Dunn

Lake Trout were abundant in Dunn Lake in 2013, as has been the case in all prior assessments. The Lake Trout population in Dunn Lake was entirely self-sustained; there are no records of any stocking. Lake Trout sampled in 2013 averaged about 17 inches in length, and most were between 6 and 7 years old. Lake Trout growth rates had been about average for the Grand Marais area. Forage for Lake Trout was provided mainly by a variety of invertebrates, although small White Sucker, Green Sunfish, and various minnow species may also provide additional forage items. The 2013 White Sucker gill net catch was within the normal range for this lake class, but was substantially lower than in the 2006 assessment. All White Sucker sampled in 2013 appeared to have been too large to serve as forage for Lake Trout, and likely competed with Lake Trout for invertebrate forage. Past reports from anglers indicated that Brook Trout, and possibly Smallmouth Bass, may have been present in Dunn Lake. To date, neither species have been captured in gill netting or minnow trapping activities. It is possible that Green Sunfish, which have been established in Dunn Lake since at least 1994, were misidentified as Smallmouth Bass. Photo evidence sent to the Grand Marais fisheries office in 2007 indicated that Brook Trout were caught in Dunn Lake. However, it is possible that Brook Trout intended for nearby Sock Lake were erroneously stocked into Dunn Lake for one or more years. The continued absence of Brook Trout from population assessments likely indicates that, if established, their abundance remains low.

Lake trout were abundant in Dunn Lake in 2009, as has been the case in every year that the lake has been assessed. Most of the lake trout taken were under 18 inches in length, as has usually been the case in this lake. The lake trout population was entirely self-sustained; there are no records of any stocking. Most of the lake trout taken were four to six-year-old fish. Growth had been about average for the area, with six-year-old fish reaching an average length of 16.5 inches at the end of their sixth year. Forage for lake trout was provided mainly by a variety of invertebrates; as a result, fish tended to have flesh with more orange color than is usually seen in lake trout. White sucker and green sunfish gill net catches were high for a lake of this class, and for this lake historically. Both may have supplemented invertebrates in the lake trout diet, although both species would also compete with lake trout for invertebrate forage, to the extent that their habitats overlap. This assessment was done in part to confirm reports from anglers that brook trout, and perhaps smallmouth bass, were present in Dunn Lake. One angler had reported many smallmouth bass present in the stomachs of lake trout he caught around the year 2000. No smallmouth bass were taken in this assessment, and its possible the fish the angler saw were small green sunfish (not unusual in lake trout lakes in this area). Since 2001 several anglers have reported catching brook trout in Dunn Lake, and in March 2007 one photo of two fish from Dunn Lake that were clearly brook trout was sent to Grand Marais Fisheries. It seems very unlikely that brook trout could reach Dunn Lake from the nearest stocked lake (Sock Lake), but it is possible that one or more loads of brook trout destined for aerial stocking in Sock Lake could have been put in Dunn Lake by mistake. Access to Dunn Lake is too difficult to make local rumors of illegal stocking credible. No brook trout were taken in this assessment. Although some brook trout seem to have been present in Dunn Lake in 2007, they had either disappeared, or their numbers were very low by 2009.

lake trout catch in Dunn Lake in 1998 was higher than normal for lakes of this class, but it was fairly low compared to past assessments in this lake. Although several year classes (all naturally produced) were included in the catch, none had been particularly strong. Lake trout growth rates had been about average for the area, despite the lack of a deep-water forage species.As in past assessments, the only other fish species collected were white sucker and green sunfish. Walleye and smallmouth bass are not native to this area, and have never been found in this lake.

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

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Dunn. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Dunn has a maximum depth of 60 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Dunn is from 2013. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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