Minnesota · Lake County
Dumbbell Lake Fishing guide
Dumbbell Lake covers 406 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 40 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 22 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2023One of the best around15.6per gill net13"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 251 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 123 fish
2023Lengths measured · 128 fish
2021Lengths measured · 149 fish
2018Lengths measured · 14 fish
2018No recent survey rating.
Smallmouth bassPresent6.3per gill net8"Typical14"Biggest
Lengths measured · 136 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 101 fish
2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2021Lengths measured · 113 fish
2018Lengths measured · 31 fish
2009MuskellungePresentPresent in recent DNR surveys.
Present in recent DNR surveys.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 7 fish
2023Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2021Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2018Lengths measured · 208 fish
2018Yellow perchFair numbers2.6per gill net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 43 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 18 fish
2023Lengths measured · 25 fish
2021Lengths measured · 196 fish
2018Lengths measured · 431 fish
2009Last recorded in the 1950 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassOne of the best around9.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 184 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2023Lengths measured · 141 fish
2023Lengths measured · 43 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2018Lengths measured · 85 fish
2009Rates 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 Dumbbell Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 40 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.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 12 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 40 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Muskellunge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 27" | 11" | 33" |
| 2021 | 23" | 14" | 36" |
| 2018 | 28" | 13" | 40" |
| 2009 | 28" | 12" | 37" |
| 2006 | 23" | 11" | 39" |
| 2003 | 26" | 14" | 35" |
| 2000 | 26" | 11" | 36" |
| 1996 | 26" | 14" | 33" |
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
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Big Paddletail Swimbait
10" hollow or solid-body paddletail swimbait
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Walleye | 500,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 500,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 500,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 500,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
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.
Read the full DNR narrative
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.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Dumbbell Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Dumbbell 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
- Dumbbell Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Dumbbell Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Tanner Lake · 55 ac · 1 mi
- Shoofly Lake · 10 ac · 1.2 mi
- Divide Lake · 61 ac · 1.3 mi
- Crosscut Lake · 11 ac · 1.4 mi
- Delay Lake · 102 ac · 1.5 mi
- Section Eight Lake · 5 ac · 1.6 mi
- Memegwesi Lake · 43 ac · 2.1 mi
- Frank Lake · 16 ac · 2.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Dumbbell Lake?
Dumbbell Lake reaches 40 ft at its deepest point; about 50% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Dumbbell Lake?
Dumbbell Lake covers 406 acres with about 8.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Dumbbell Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Dumbbell Lake average 12 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Dumbbell Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, yellow perch, rainbow trout, rock bass.
Is Dumbbell Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2023; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Dumbbell Lake have a public access?
Yes. Dumbbell Lake has one public access site: Dumbbell Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Dumbbell Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Dumbbell Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Dumbbell Lake in 2023, the most recent of 22 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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