Diamond

Diamond Lake is a 77-acre lake with 1.86 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 31 feet located northeast of Hackensack, MN. There is a US Forest Service public access located on the west shore. Diamond Lake offers Rainbow Trout fishing in a remote, wilderness like setting. The lake is entirely within the Chippewa National Forest and the shoreline is undeveloped. Diamond Lake is one of four designated stream trout lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area. Other stream trout lakes in the Walker Management Area are Hazel, Perch, and Teepee Lakes. Rainbow Trout were initially stocked in Diamond Lake in 1967. Rainbow Trout do not reproduce in the lake and the population is supported entirely by stocking to provide a unique angling opportunity. Rainbow Trout stocking success is dependent on the absence of introduced species. The average length of Rainbow Trout sampled in 2021 was 10 inches and lengths ranged from 8 to 17 inches. Black Bullhead were first sampled in 2013. In January 2015 Diamond Lake was opened to winter trout fishing for the first time and provided increased opportunities for ice anglers. Based on surveys following the opening of the winter season, there are no indications that ice fishing has had an effect on Rainbow Trout sizes or abundance. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Diamond Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Diamond Lake (DOW# 11-0396; Lake Class 29) is a 77-acre lake located near Hackensack, MN. There is a US Forest Service public access located on the west shore. Diamond Lake has a shoreline length of 1.86 miles and a maximum depth of 31 feet. Diamond Lake offers excellent Rainbow Trout fishing in a remote, wilderness like setting. The lake is entirely within the Chippewa National Forest and the shoreline is undeveloped. Diamond Lake is one of four designated stream trout lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area. Other stream trout lakes in the Walker Management Area are Hazel, Perch, and Teepee Lakes. Diamond Lake was first used as a stream trout lake in 1967. Rainbow Trout do not reproduce in this lake and the population is supported entirely by stocking to provide a unique angling opportunity. The average length of Rainbow Trout sampled in in 2017 was 12 inches and lengths ranged from 8 to 20 inches. Historically, Diamond has produced several fish larger than 15 inches. The 2017 sample produced eight fish over 15 inches in length. Nine of ten fish greater than 14 inches long were Kamloops strain. The lake was chemically treated in October of 2008 to remove competing fish species. Excellent Rainbow Trout fishing followed the 2008 reclamation and should continue, provided stocking is maintained and other species are not introduced. 14,000 Arlee strain Rainbow Trout fingerlings are stocked annually in the fall. In the springs 2014 and 2015, yearling Kamloops strain Rainbow Trout were stocked in addition to fall fingerling stocking. All Kamloops strain fish that were stocked in 2014 and 2015 had an adipose fin clip for identification. Black Bullhead were first sampled in 2013. So far, the Rainbow Trout fishery remains excellent. In January 2015 Diamond Lake was opened to winter Trout fishing for the first time and provided increased opportunities for Trout anglers in the Walker area. Based on two years of sampling after winter ice fishing opened on Diamond Lake in 2015, there are no indications that winter ice fishing has had an effect on Rainbow Trout sizes or abundance. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Diamond Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Diamond Lake (DOW# 11-0396; Lake Class 29) is an 80-acre lake located near Hackensack, MN. There is a US Forest Service public access located on the west shore. Diamond Lake has a shoreline length of 1.86 miles and a maximum depth of 31 feet. Diamond Lake offers excellent Rainbow Trout fishing in a remote, wilderness like setting. The lake is totally within the Chippewa National Forest and the shoreline is undeveloped. Diamond Lake is one of four designated stream trout lakes in the Walker Fisheries Management Area. Other stream trout lakes in the Walker Management Area are Hazel, Perch, and Teepee. Diamond Lake was first used as a stream trout lake in 1967. Rainbow Trout do not reproduce in this lake and the population is supported entirely by stocking to provide a unique angling opportunity. The average length of Rainbow Trout sampled in gill nets in 2014 was 10 inches and lengths ranged from 6 to 16 inches. Historically, Diamond has produced several fish larger than 15 inches, and the 2015 sample produced one of the highest observations to date. The lake was chemically treated in October of 2008 to remove competing fish species, specifically Black Crappie, presumed to have been illegally introduced by anglers. These fish eventually overpopulated and reduced the recreational value of the Rainbow Trout fishery which led to a costly reclamation process. Excellent Rainbow Trout fishing followed the 2008 reclamation and should continue in future years, provided stocking is maintained and other species are not again introduced by anglers. In the spring of 2015, 2,531 yearling Kamloops strain Rainbow Trout were stocked with 14,000 Arlee strain fingerlings stocked in the fall. Kamloops strain Rainbow Trout had an adipose fin clip for identification. In January 2015 Diamond Lake was opened to winter Trout fishing for the first time and provided increased opportunities for Trout anglers in the Walker area. People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Diamond Lake. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Muskellunge, and Black Crappie in Diamond. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Diamond. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Diamond has a maximum depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Diamond is from 2021.

No invasive species are on record for Diamond in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.