Dora Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
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We want to see what you've caught on Dora Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Dora Lake, MN
- How big is Dora Lake?
- How deep is Dora Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Dora Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Dora Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Dora Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Dora Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Dora Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Dora Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Dora Lake?
How big is Dora Lake?
How deep is Dora Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Dora Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Golden Redhorse, Hybrid Sunfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Dora Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Dora Lake?
Are there boat launches on Dora Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Dora Lake?
Explore the Dora Lake area in a RV
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What aquatic invasive species are found in Dora Lake?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
Dora Lake is located in northwest Itasca County near Wirt, MN and is part of the Big Fork River watershed in the Hudson Bay drainage. This riverine lake is a widening of the Big Fork River. Dora Lake covers 447 acres and has a maximum depth of 18 ft. Partial winterkills have occurred occasionally. The water is bog stained and aquatic vegetation is abundant.
The lake management plan (LMP) was last revised in 2007. Goals of the LMP were to maintain a strong Walleye spawning population in the lake and the upper Bigfork River watershed, and maintain a resident Walleye population at 2.0/gill net. A standard survey was conducted in 2019 to determine the status of the fish community.
Walleye: Catch rates for Walleye have been relatively low compared to similar lakes. Spawning habitat has been rated as fair, but good natural reproduction has historically occurred in the lakes and rivers connected to Dora. Though juvenile and adult habitat conditions in Dora Lake are poor, Walleye are found seasonally, particularly during the spring. The 1986 catch was the lowest on record and occurred during a period of annual fry stocking. Walleye stocking was discontinued by the DNR after 1995 because it did not appear to contribute to the fishery. The Dora Lake Walleye Restoration Association has purchased fry since 2010 but these efforts have also not improved Walleye numbers. The 2019 catch of 0.5/net was lower than the long-term average of 1.8/net, despite stocking eight times from 2010 to 2018. It does not appear that stocking is an effective tool to increase Walleye numbers in Dora Lake, given the results of the previous efforts. The four Walleye sampled ranged from 15.5 to 18.8 inches. Interestingly, three of the four Walleye sampled were aged from the 2015 year-class that happened to be the only year that fry were not stocked.
Northern Pike: Catch rates for Northern Pike have been low compared to similar lakes. Size structure has generally been poor, and no pike over 28 inches have been sampled in the last three surveys. Pike sampled in 2019 ranged from 11.5 to 21.4 inches and averaged 17.2 inches. Poor size quality and low numbers may limit the popularity of the pike fishery.
Yellow Perch: Catch rates for Yellow Perch have been high compared to lakes with similar habitats. Perch in Dora Lake should be large enough to be of interest to anglers. The sampled perch ranged from 4.9 to 11.4 inches and averaged 7.9 inches.
Bluegill: Catch rates for Bluegill were low compared to other lakes with similar habitats. Sizes ranged from 6.1 to 9.4 inches but averaged 7.6 inches. The lake appears to provide good opportunities for low catches of large Bluegill.
Other species captured include Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
What is the average air temp for Dora Lake?
Are there any state parks near Dora Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
Dora Lake Reviews
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More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Dora Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Coddington Lake | 2.1 mi | 49 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 3.3 mi | 12 | |
| School House Lake | 3.4 mi | 22 | |
| Clear Lake | 3.6 mi | 140 | 30 ft |
| Spruce Lake | 3.6 mi | 30 | |
| Wirt Lake | 3.8 mi | 36 | 25 ft |
| Noma Lake | 3.9 mi | 60 | 47 ft |
| Bay Lake | 3.9 mi | 22 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 4.1 mi | 99 | |
| Glove Lake | 4.2 mi | 18 | 12 ft |
