Lake Zumbro
On November 7, 1919, the first official waters began to run through a new hydro-electric dam 13 miles or so north of Rochester, Minnesota. This dam, some 440 feet in breadth and over forty feet in height, creates a lake which is called Lake Zumbro. Fed by two of the three branches of the Zumbro River, it has about 18 miles of shoreline and is approximately 710 acres in surface. Built to provide the electricity to the growing Rochester of that day, it still is used to suppliment the power plant found at Silver Lake in the heart of the city.
The lake itself is a diverse piece of water. Getting to know the lake takes time and generally is hindered by the fact that most of the shoreline is privately owned. There is a DNR sponsored handicap float located at Fishermans Inn, however it is not in the most opportune place to find great success. This is also the site of The Rochester Waterski Club’s home on the lake. A marina, two other dining places, a campground and two public accesses are there to accommodate those wanting to spend time on the water there. To get a good understanding of this lake, grab a map and lets go on a mission.
The Water
The water in this lake is what we called stained. During times of stability in the weather, the water will have a secci depth at about four to five feet. Run-off from roadways and agricultural lands can , and will, muddy the lake in a day when it rains hard. Water levels are prone to fluctuation thru the summer months. This lake is greatly affected by the flood control installments in the City of Rochester.
The water is typical of a reservoir: many areas of steep shoreline and some broad, shallow bays. In the bays the water depths tend to be less radical in drops and go from shoreline shallows to deeper water more gradually. In areas where the shoreline is very steep, you will find the water reflecting that in depth as well. Some areas offer water depths of over twenty feet at a distance of less than ten feet from shore. The current is not a hard on unless the water is up from heavy rains. One noteable thing about the bays is the lack of weeds. Small pockets of weeds occur in isolated places, but the lake for the most part is weed free.
Another noticeable feature of the lake is the relative lack of algae blooms. For years the waste water tratment facility in Rochester had no way to remove the phosphates from the treated water. These chemicals made the water very fertile and created veritable pool for growing algae. The blooms that occured during the warm summer month would literally keep people off the water. The government stepped in and force the clean-up issue with the city and scrubbers are now in place to rid the discharged water of these chemicals. While the lake is clean compared to years ago, it still is troubled with agricultural chemicals and run-off. In lieu of all the apparent demerits troubling the lake, it has become a silent fishery of grand proportions.
The Fish
Many species of fish are natural in this waterway. Crappies (both black and white), bass (smallmounth and largemouth), white bass, perch, sunfish, northerns, catfish, bullheads and muskie are available. There are the usual rough fish species as well. I have never seen a dogfish or gar there….but they may well be. The lake balances it’s resources well and when one species is hot others seem to be at rest. Some seasons will overlap each other. The one onus about this lake is the liberal amount of deep water.From just after the crappie spawn until the fall turn-over, just about every game fish will utilize that water. With private ownership so prevalent on the lake, you need a boat to fish “well”.
Crappies are probably the most sought after fish in the lake. The population is incredible and the year classes of fish seem to remain stable, despite the intense pressure they receive. Depending on how you fish them, the fish can average from 9-9 1/2 inches to well over twelve inches. The biggest key to understanding these fish is water temperature: from ice-out until ice-up, it will govern where you are going to find them and how to fish them.
The basses are not unlike the crappies except for the way the two species split after spawning is complete Smallies prefer the deeper , darker, cooler water in the summer. This is where the bottom content is rock and boulders. Radically steep shoreline waters consistantly yeild the best smallie fishing, while the more gentle shorelines get you the buckets….and there are some dandies to be found here. Given the amount of inhabitation on the shores….all seemingly with docks….and the number of bays the largemouths are fairly easy to target and offer up fun even when the dog days of August lay heavy upon us.
The perch, sunfish and whitebass all play a part in the scheme of things on the Zumbro. The perch, some fair-sized, show up more when the water is winter-frigid. Occasionally one will show up, being caught by someone using worms in warm water. Sunfish are everywhere through-out the lake and offer action to those who fish them all year. Some very large (8-9″) sunnies appear for about a month beginning right after ice-out. Occasionally one larger than that will show up. White bass are there in numbers, but seldom seen unless it is spring-time and you find where they are spawning (generally the extreme south end of the lake where the two rivers meet). They also show up on lines when people are drift/trolling for crappies in the summer.
Northerns are found here as well. Some are real teeth-machines. I found one floating just after ice-out last year that would have weighed 18 pounds easily. I have taken them up to 16 pounds while crappie fishing! I have had them bite crappies in half while reeling them in. Being a pan-fisherman, I have no love-affair with these tooth riddled fish, but have to concede that they are a riot when hooked up on light tackle.
Muskies are also another toothy denizen found at Lake Zumbro. The DNR has actively stocked the lake with “leech lake strain” muskies for a number of years. While this activity has taken place in the lake proper, the most one hears of catching muskie seems to be from below the dam at the north end of the lake. The largest fish seem to come from there. They are caught in the lake though. My personal best was 37″. An incidental fish at that. Much larger fish have been seen chasing a lure or a hooked fish, so I know that they do use the lake as well. On of the hinderances to fishing the muskies there is that the lake lacks “classic’ muskie water. Another point to make is that few people have gone there and targeted those fish.
Catfish, bullheads and the usual rough fish are always ready to grace your presence. Of these, the catfish are the only ones really chased by anglers. They are very common fish and can be fished in several ways ranging from dead sticking cut bait to live bait fishing. Critters from two to six pounds are evry common and many larger ones are taken each year. They are, by the way, very tasty from this lake. All of the other fish mentioned in this catagory, well….we’ll just leave that to imagination.
An Overview
Lake Zumbro offers many fishing opportunities to those who own boats, but unless you know someone who lives on the water, it offers little in the way of shoreline angling. The few places where you can access the water to fish from shore are usually crowded. On weekends, be prepared to share the water with the skiers and jetheads. Weekday fishing is highly recommended.
Lake Zumbro is a challenging body of water. It offers up many species of fish, but has much deep water that they tend to relate to for much of the open water season. Water levels can fluctuate in a blink and run-off can dirty it to obscurity in less time than that. A good map of the lake is a must. If you really want to learn from the lake, buy a thermometer and do your homework by journalling your fishing. To be successful on this lake, you have got to pay close attention to what IT is telling you. Lake Zumbro offers something for everyone and all skill levels. Go…enjoy!
Lets all enjoy the good fishin life together!!! 
