Beetle

Beetle Lake is an undeveloped lake with cool, well oxygenated water located in Isabella and within the Superior National Forest. The lake is a designated trout lake managed as a Brook Trout fishery with catchable sized yearling fish stocked each spring. There is a carry in access with a short trail to the lake off Forest Service 383 (Bandana Lake Road) suitable for canoes or small boats that can navigate a shallow and narrow channel to the south side of the main lake. There is also an established Forest Service campsite that provides an additional carry in access site as well as an area to fish from shore located at the end of an unnumbered spur road that travels along the north side of the lake. A standard survey was completed in October 2024 to monitor the fish community and evaluate stocking efforts. The Brook Trout catch was limited to two individuals that were stocked in a previous year and both measured about 16 inches long. Although few trout were sampled the catch did confirm the lake has had adequate habitat for fish to survive in recent years. The Golden Shiner population has recovered since the lake reclamation completed in fall of 2016 and the species is currently abundant compared to previous surveys of the lake. Conversely, no White Sucker were captured in 2024 which indicates that species has not successfully recolonized the lake and does not currently impact trout management. Unfortunately, the catch also included one large Northern Pike which presumably migrated into the lake from an adjacent waterbody during high water conditions at some point since the last survey. The presence of a predator species such as pike can greatly reduce the success of trout stocking. It is unclear if additional pike are in the lake, but the fish community will continue to be monitored to determine if management changes are needed.

Beetle Lake is a designated stream trout lake that is stocked every year with yearling Brook Trout. A survey was completed in 2024 to monitor the amount of cool, well oxygenated habitat available for trout during the summer. Automated temperature loggers were suspended at depths of three, six, nine, and twelve feet below the surface over 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 indicated Beetle Lake had preferred Brook Trout temperature and dissolved oxygen levels throughout the summer of 2024. The lake is considered to have good habitat for trout compared to other area lakes managed for Brook Trout.

Beetle Lake is a designated stream trout lake that is stocked every year with yearling Brook Trout. A survey was completed in 2024 to monitor the amount of cool, well oxygenated habitat available for trout during the summer. Automated temperature loggers were suspended at depths of three, six, nine, and twelve feet below the surface over 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 indicated Beetle Lake had preferred Brook Trout temperature and dissolved oxygen levels throughout the summer of 2024. The lake is considered to have good habitat for trout compared to other area lakes managed for Brook Trout.

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

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

Beetle has a maximum depth of 26 feet and a mean depth of 6.3 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Beetle is from 2024.

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