Shoofly

Shoofly Lake is a designated trout lake located about three miles northeast of Isabella that is 10 acres in size with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Access to the lake is gained from an unmarked and rough 0.7 mile road north from the Wanless Road (Forest Service 172) that ends with a small parking area for a single vehicle. There are two trails that lead to the lake; a shorter and more direct route across a bog, or a longer trail that follows an upland route that leads to a user created campsite on the lake. The lake is managed for Brook Trout and the current plan calls for 500 fingerling fish to be stocked annually in the fall. The catch from the 2021 survey revealed a healthy trout population with good opportunities for anglers based on the number and size of fish captured. Brook Trout ranged in size from 7.3 to 14.7 inches with 37% greater than 12 inches long at the time of the survey. Fish from each of the previous three stocking events were identified in the catch indicating good survival from year to year. Creel data collected as part of the fisheries assessment found a small amount of use by anglers in summer and winter. Results of the 2021 survey confirm that Shoofly Lake continues to provide a fishable Brook Trout population with good size structure. The lake will continue to be managed as a put-grow-take fishery through annual stocking into the foreseeable future.

Shoofly Lake is a designated stream trout lake that is stocked annually in the fall with fingerling Brook Trout. A survey was completed in 2019 to monitor the amount of cool, well oxygenated habitat (oxythermal habitat) available for trout during the summer. Automated temperature loggers were suspended at five foot intervals below the surface to twenty feet at the deepest spot in the lake to record water temperatures hourly throughout the summer. In addition, temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected on several occasions to determine how deep well oxygenated water occurred. Survey results indicate summer dissolved oxygen concentrations and water temperatures were not limiting factors in Shoofly Lake in 2019. Similar surveys completed in recent years suggest the lake currently maintains good habitat for stream trout compared to other area lakes. Oxythermal habitat conditions will continue to be monitored to evaluate the suitability of Shoofly Lake for Brook Trout management.

Shoofly Lake is a designated stream trout lake that is stocked annually in the fall with fingerling Brook Trout. A survey was completed in 2019 to monitor the amount of cool, well oxygenated habitat (oxythermal habitat) available for trout during the summer. Automated temperature loggers were suspended at five foot intervals below the surface to twenty feet at the deepest spot in the lake to record water temperatures hourly throughout the summer. In addition, temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected on several occasions to determine how deep well oxygenated water occurred. Survey results indicate summer dissolved oxygen concentrations and water temperatures were not limiting factors in Shoofly Lake in 2019. Similar surveys completed in recent years suggest the lake currently maintains good habitat for stream trout compared to other area lakes. Oxythermal habitat conditions will continue to be monitored to evaluate the suitability of Shoofly Lake for Brook Trout management.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Brook Trout in Shoofly. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Shoofly has a maximum depth of 25 feet and a mean depth of 12.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Shoofly is from 2021.

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