Ida

Ida Lake (DOW # 29-0170-00) is located two miles north of Dorset in central Hubbard County. Ida Lake has a surface area of 74 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. There is no public access on Ida Lake, however, boating access with small craft is available from the inlet connecting to Big Sand Lake and at the outlet connecting to Little Sand Lake. Bridge height at the inlet and outlet restrict boat size. Ida Lake provides fishing opportunities for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and panfish. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Ida Lake is in Lake Class 33. Lake Class 33 lakes are generally small in size, have a large littoral area (water less than 15 feet in depth), hard water, and an irregular shaped shoreline. Other Lake Class 33 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: Bass, Buck, Gulch #2, Ingram, Ivan, Kane (Hemphill), Little Dinner, Little Long, Little Round, Morgan, Mud and Star. Anglers can expect to find an abundant Northern Pike population dominated by small, "hammer handle" pike in the 18-to-22-inch size range, with a few larger Northern Pike sampled up to 38 inches. Over half of the Bluegill and Pumpkinseed sampled were in the 6-8-inch size range, with fish sampled up to 9 inches. Anglers will find low to moderate numbers of Black Crappie in the 9-11-inch size range. Both Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass are present in Ida Lake in low numbers when compared to other area lakes. Largemouth Bass were sampled up to 19.1 inches. Walleye were sampled in low numbers with fish up to 26 inches. Yellow Perch are present in low numbers but tend to run small in size. Currently zebra mussels are the only an aquatic invasive species (AIS) that has been identified in Ida Lake. 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.

Ida Lake is located two miles north of Dorset in central Hubbard County. Ida has a surface area of 76 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. There is no public access on Ida, however, boating access with small craft is available from the inlet connecting to Big Sand Lake when water levels are suitable, and at the outlet connecting to Little Sand Lake. Bridge height at the inlet and outlet restrict boat size. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Ida is in lake class 33. Class 33 lakes are small in size, have a large littoral area (water less than 15 feet in depth), hard water, and an irregular shaped shoreline. Other class 33 lakes in the Park Rapids management area include: Bass, Buck, Second Gulch, Ingram, Kane, Little Long, Mud, and Star. Ida provides fishing opportunities for Northern Pike, panfish, bass, and Walleye. Anglers can expect to find an abundant Northern Pike population dominated by small, "hammer handle" pike in the 18 to 22 inch size range, with larger size pike in low numbers. Ida Lake supports a good panfish and bass population. Anglers will find good numbers of Bluegill and Pumpkinseed in the 6-8 inch size range and low to moderate numbers of Black Crappie in the 9-11 inch size range. Both Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass are present in Ida in low to moderate numbers when compared to other area lakes. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, and spawning substrate provide excellent habitat for bass and panfish in Ida Lake. Walleye were sampled in low numbers when compared to other connecting lakes in this chain. Walleye up to 28 inches were sampled. Yellow Perch are present in low to moderate numbers, but tend to run small in size. Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Ida Lake. 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.

Ida Lake is located two miles north of Dorset in central Hubbard County. Ida has a surface area of 76 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. There is no public access located on Ida, however, boating access with small craft is available from the inlet channel connecting to Big Sand Lake, and at the outlet channel connecting to Little Sand Lake. Bridge and culvert height at the inlet and outlet restrict boat size. There have been only four fish surveys conducted on Ida since 1962. Ida Lake provides angling opportunities for bass, northern pike, walleye, and panfish. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Ida is in lake class 33. Other area lakes in this same classification include Bass, Buck, Ingram, Kane, and Little Long. Walleye abundance (2.0 walleye/gillnet) was within the range "typical" for this lake class. Walleye catch rates in past surveys have been higher, ranging from 4.0 walleye/gillnet (1986) to 15.5 walleye/gillnet (1992). Walleye are not stocked into Ida. The walleye population is from natural reproduction or migration of fish from Big and Little Sand Lakes. Northern pike abundance (8.0 pike/gillnet) was within the range "typical" for this lake class, and similar to past surveys. Northern pike ran small in size, with an average length and weight of 20.5 inches and 1.9 pounds. The number of larger northern pike (> 28.0 inches) was low when compared to other area lakes. Ida Lake supports a good panfish and bass population. Anglers will find good numbers of bluegill and pumpkinseed in the 6-8 inch size range, and black crappie in the 9-11 inch size range. Both smallmouth bass and largemouth bass are present in Ida in low to moderate numbers when compared to other area lakes. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, and spawning substrate provide excellent habitat for smallmouth and largemouth bass in Ida Lake. Other species sampled included high numbers of rock bass and moderate numbers of white sucker and yellow bullhead. Brown bullhead and hybrid sunfish were sampled in low numbers.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Muskellunge, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Northern Pike in Ida. 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 Ida. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

Ida has a maximum depth of 40 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Ida has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.