Dead Horse Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 31062200
Dead Horse Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Dead Horse Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 30 ft; surface area 105 acres, 54 littoral acres, 1.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.2 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Itasca County, nearest town Marcell; DNR lake number (DOW) 31062200.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | - Was capable of launching small boat back in 1999, since converted to carry-in access. Large boulders now block trailer access. |
DNR fish survey, 2014
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 21.00 | 21 | 1.79 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 4.00 | 4 | 0.30 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 19.67 | 59 | 0.19 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 2.00 | 6 | 1.74 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 1.67 | 5 | 0.27 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 1.33 | 4 | 0.37 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 3 | 0.26 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 2 | 0.20 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 1 | 1.11 |
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.
Dead Horse Lake is located about four miles southwest of Marcel, MN in the Bigfork River watershed. Dead Horse has a total surface area of 97 acres, a littoral area of 54 acres (56%), and a maximum depth of 30 feet. There is no connectivity to facilitate fish passage. The small outlet drains to a wetland which the 2009 assessment noted a beaver dam has blocked and has likely increased the lake level about a foot. Residential development is low, mainly along the southwest shore. There is a U.S. Forest Service administered carry-in access on the north side with limited parking availability. Local residents reported poor fishing and suspected a winterkill had occurred. A special assessment using one gill net and three trap nets was conducted to evaluate the fish community. Gill net sampling captured four Bluegill and 21 Northern Pike. The Northern Pike ranged in length from 16.5 to 26.4 inches and averaged 20.1 inches. Age analysis identified multiple year classes (age 2-6) and growth was near the statewide average as pike averaged 25 inches by age 5. Bluegill were the most common fish in the trap net sample and the catch of 19.7 per trap net was within the expected range for the lake class. Size structure was moderate as Bluegill ranged from 3.1 to 9.4 inches and averaged 5.6 inches. Eight year classes were present (age 2-9). Growth was fast compared to the lake class average as Bluegill averaged 5.8 inches by age 5 and exceeded 8 inches by age 8. Other species captured included Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, and Yellow Perch. The fish community assemblages, along with length and age structures, do not suggest a recent winterkill. The current fish community should provide good angling opportunities.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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