Dumbbell Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38039300

DNR records show 4 stocking entries at Dumbbell Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2023 (500,000 fish).

• Dumbbell Lake has 4 DNR stocking records across 4 years (2016-2023): walleye (4).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 2,000,000 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 40 ft; surface area 406 acres, 202 littoral acres, 8.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 12.0 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: muskellunge, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 7, 2023 (standard survey).
• Lake County, nearest town Isabella; DNR lake number (DOW) 38039300.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/9/1976 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

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.

Dumbbell Lake is in Lake County about six miles east of Isabella and within the Superior National Forest. There is a public access with concrete log boat ramp and dock with parking for several trailer rigs located on Forest Service Road 172. There is also a picnic area with airplane dock and fishing pier located further east along the same road. Additional facilities include two boat-in backcountry campsites. The lake supports popular fisheries for Muskellunge and Walleye. The current lake management plan calls for Walleye fry stocking in two consecutive years of every four. The 2023 Walleye catch was above the normal range for similar lakes for the fourth consecutive survey and met the goal of at least 14.0 fish per gill net identified in the current management plan. The size distribution of the catch indicates good angling opportunities with an average size of 14.3" long and 1.23 pounds and 10% greater than 20" long. Age analysis determined less than half the Walleye caught were from stocked years including the 2020 naturally produced year class, which was the most abundant. The current management plan calls for the current stocking strategy to be thoroughly evaluated after the next scheduled standard survey in 2028. Muskellunge are not sampled well in standard survey gear, but a small number were caught in gill nets in 2023. Targeted spring trap netting has been used in the past to monitor the population but could not be completed in conjunction with the standard survey due to the late ice-out of area lakes. Dumbbell Lake has supported an abundant population of moderate sized Musky for the last several decades and should continue to provide anglers with good opportunities to catch and release this popular species. Smallmouth Bass and Rock Bass are also part of the fish community and have historically been captured in high numbers during fisheries assessments. The size structure of both populations is poor, but anglers may appreciate their abundance when more finicky species are not cooperating.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 7, 2023.

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