Squash

Squash Lake has been managed for stream trout since 2004. It is not a designated stream trout lake, instead, it is one of the "Trophy Trout" lakes in the Grand Marais area. As such, it is open only to catch-and-release fishing during the open water season, and is closed to winter fishing. The use of bait is prohibited, and anglers are limited to artificial lures and flies only, with a single hook. Management goals for this lake, established in the 2004 lake management plan (LMP), call for creating a high-quality catch-and-release fishery supporting at least 10 angler-hr/acre (about 73 angler trips a year). The rainbow trout population density was to exceed 3.8 fish/acre (a fairly high number of fish). Unfortunately, poor access and a lack of funding have made it impossible to complete most of the surveys or assessments scheduled in the 2004 LMP. Only the temperature-oxygen monitoring included in the plan to determine whether conditions in Squash Lake were adequate for trout have been completed more-or-less as planned. Population assessments using gill nets were done in 2011 and 2014, and winter or summer temperature-oxygen conditions were checked in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2014. Winter dissolved oxygen levels were checked at two locations in April 2014. Dissolved oxygen readings of 0.1 and 0.5 ppm were found at depths of three feet (just under the ice) at the two locations. A winterkill was considered a possibility, under those conditions. A summer temperature-oxygen profile was measured on 20 August 2014. Conditions ideal for brook (and rainbow) trout were found from the surface to a depth of nine feet. The summer of 2014 was cool, so those measurements may have represented a best-case scenario for this lake. Only rainbow trout were collected during the 2014 assessment, and all fish taken were survivors from the spring 2014 fingerling stocking. Growth of those fish had been fast. The absence of any older rainbow trout, and the absence of white sucker (present in 2011) suggested this lake may have winterkilled in 2014. If so, stocked rainbow trout would have enjoyed a summer with ideal temperature conditions and no competition for forage. Although attainment of goals from the 2004 LMP cannot be directly measured, it seems very unlikely they have been met. Stocking and assessment crews have commented on the lack of use on the access trail, which has been difficult to find every time DNR crews have visited the lake. Assessment results in 2011 and 2014 found poor rainbow trout populations - either too few fish (2011) or fish that were too small (2014) to support the desired fishery. Marginal, if not deadly, winter and summer temperature-oxygen conditions have been found in some years; the lake does not appear to be capable of supporting trout on more than an occasional basis. The management plan for this lake will be reviewed and revised in the winter of 2016. We will have to strongly consider the possibility that management of this lake for trout should cease. Public input on the management of Squash Lake will be taken in the fall of 2015; however, comments and suggestion are welcome at any time, and will be considered when the plan is revised.

Squash Lake has been managed for rainbow trout since 2004. To satisfy a demand for high-quality rainbow trout fisheries, the lake is managed under a special regulation that closes the lake to winter fishing. During the open-water season, the lake is open to catch-and-release fishing only, and anglers can use only artificial llures and flies with a single hook (no live baits). Because exploitation was expected to be light, and because the lake was not known to support any predator fish species, it was scheduled to be stocked every other year with small spring fingerlings. No reports on fishing in this lake have been recieved since stocking began. This assessment was done to update fish population information (not done since 1969), to evaluate recent rainbow trout stocking, and to determine whether summer temperature-oxygen conditions were suitable for rainbow trout. Four standard gill net sets yielded a total catch of two rainbow trout and seven white sucker. All of the white sucker taken were small, and all were probably one-year-old fish. Both of the rainbow trout were five-year-old survivors from a 2006 fingerling stocking. No fish from the 2010 fingerling stocking were found, even though they should have been large enough to have been taken in the sampling gear used in this assessment. Survival of stocked stream trout to five years of age is unusual in stream trout lakes in this area, and bodes well for this lake's management for trophy stream trout, even though growth of the rainbow trout taken in this assessment had been slow. Failure of a stocked year class happens occasionally. In this case, failure of the 2010 stocking, coupled with the lack of stocking in 2008 (due to a disease problem in the state hatchery system), resulted in a low rainbow trout catch. Additional assessment data will be required before we can determine whether the current management program has been effective. White sucker were not abundant enough in 2011 to have been a significant factor limiting rainbow trout. No white sucker were taken in 1969, and it is possible that the lake rarely supports significant numbers of adult fish. Summer temperature-oxygen profiles have now been obtained in three assessments. Conditions for rainbow trout have varied from year to year, but have generally been acceptable (if marginal at times).

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rainbow Trout in Squash. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Squash has a maximum depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Squash is from 2014. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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