the Area, although lower than in the previous survey. Lengths ranged from 13 to 20 inches, with an average length of 15.5 inches. Length frequency suggests the presence of at least two year classes. All trout captured were engorged on chironomid midges.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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