Squash Lake

How big is Squash Lake?

How deep is Squash Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Squash Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Squash Lake?

Squash Lake has been managed for stream trout since 2004. It is not a designated stream trout lake, instead, it is one of the "Trophy Trout" lakes in the Grand Marais area. As such, it is open only to catch-and-release fishing during the open water season, and is closed to winter fishing. The use of bait is prohibited, and anglers are limited to artificial lures and flies only, with a single hook. Management goals for this lake, established in the 2004 lake management plan (LMP), call for creating a high-quality catch-and-release fishery supporting at least 10 angler-hr/acre (about 73 angler trips a year). The rainbow trout population density was to exceed 3.8 fish/acre (a fairly high number of fish). Unfortunately, poor access and a lack of funding have made it impossible to complete most of the surveys or assessments scheduled in the 2004 LMP. Only the temperature-oxygen monitoring included in the plan to determine whether conditions in Squash Lake were adequate for trout have been completed more-or-less as planned. Population assessments using gill nets were done in 2011 and 2014, and winter or summer temperature-oxygen conditions were checked in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2014.

Winter dissolved oxygen levels were checked at two locations in April 2014. Dissolved oxygen readings of 0.1 and 0.5 ppm were found at depths of three feet (just under the ice) at the two locations. A winterkill was considered a possibility, under those conditions.

A summer temperature-oxygen profile was measured on 20 August 2014. Conditions ideal for brook (and rainbow) trout were found from the surface to a depth of nine feet. The summer of 2014 was cool, so those measurements may have represented a best-case scenario for this lake.

Only rainbow trout were collected during the 2014 assessment, and all fish taken were survivors from the spring 2014 fingerling stocking. Growth of those fish had been fast. The absence of any older rainbow trout, and the absence of white sucker (present in 2011) suggested this lake may have winterkilled in 2014. If so, stocked rainbow trout would have enjoyed a summer with ideal temperature conditions and no competition for forage.

Although attainment of goals from the 2004 LMP cannot be directly measured, it seems very unlikely they have been met. Stocking and assessment crews have commented on the lack of use on the access trail, which has been difficult to find every time DNR crews have visited the lake. Assessment results in 2011 and 2014 found poor rainbow trout populations - either too few fish (2011) or fish that were too small (2014) to support the desired fishery. Marginal, if not deadly, winter and summer temperature-oxygen conditions have been found in some years; the lake does not appear to be capable of supporting trout on more than an occasional basis.

The management plan for this lake will be reviewed and revised in the winter of 2016. We will have to strongly consider the possibility that management of this lake for trout should cease. Public input on the management of Squash Lake will be taken in the fall of 2015; however, comments and suggestion are welcome at any time, and will be considered when the plan is revised.

Are there any state parks near Squash Lake?