Gabbro
A 977-acre lake near Silver Rapids in Lake County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 2016.
Fish Species (8)
Typical numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.88 per gill net · typical 0.2–1.4 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 0.88 | 8.7" | 0.49 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 0.38 | - | 0.13 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 1.75 | - | 0.51 lbs |
Below-normal numbers · large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 1.2–3.6 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 0.50 | 26.3" | 4.54 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 1.12 | - | 4.14 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 5.25 | - | 2.31 lbs |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 7.3 per gill net · typical 3.1–9.8 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 7.25 | 11.6" | 0.61 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 6.25 | - | 0.61 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 7.50 | - | 1.20 lbs |
Typical numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 4.8 per gill net · typical 1.9–7.1 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 4.75 | 7.3" | 0.22 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 0.75 | - | 0.30 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 6.25 | - | 0.20 lbs |
Large fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.12 per gill net · typical 0.3–0.7 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 0.12 | 16.0" | 2.49 lbs |
Average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 1.6 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.2 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 1.62 | 6.8" | 0.32 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 1.75 | - | 0.24 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 1.50 | - | 0.65 lbs |
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 1988
Last surveyed 1988 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 1988 | 0.25 | - | 0.55 lbs |
Other species in this lake (1)
Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.
Below-normal numbers · average-size fish
Gill-net survey · surveyed Sep 2016
Last surveyed 2016 — treat with caution
Catch rate: 2.3 per gill net · typical 2.8–6.7 for a lake like this
Survey History
| Date | Catch Rate | Avg Length | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2016 | 2.25 | 14.9" | 1.87 lbs |
| Sep 16, 1988 | 2.25 | - | 1.00 lbs |
| Jul 13, 1977 | 4.88 | - | 1.40 lbs |
Fishing Regulations
Statewide limits
Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.
Walleye and Sauger
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"
Northern Pike
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Northeast zone
Angling: 2 (not more than 1 over 40" in possession. All from 30-40" must be immediatley released).
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 8, 2026
Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Northeast zone, north and east of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County.
Catch-and-release only
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the Northeast zone, north and east of US Hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls and Pelican and Ash lakes in St. Louis County.
6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth
Crappie
10 combined total
Sunfish
20 combined total
Perch
20 daily and 40 in possession
More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)
Northern Pike
Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
Northeast zone
Darkhouse spearing: 2 (Not more than 1 over 26").
Rock Bass
30
Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers
no limit
Biologist Notes
July 29, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity a…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, 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. During the summer, 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 the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 26.2 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.7 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L throughout the entire sampled depth. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 5.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 20.7 degrees C (69.3 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. 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 late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2024 also indicates suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 2.5 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is unavailable, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
July 29, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity a…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, 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. During the summer, 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 the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 26.2 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.7 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L throughout the entire sampled depth. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 5.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 20.7 degrees C (69.3 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. 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 late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2024 also indicates suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 2.5 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is unavailable, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
July 29, 2025Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, to evaluate the quantity a…
Temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Gabbro Lake on July 29th, 2025, 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. During the summer, 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 the profile from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth 26.2 feet), the water temperature decreased below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.7 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration stayed greater than 3.0 mg/L throughout the entire sampled depth. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 5.7 feet, indicating that oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was never reached because dissolved oxygen remained above 3.0 mg/L throughout the sampled depths. In this case, the minimum temperature, 20.7 degrees C (69.3 degrees F), was substituted as TDO3. 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 late summer period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2024 also indicates suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2024 when the suitable oxythermal habitat layer was 2.5 feet thick. When adequate oxythermal habitat is unavailable, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fish can you catch in Gabbro?
Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Smallmouth Bass in Gabbro. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.
Is there public access at Gabbro?
We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Gabbro. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.
How deep is Gabbro?
Gabbro has a maximum depth of 50 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.
When were the main sport fish in Gabbro last surveyed?
The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Gabbro is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.
Does Gabbro have any invasive species?
No invasive species are on record for Gabbro in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.
Are there special fishing regulations on Gabbro?
No — Gabbro has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.
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Lake Details
- Surface Area
- 976.77 acres
- Max Depth
- 50 ft
- Shoreline
- 23.74 mi
- Public Access
- Not confirmed