Delay Lake
Lake County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be extremely active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE
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We want to see what you've caught on Delay Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Delay Lake, MN
- How big is Delay Lake?
- How deep is Delay Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Delay Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Delay Lake area?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Delay Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Delay Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Delay Lake?
How big is Delay Lake?
How deep is Delay Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Delay Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Golden Shiner and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Delay Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there places to eat and drink near Delay Lake?
Explore the Delay Lake area in a RV
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History & Status of the Fishery
Delay Lake is located about 2.5 miles east of Isabella within the Superior National Forest. There is a small public access with earthen ramp on the north side of the Wanless Road (Forest Service 172) with limited room to turn around or park. Backing a trailer is problematic as there are curves in the road in both directions making small, light boats or canoes the best option. Most of the shoreline is owned by the US Forest Service with the exception of a few privately owned cabins that are located on land leased from Lake County.
The lake is actively managed for Walleye with 100 pounds of fingerlings currently stocked in two consecutive years followed by two non-stocked years. Gill net catch in 2020 was similar to previous surveys of the lake and within the normal range for similar lakes. Age analysis determined 100% of the catch was from stocked year classes. Growth is good with Walleye reaching about 14.5 inches by age-4. Results indicate the current stocking strategy has been successful at providing an average Walleye population with good numbers of quality sized fish.
Smallmouth Bass provide anglers with additional opportunities and the 2020 gill net catch was similar to previous surveys and within the normal range for the lake. Size of fish ranged from 9.8 to 17.4 inches with an average of 12.9 inches and 1.05 pounds. Age analysis determined eight year classes were present indicating a stable population with regular natural reproduction.
Results from the 2020 survey also indicate a small Northern Pike population continues to be present in the lake. Although not abundant pike can occasionally reach large size and have the potential to provide a memorable fishing experience for anglers.
Catch rates for common forage species remained low. Few White Sucker and no Yellow Perch were sampled. Good growth rates for predator species suggest other forage fish not sampled well with standard survey gear may also be important to the fish community. Future surveys will continue to monitor these populations to understand the relationship between predator and prey species in the lake.
What is the average air temp for Delay Lake?
Are there any state parks near Delay Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Delay Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Redskin Lake | 0.9 mi | 43 | 25 ft |
| Byron Lake | 1.1 mi | 10 | |
| Round Island Lake | 1.1 mi | 55 | 4 ft |
| Dumbbell Lake | 1.5 mi | 406 | 40 ft |
| Trappers Lake | 1.8 mi | 19 | 13 ft |
| Dumbbell Lake | 1.9 mi | 12 | |
| Spear Lake | 1.9 mi | 13 | 4 ft |
| Eighteen Lake | 2.3 mi | 102 | 12 ft |
| Tanner Lake | 2.4 mi | 55 | 8 ft |
| Crosscut Lake | 2.5 mi | 11 | 16 ft |
