Upper Dean

Upper Dean Lake is a 259 acre lake, with a maximum depth of 24 feet, located 7 miles southeast of Emily, MN in Crow Wing County. Upper Dean is in the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed. A nearshore survey was conducted to assess the populations of both game and non-game fish species. Ten 100-foot long sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lakeshore. Each station was then sampled by backpack electrofishing, and if conditions allowed with a 15-foot or 50-foot 1/8th inch seine. The survey took place on August 22, 2025, with all 10 stations sampled by backpack electrofishing. The 15-foot seine was used at 5 stations. Soft bottom and heavy vegetation prevented the use of seines at the other sampling sites. Nine species were sampled. This nearshore survey will be used along with the gill net and trap net survey collected on June 2-5, 2025, to calculate a Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health by the types of fish species present and compare it to what is expected for this type of lake.

Upper Dean is a good distance from any towns and has a long drive to the public access, so that may discourage non-local anglers. A marsh/bog shore around much of the lake limits development to the east side. Numerous emergent plants, such as wild rice, cattails, and bulrushes, are important to this lake. They protect the shoreline, regulate nutrient levels, and provide spawning habitat for fish such as Bluegill, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass. A standard survey was conducted in June of 2025 to assess fish populations and provide anglers with information. This was the fifth survey conducted on Upper Dean since 1953. Black Crappie gill net catches have been quite variable and have ranged from 9.2 to 38.7/net in the five surveys since 1953. The 2025 catch of 13.7/net was below average for the lake. Fish from the gill nets ranged from 4.7 to 9.2 inches with an average of 7.4 inches. The trap net catch of 1.4/net was the lowest catch to date. Past catches ranged from 3.2 to 56.7/net. Fish from the trap nets measured from 7.4 to 11.2 inches with an average of 8.9 inches. For both gear types combined 39% were at least 8 inches in length. Growth was slow compared to other lakes in Crow Wing County. Upper Dean is known as a lake where anglers can expect to catch a meal of smaller crappies. The trap net catch for Bluegill (36.6/net) was above average for the lake. Fish ranged from 3.2 to 8.1 inches with an average of 6.4 inches. Bluegills at least 7 inches in length made up 27% of the catch. Eight year classes from age 2 to 9 were sampled, with the 2018 and 2019 year classes making up 59% of the catch. Growth was good compared to similar lakes. Anglers can expect good opportunities for medium sized Bluegills in Upper Dean. The Northern Pike gill net catch (12.3) was the highest catch to date. Previous catches ranged from 5.3 to 12.3/net. On most lakes if Northern Pike numbers are high, they will have a poor size structure. This is not the case on Upper Dean. Pike ranged from 20.1 to 31.5 inches with an average of 25.0 inches. Pike in the protected 22-26 inch slot made up 46% of the catch, however, 32% of Pike were larger than 26 inches. Anglers can expect good action on medium sized pike. Yellow Perch gill net catch (5.7/net) tied the 2010 survey for the lowest catch to date. Past catches have been as high as 42.0/net. They ranged in length from 5.2 to 9.1 inches with an average of 7.1 inches. Most are too small to be of interest to anglers but are an important forage species. Other species sampled in the latest survey included Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed and Yellow Bullhead.

A targeted survey was conducted on Upper Dean Lake during the week of June 12, 2017 by Fisheries Lake Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) program staff. Sampling included trap netting and nearshore sampling (seining and backpack electrofishing). Nine trap net locations were sampled along the shoreline in a variety of habitats. Nearshore sampling stations were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten stations with four sites sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample four stations, a 15-foot seine was used at two stations, and soft sediments with abundant emergent vegetation in deep water prevented the use of seines at four sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 11 native species of fish. Bowfin and Bluegill were the most abundant species by biomass in the trap net gear. Data from this targeted survey is combined with data from a standard gill net survey in June 2010 to calculate a Fish-based Index of Biologic Integrity (FIBI) score that describes the overall health of the lake. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. The FIBI score for Upper Dean Lake based on this survey is above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Mississippi River-Brainerd Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Bluegill in Upper Dean. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Upper Dean has a maximum depth of 24 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Upper Dean is from 2025.

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