Dunbar Lake

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What kind of fish can you catch in Dunbar Lake?

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Dunbar Lake is a class 34 lake located five miles west of Squaw Lake, MN. The Dunbar River exits the lake and flows into Round Lake. The lake has one earthen public access that is down a relatively steep hill on the west shore. The 2002 lake management plan indicates black crappie and bluegill as the primary species of management with northern pike and walleye as secondary species. The 2011 assessment also included additional sampling of near shore fish species in order to calculate an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score.

Black crappie were sampled with trap nets at a rate of 3.1 fish/net while gill nets sampled them at a rate of 6.3 fish/net. The catch rates were above average for the respective gears. The trap net sampled fish ranged from 3.7 to 12.2 inches and averaged 6.1 inches. The gill net sampled fish were smaller ranging from 4.2 to 5.4 inches. Four age-classes from 1 to 6 years old were identified from scales. The 2010 year class dominated the sample and may help to improve fishing in a few years. Growth was good compared to statewide averages with fish averaging 10.4 inches after five years of growth.

Trap-net catch rates for bluegill have been below the lake class first quartile value of 5.9 fish/net in all assessments. The trap-net catch of 1.0 fish/net in 2011 was a little below average for this lake. Bluegill lengths ranged from 5.5 to 9.8 inches and averaged 8.5 inches. Four age-classes were identified from scales ranging from age 2 to age 6. Growth rates were excellent compared to other similar lakes.

Northern pike gill-net catch rates have ranged from 0.5 to 8.2 fish/net since 1973. In 2011, northern pike gill-net catch was 3.8 fish/net which was below the lake class median of 5.1 fish/net. The gill net sampled fish were small, ranging from 16.7 to 22.1 inches with an average length of 19.5 inches. However, the trap nets sampled three fish from 27 to nearly 32 inches. Six year-classes were identified from bony structures ranging from age 2 to 10. Northern pike averaged 17.4 inches by age 4 which was less than the statewide average of 20.5 inches.

Walleye numbers in Dunbar Lake have generally been low and appear to be dependent upon migration from Round Lake. Walleye catch rates have ranged from 1.7 to 3.0 since the July assessments began in 1978. In 2011, the catch was 1.7 fish/gill net. The catch rate was within the normal range for class 34 lakes. The sampled fish ranged from 8.7 to 18.0 inches and averaged 14.3 inches. Six age classes from age 1 to 7 were identified from bony structures. Growth was similar to statewide averages for all ages. Walleye averaged 13.7 inches after four years of growth.

Yellow perch gill-net catch rates have ranged from 4.6 to 31.0 fish/net since 1973. In 2011, the catch was 8.0 fish/net and approached the lake class median. The sampled fish ranged from 4.1 to 10.1 inches and averaged 7.0 inches. Age and growth information was not collected.

Other species observed during the population assessment included bowfin, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow bullhead. Additional species observed during IBI sampling included central mudminnow, golden shiner, and largemouth bass.

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