Emma

Emma Lake is located five miles north of Dorset in Hubbard County. Emma has a surface area of 78 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. A county owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. There is no developed boat ramp or dock. A hard sand and gravel shoreline allows for boat launching. The inlet into flows from Lower Bottle and the outlet flows into Big Sand. Small craft can travel between lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical and other characteristics. Emma is in lake class 28. Class 28 lakes have the characteristics of being small, having hard water, high water clarity, and having a regular shaped shoreline. Other area lakes in this lake class include Gilmore, Indian and Thomas Lakes. Walleye abundance was consistent with recent surveys. Anglers could expect to find most of the walleye in Emma Lake to range from 15"-23" in length. Walleye weights averaged over 2 pounds. Yellow Perch were sampled in low number during the survey, and were fish of a smaller size (6"-7"). Anglers would probably not find these size fish acceptable to keep, but they provide an important forage base for the Walleye and Northern Pike. Northern Pike abundance was at the upper end of the range "typical" for this lake class. Northern Pike numbers have been high since the 1999 survey. Northern Pike had an average length and weight of 20.1 inches and 2 pounds, respectively. Even with the small average size, Northern Pike up to 35.6 inches were sampled. Emma has a history of a low panfish population but the capability of producing quality-sized fish. Black Crappie tend to be the most sought after panfish species, and their numbers are consistent with lake class 28. Crappies averaged around 7 inches but were from younger year-classes. Bluegill and Pumpkinseed were found to be of acceptable size by anglers, with most fish being 5.5"-8" in length. Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass are both found in Emma, with Largemouth Bass more abundant of the two species. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, and spawning substrate provide excellent habitat in Emma. Other fish species present are Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Currently no Aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been identified in Emma. 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.

Emma Lake is located five miles north of Dorset in Hubbard County. Emma has a surface area of 78 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. A county-owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. There is no developed boat ramp, but a good hard sand shoreline allows for easy boat launching. The inlet into Emma comes from Lower Bottle and the outlet of Emma flows into Big Sand. Boating between the lakes is possible with small craft. Due to its small size, Emma doesn't receive as much notoriety as Big Sand or the Bottle Lakes, but does receive a fair amount of fishing pressure during the first few weeks of the walleye fishing season. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Emma is in lake class 28. Other near-by lakes in this same classification include Gilmore and Thomas Lakes. Walleye abundance (6.0 walleye/gillnet) was up from recent surveys and at the current management goal. Emma has good walleye spawning habitat, especially at the outlet area. A walleye spawning run from Big Sand up into Emma occurs each spring. Emma's walleye population is sustained from natural reproduction and migration of walleye into Emma from Big Sand and Lower Bottle Lakes. Yellow perch, an important forage species for walleye, were sampled in very low numbers (1.2 perch/gillnet). Northern pike abundance (6.7 pike/gillnet) was at the upper end of the range "typical" for this lake class. Northern pike numbers have been high since the 1999 survey. Small, "hammer handle" pike, with an average length and weight of 21.6 inches and 2.0 pounds, dominated the northern pike sample. Northern pike up to 29.3 inches were sampled. Emma has a history of a low to moderate panfish population but the capability of producing some quality-sized fish. Black crappie are the most sought after panfish species, while bluegill and pumpkinseed tend to run smaller, but are still an acceptable size for angling. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are also found in Emma, with largemouth bass the more abundant of the two species. Good water quality, aquatic vegetation cover, and spawning substrate provide excellent habitat for bass in Emma.

Emma Lake is located five miles north of Dorset in Hubbard County. Emma has a surface area of 77 acres and a maximum depth of 50 feet. A county-owned public access is located on the south shore of the lake. There is no developed ramp, but a good hard sand shoreline allows for easy boat launching. The inlet into Emma comes from Lower Bottle and the outlet of Emma flows into Big Sand. Boating between the lakes is possible with small craft. Due to its small size, Emma doesn't receive as much notoriety as Big Sand or the Bottle lakes. However, it can receive a fair amount of fishing pressure especially the first few weeks of the walleye fishing season, and recently during the winter ice fishing season. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's Lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Emma is in lake class 28. Other near-by lakes in this same classification include Gilmore and Thomas Lakes. Walleye abundance was identical to previous survey in 1999, but well below the current management goal. Walleye abundance was much higher in 1987 and 1992 surveys, while earlier surveys fluctuated from low to moderate numbers. Emma Lake has good walleye spawning habitat, especially at the outlet area. A major walleye spawning run from Big Sand up into Emma Lake occurs each spring. Emma Lake was stocked with walleye fingerlings in past years, but stocking was discontinued after 2004. It was felt that natural reproduction and migration of walleye from Big Sand Lake into Emma would sustain a walleye population. Yellow perch are an important forage species for walleye, and walleye abundance in Emma seems to fluctuate closely with yellow perch abundance. Walleye abundance has been high when perch are abundant, and walleye abundance has been low when perch are not abundant. Northern pike were sampled in high numbers, above the range "typical" for this lake class. Small, "hammer handle" pike, with an average length and weight of 20.3 inches and 1.9 pounds, dominated the northern pike sample. Northern pike up to 29.8 inches were sampled. Emma has a history of a low to moderate panfish population but the capability of producing some quality-sized fish. Black crappie are the most sought after panfish species, while bluegill and pumpkinseed tend to run smaller, but are still an acceptable size for angling. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are also found in Emma, with largemouth bass the more abundant of the two species.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Pumpkinseed in Emma. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Emma has a maximum depth of 50 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Emma is from 2020.

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