Quamba

Quamba (Mud) Lake is a shallow and fertile 214-acre lake in eastern Kanabec County located five miles northeast of Mora, MN and is within the Snake River Watershed. It has a maximum depth of 11 feet and an average depth of 7 feet. Mud Creek flows through Quamba Lake, with the inlet located on the north-central shoreline and the outlet located at the southeast end of the lake at the dam. Mud Creek flows downstream into the Snake River. Two other small inlets are present. There is a state administered concrete access on the southeast shore of the lake. An aquatic vegetation survey in 2017 indicated vegetation was abundant in the shallow northeast and southwest portions of the lake, with 22 emergent and 25 submergent and floating leaf species sampled lakewide. Vegetation absence at deeper depths is due to low water clarity, which rarely is greater than 4 feet. Substrates consist mostly of sand, muck, and gravel. Quamba is subject to periodic winterkills. Past surveys on Quamba occurred in July and have indicated the lake has a moderate to high density Bluegill population, consistent recruitment, and fish up to 9.5 inches present. Recent interest in quality sized Bluegill have led to efforts to obtain additional information on the size structure of this population. A trap netting survey in mid-May 2019 was the first Bluegill spawning survey on the lake. In 2024, a second targeted survey for Bluegill was conducted from May 14 -17. The survey was completed using 9 trap nets over three days prior to Bluegill spawning, with water temperatures that ranged from 66 to 67 degrees. A total of 322 Bluegill (12/net) were sampled in 2024 compared to 250 (28/net) in 2019. While the catch rate was lower, the average length for Bluegill in 2024 was larger at 6.9 inches compared to 5.9 inches in 2019. Length ranges were similar between surveys with lengths that ranged from 4 to 9 inches in 2024 and 3 to 9 inches in 2019. The percentage of Bluegill over 8 inches was also similar between surveys with 8 percent of the catch larger than 8 inches in both years. Other species sampled in 2024 were Pumpkinseed, Black Crappie, and White Crappie. Quamba is a unique lake in the Hinckley Fisheries Area, as it has both Black and White crappies. A total of 452 pumpkinseed were sampled for a catch rate of 17/net. Lengths of Pumpkinseed ranged from 3.6 to 7.7 inches with an average length of 5.5 inches. Two hundred thirteen Black Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 8/net. Lengths of Black Crappie ranged from 5.7 to 13.4 inches with an average length of 8.5 inches. Six White Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 0.2/net. White Crappie Lengths ranged from 6.4 to 10.0 inches with an average length of 8.6 inches.

Quamba (Mud) Lake is a shallow and fertile 226 acre lake which is subject to sporadic winterkills. Winterkills of some severity have been recorded ten times since 1959. Most recently dissolved oxygen levels dropped to a concerning level in February of 2008, but no evidence of winterkill was found in the spring. The current management plan lists Northern Pike and Walleye as primary species. The lake is stocked annually with 500,000 Walleye fry. There is one public boat launch with a concrete ramp. A survey consisting of 4 gill net and 9 trap net sets was conducted in July 2018 to assess fish populations. The previous survey was conducted in 2010. The Walleye gill net catch rate was 0.75 fish per net. This is well below similar lakes and is low compared to historical catch rates for the lake. Sizes were decent with the average length being 18 inches. Stocking efforts attempt to provide a low level bonus' Walleye fishery on Quamba. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 4.5 fish per net. This is low compared to similar lakes but it is in line with the management goal. Size was large averaging 2.8 lbs. which is much larger than similar lakes. Fish averaged 23.5 inches in length with the largest fish measuring 29.5 inches. Ages were well distributed from the 2010 year class to the 2015 year class. Black Crappie were sampled at a rate of 2.3 fish per trap net and averaged 8.9 inches. This is similar to historic catches in this lake. Several large fish were sampled in excess of 11 inches, the largest being 12.2. The Bluegill catch rate increased dramatically from the previous survey from 4.5 to 17.9 fish per net making it similar to previous surveys. Fish size was typical with an average length of 6.6 inches and the largest measuring 9.5 inches. Individuals were fairly evenly distributed throughout the range of lengths with 30 percent of sampled fish exceeding 8 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled in gill nets at a rate of 15.7 fish per net. Size was small with an average length of 6.5 inches and the largest being only 8.2 inches. Only 13 Largemouth Bass were sampled for a catch rate of 17.7 fish per hour. This is similar to the previous survey but still relatively low. Average length was 13 inches with the largest being only 16.7 inches.

Quamba Lake is a shallow, fertile, turbid lake subject to irregular winterkills. Winterkill of some severity has been recorded ten times since 1959. The current management plan lists northern pike and walleye as primary species and largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie as secondary species. Biennial fry stocking combined with some natural reproduction has established a walleye fishery of normal numbers for the lake type. Current stocking plans have switched the fry stocking to a yearly occurrence. Quality sized walleye are present with fish averaging 21.8 inches and 3.8 pounds. Northern pike have been self sustaining since stocking ceased in 1995. Pike numbers have shown a moderate increase since the 2005 information. They are present in fishable numbers and, with fish over 30 inches available, their size should be acceptable to anglers. Likewise bluegill and black crappie provide quality angling at normal densities for the lake type. Black crappie averaged 9 inches and half a pound in the trap nets while 21% of the bluegill exceeded 8 inches. Based on night electrofishing results, the largemouth bass abundance was lower than in previous assessments. The population is still dominated by fish larger than 12 inches. The lack of juvenile bass in consecutive electrofishing samples is puzzling. Perhaps low winter oxygen levels are playing a role in bass recruitment. Quamba Lake receives light to moderate fishing pressure. During the 2010 assessment the majority of anglers were targeting panfish. Walleye angling is popular earlier in the season. Public access is available on the southwest shore with limited parking.

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

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

Quamba has a maximum depth of 11 feet and a mean depth of 7 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Quamba is from 2018. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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