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Dinner Pail Lake

Spang, Minnesota — Itasca County.

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47Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 80004907).

Location & fast facts

Where Dinner Pail Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Dinner Pail Lake.

Fast facts

About Dinner Pail Lake

  • County: Itasca
  • Town: Spang
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 144 mi from Minneapolis and 73 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Paddling. 1 public access site, no trailer ramp listed
  • Fishing. Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie and Bluegill
  • Camping. 5 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

30 ftMaximum depth
47Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead, Largemouth bass, Northern pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 21 of 47 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Dinner Pail Lake (DOW 31055100), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Dinner Pail Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Dinner Pail Lake Public Water Access Site (Cartop / walk-in)10.1 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Cartop / walk-in
  1. 1Dinner Pail Lake Public Water Access Site
    Cartop / walk-in · Spang

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 80004907), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Dinner Pail Lake

We found 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Dinner Pail Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (47.0418, -93.5985). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Dinner Pail Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Dinner Pail Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Dinner Pail Lake Public Water Access SiteSpangItasca CountyCarry-in (hand launch)3 trailer—Fishing, Boating47.0431, -93.5951

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Dinner Pail Lake

    How big is Dinner Pail Lake?

    Dinner Pail Lake covers about 47 acres in Spang, Minnesota (Itasca County).

    How deep is Dinner Pail Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 30 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Dinner Pail Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Northern pike, Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Pumpkinseed, Rock bass, Bowfin (dogfish), Brown bullhead and Yellow bullhead.

    Is there a public boat launch on Dinner Pail Lake?

    No trailer ramp is listed, but there is 1 public access site for car-top boats or shore access.

    Are there campgrounds near Dinner Pail Lake?

    Yes. We list 5 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Dinner Pail Lake?

    Dinner Pail Lake touches Spang in Itasca County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Dinner Pail Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in Spang