Minnesota · Aitkin County
Dam Lake Fishing guide
Dam Lake is a 598-acre lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota, reaching 48 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 8.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 20 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.8per gill net14"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 50 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 50 fish
2022Lengths measured · 33 fish
2019Lengths measured · 26 fish
2017Lengths measured · 30 fish
2015Largemouth bassFair numbers42.1per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 176 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 176 fish
2022Lengths measured · 15 fish
2019Lengths measured · 140 fish
2017Lengths measured · 6 fish
2015Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few5per gill net19"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 77 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 77 fish
2022Lengths measured · 103 fish
2019Lengths measured · 76 fish
2017Lengths measured · 57 fish
2015BluegillJust a few5.9per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 95 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 95 fish
2022Lengths measured · 101 fish
2020Lengths measured · 53 fish
2019Lengths measured · 206 fish
2017CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 90 fish
2022Lengths measured · 23 fish
2019Lengths measured · 55 fish
2017Lengths measured · 92 fish
2015Rock bassGood numbers7per hr (electrofishing)7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 17 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 17 fish
2022Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 11 fish
2017Lengths measured · 8 fish
2015Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Dam Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 48 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 48 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29" | 19" | 28" |
| 2019 | 26" | 18" | 38" |
| 2017 | 24" | 21" | 34" |
| 2015 | 28" | 15" | 30" |
| 2012 | 28" | 18" | 32" |
| 2009 | 26" | 14" | 34" |
| 2007 | 27" | 18" | 30" |
| 2002 | 26" | 13" | 32" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 250,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,741 fingerlings · 2,701 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 6,072 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,872 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 152 fingerlings · 1,477 adults |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,584 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 8,845 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 7,086 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 130,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 130,000 fry · 5,082 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
This report includes results from multiple targeted surveys (TS) conducted throughout Aitkin County in 2025.
Bigmouth Buffalo are present throughout Aitkin County. They are most abundant in the Mississippi River but are also common in lakes that have direct or distant connections to the Mississippi River via tributaries and drainage ditches. Bigmouth Buffalo in the Aitkin area have only been recorded during standard surveys and are primarily captured with trap nets due to their low susceptibility to gill nets. However, most Bigmouth Buffalo observations occur in targeted trap net and electrofishing assessments as by-catch and are often not recorded or captured. In 2025, an effort was made to capture, record, and tag any Bigmouth Buffalo by-catch during targeted Walleye, Bass, and panfish assessments. Furthermore, multiple targeted surveys were conducted in 2025 around the Aitkin area to identify locations where Bigmouth Buffalo could consistently be captured for future investigations. Special electrofishing assessments were carried out on parts of Dam Lake (TS 7/23/2025), Sandy River (below Libby dam, TS 7/25/2025), Rice River (TS 6/3/2025), and Ripple River (TS 6/2/2025) targeting Bigmouth Buffalo. Additionally, small mesh trap net (1/4 inch mesh) assessments were done in known spawning grounds of the upper Rice River to target young-of-year (YOY) migrating downstream.
Read the full DNR narrative
Electrofishing was conducted on 6/03/2025 and 7/22/2025 at the confluence of the Rice River and Mississippi River. Zero Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled in the June assessment, and one was sampled in the July assessment. The one fish was an adult and measured 32.5 inches. Other species observed included Channel Catfish, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Walleye, and White Sucker.
Small mesh trap net (1/4 inch mesh) assessments were executed on 7/22/2025 and 9/19/2025 downstream of known spawning areas in the Rice River to target YOY Bigmouth Buffalo. Zero YOY Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled during these assessments. Other species observed included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Tadpole Madtom, White Sucker, and Yellow Perch.
Electrofishing was conducted on 6/03/2025 at the confluence of the Ripple River and Mississippi River. Zero Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled. Other species observed included Channel Catfish, Greater Redhorse, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Shorthead Redhorse, Silver Redhorse, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and White Sucker.
Electrofishing was conducted on 7/25/25 in the Sandy River below the Libby Dam. Two Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled. One fish was a juvenile that measured 14.9 inches, and the other was an adult that measured 32.6 inches. Other species observed included Channel Catfish, Shorthead Redhorse, Walleye, and White Sucker.
Dam Lake was sampled via electrofishing on 7/23/2025. Zero Bigmouth Buffalo were sampled. Fish were observed on forward facing sonar but had a high boat avoidance.
Bigmouth Buffalo were observed in other assessments during the 2025 season when targeting Walleye, Bass, and Panfish. Two fish were observed during spring Walleye electrofishing on Hill Lake (see Hill TS 4/21/25), but only one was captured and measured 39.4 inches. Two juveniles were captured in trap nets during a spring panfish assessment on Blind Lake (see Blind TS 5/07/2025), measuring 13.3 and 15.2 inches. One fish was observed during Bass Electrofishing on Rabbit Lake (see field notes Rabbit TS 5/27/25) and estimated to be greater than 35.0 inches. One fish was sampled in Gun Lake with a trap net during an IBI survey (see Gun TS 7/07/2025) and measured 27.9 inches. Three fish were captured during fall Walleye electrofishing on Big Sandy Lake (see Big Sandy TS 10/02/2025), measuring 29.3, 30.3, and 32.8 inches.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Dam Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Dam Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Dam Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Dam Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 435 ac · 2.1 mi
- Rice Lake · 3,684 ac · 4.6 mi
- Rabbit Lake · 212 ac · 4.8 mi
- Portage Lake · 372 ac · 5.7 mi
- Clear Lake · 574 ac · 6 mi
- Section Twelve Lake · 170 ac · 6.1 mi
- Sugar Lake · 416 ac · 6.6 mi
- Sissabagamah Lake · 406 ac · 6.7 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Dam Lake?
Dam Lake reaches 48 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 19 ft; about 43% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Dam Lake?
Dam Lake covers 598 acres with about 4.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Dam Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Dam Lake average 8.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Dam Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Dam Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Dam Lake have a public access?
Yes. Dam Lake has one public access site: Dam Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Dam Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was Dam Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Dam Lake in 2025, the most recent of 20 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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