Dumbbell Lake
Lake County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be fairly active with peak fishing times around 2-4 PM. SEE MORE
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dumbbell Lake, MN
- How big is Dumbbell Lake?
- How deep is Dumbbell Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Dumbbell Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Dumbbell Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Dumbbell Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Dumbbell Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Dumbbell Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Dumbbell Lake?
How big is Dumbbell Lake?
How deep is Dumbbell Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Dumbbell Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Blacknose Shiner, Common Shiner, Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Dumbbell Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Dumbbell Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Dumbbell Lake?
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History & Status of the Fishery
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.
What is the average air temp for Dumbbell Lake?
Are there any state parks near Dumbbell 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 Dumbbell Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Dumbbell Lake | 0.9 mi | 12 | |
| Tanner Lake | 1.0 mi | 55 | 8 ft |
| Round Island Lake | 1.1 mi | 55 | 4 ft |
| Divide Lake | 1.3 mi | 61 | 22 ft |
| Crosscut Lake | 1.4 mi | 11 | 16 ft |
| Delay Lake | 1.5 mi | 102 | 18 ft |
| Byron Lake | 1.7 mi | 10 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.0 mi | 10 | 6 ft |
| Redskin Lake | 2.0 mi | 43 | 25 ft |
| Frank Lake | 2.9 mi | 16 | 5 ft |
