Dry

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Dry Lake on August 6th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 42.0 feet), the water temperature decreased to 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 11.4 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 19.3 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 7.9 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Cisco was present. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 9.1 degrees C (48.4 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Cisco at the time of the survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2024 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Dry is an 82 acre designated trout lake located 3.5 miles north of Ely in the Superior National Forest. The shoreline is entirely undeveloped and publicly owned. Like most Tower area designated trout lakes, Dry is deep and clear with excellent coldwater habitat. Two portages and a winter trail connect to Dry Lake. A short portage connects Dry to Bass Lake, a 1/4 mile portage enters from High Lake, and the winter trail bypasses Dry Falls farther East down to Bass Lake. Bass Lake is accessible by portaging a motorboat from Low Lake, but Dry is more suitable for canoe travel. The USFS maintains a campsite on the northeast shore. The Dry Lake hiking trail loops around Little Dry and the north shore of Dry. There are no improved sites for shorefishing, but the lake is quite accessible from the trail in several areas. The 2023 survey consisted of two standardized gillnet sets. Ten brown Trout and ten splake were captured for a combined catch of 10 trout/net. Bluegill, cisco, and white sucker were also sampled. Brown trout abundance (5/net) was the highest on record for Dry Lake. Lengths ranged from 13 to nearly 23 inches. Fish from three years appeared to be present. Splake abundance (5/net) was tied for the highest on record. Lengths ranged from 9 to over 20 inches. Fish from three years appeared to be present as well, with larger fish dominating the catch.

Dry Lake is an 82 acre designated stream trout lake located four miles north of Ely. There are two ways to access the lake. The most common access is a short portage from Bass Lake to the east corner of Dry, or a 1/4 mile portage from High Lake which comes in on the middle of the north side of Dry Lake. There are three inlets, the most substantial coming from High Lake. The lone outlet cascades over a fairly substantial falls (Bass Lake Falls) down to Bass Lake. The surrounding landscape of Dry is largely rolling forest land with a maximum depth of 44 feet and clear water. Dry Lake is connected through a fairly substantial water connection on its south shore to Little Dry Lake. Little Dry was surveyed as a separate lake at the same time Dry was. Information on the Little Dry survey can be found in its lake file. Typical mid-summer dissolved oxygen levels are generally adequate to moderate depths for trout. Lake bottom substrates along the shoreline were dominated by boulder and rubble with some areas of sand and gravel. The lake is completely undeveloped and is surrounded by US Forest Service land. One Forest Service maintained campsite exists on the small point on the northeast shore. In 1966 a reclamation project was done on Dry Lake however it appeared cisco and white suckers were not completely removed. Brook trout were stocked soon after and were the only species added until 1980 when splake were stocked for the first time. Since 1989, Dry Lake was stocked on a generally rotating schedule of splake and brown trout. The gillnet catch of all trout by weight for this assessment was 5.6 pounds/net which was above average when compared to previous surveys and compared to other trout lakes in the area. Note that trout abundance is expressed in terms of pounds/net rather than number/net to reduce the influence of occasional high catches of just-stocked fingerlings. Of the 14 trout sampled, six fish (43%) were greater than 15 inches. Twelve brown trout were sampled in this survey for a catch rate of 4.8 pounds/gill net. Lengths ranged from 10 to 21 inches with an average of nearly 15 inches. Sizes were similar to brown trout caught in past surveys. Comparing sizes to stocked year classes, it's likely the three largest browns were seven years old and the remaining fish were one or three years old. Two splake were sampled in this survey for a catch rate of 0.8 pounds/net. Lengths were 16 and 17 inches. These fish were similar to the average sizes of splake from past surveys and were likely products of the 2013 or 2014 stocked year classes. Seventeen cisco were caught in gill nets for a catch rate of 4.3 fish/net. This was the second lowest catch rate on record for the lake with this species continuing to show a declining population trend. Sizes were 13 to 15 inches with an average of 14.5 inches. The average size in 2019 was the largest on record for Dry Lake. The white sucker catch was 11.3 fish/net which was average for the lake. Sizes were slightly smaller than fish sampled in past surveys.

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

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

Dry has a maximum depth of 44 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Dry is from 2023.

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