Dam Five

A targeted survey of the Walleye population was completed in July 2025 using four gill net sets to evaluate fry stocking and to monitor the fish community. The Walleye gill net catch was equal to the two previous surveys of the lake completed in 2018 and 2023. Fish from stocked year classes accounted from 94% of the catch indicating minimal contributions from natural reproduction. Survey results confirm stocking is needed in Dam Five Lake to maintain a Walleye population within the normal range for the lake type.

Dam Five Lake is in Lake County approximately fourteen miles east of Isabella. The public access is a short carry-in trail down a few steps and is located off Lake County 7. There is a camp site at the access and space for parking a couple vehicles. The primary fishery is for Walleye and the population is currently maintained by stocking fry in even numbered years, except that fry were stocked in 2021 because they could not be stocked in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions. The 2023 survey was completed to monitor the fish community and was the second survey used to evaluate the success of Walleye stocking since switching from fingerling to fry. Above average numbers of Walleye were caught, but most of the fish were from the stocked 2021 year class. These fish ranged from 9 to 10.5" long, which contributed to the overall poor average size of 11.8" long and 0.79 pounds. Age analysis determined only 6% of the Walleye caught were produced in non-stocked years and fish from each of the last four stocking events since 2014 were sampled. Results indicate fry stocking has been able to produce large enough year classes to maintain a fishable Walleye population. Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike are other game fish species present but have never been captured in high enough numbers to be of much interest to anglers. Because the lake has limited submerged aquatic plants, habitat likely limits the abundance of both species as well as other species that require vegetation as part of their life history. Abundance of forage species is also likely influenced by available habitat with White Suckers historically captured in high numbers and Yellow Perch captured in low numbers. A single Bluegill was captured in 2023, which was the first time the species was caught during a fisheries survey. It is unclear how the fish got in the lake since the DNR has never stocked the species and they do not occur in any connected waterbodies. It is not likely that the species will proliferate in the lake given the available habitat, but future surveys will be used to document any changes to the fish community.

Dam Five Lake is 78 acres, has a maximum depth of 38 feet, and is located approximately 14 miles east of Isabella, MN. There is a carry-in access on the south end of from a short road off of Lake County Road #7. There is a camping site at the access and parking for a couple vehicles. Depending on lake water levels, using an outboard to navigate the narrow portion of the south end of the lake can be a problem with many boulders and stumps in the water. The 2018 standard survey was conducted to monitor the fish community in Dam Five Lake and continue to evaluate the Walleye fry stocking regime for the lake. Walleye catch was above average relative to similar lakes in northeastern Minnesota. The average size was 15.7 inches and 1.4 pounds, with 45% of the catch over 15.0 inches long. The largest Walleye sampled was 23.4 inches and weighed 4.4 pounds. Scale analysis indicated Walleye fry stocking is helping maintain a population with 86% of the sample coming from stocked years. Walleye growth was average compared to other lakes in the Finland Area. The Northern Pike catch was below average compared to similar lakes in the area but within the historical catch for the lake. A single Northern Pike measuring 23.46 inches and 3.22 pounds was caught in a gill net. Trap nets sampled a Northern Pike which measured 16.14 inches and weighed 0.80 pounds. Yellow Perch were sampled in below average numbers relative to similar lakes in the area. This is similar to past investigations on the lake. Small mesh trap nets also sampled young of the year Yellow Perch. One Largemouth Bass was caught in the gill nets. It measured 15 inches and weighed 1.7 pounds. Young of the year Largemouth Bass were also sampled in the survey gear. White Sucker were sampled in above average numbers relative to similar lakes and size averaged 14.9 inches and 1.4 pounds. Pumpkinseed, Blacknose Shiner, and Central Mudminnow were also sampled with the survey gear.

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

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

Dam Five has a maximum depth of 38 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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