Whitefish Lake

Whitefish Lake

View in the App
Size
7724ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Whitefish Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Lake trout
Lake trout
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye

Whitefish Lake Overview

Quality largemouth bass and bluegill. Most northern pike are under 30-inches.

Fishing Regulations in Whitefish Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Location: Whitefish Chain including connected Cross Lake Reservoir, Lower Hay, Arrowhead, Bertha, Clamshell, Big Trout, Pig, Island-Loon, Rush-Hen, Dagget, and Little Pine lakes

  • Crappie: Daily limit five.
  • Sunfish: Daily limit five.

Whitefish Lake Features

Before the Army Corp of Engineers constructed the dam along the Pine River, the Whitefish Chain was just a few lakes that were connected by smaller tributary streams. The dam was the fourth dam to be placed along the Pine River, with the sole purpose of helping the Mississippi River stay navigable below St. Paul. Completing of the dam made the water level rise 10 feet, thus connecting the 16 lakes that make up the Whitefish Chain of lakes. Covering close to 14,000 acres, Whitefish Chain of lakes is a popular recreation destination for many visitors. Whitefish Chain serves as one of the Minnesota DNR’s primary walleye egg take sites. With the eggs that are collected the lake is stocked annually with 5,000,000 walleye fry. More stocking is done every other year with walleye fingerlings. Along with good numbers of walleyes the Whitefish Chain boasts excellent populations of northern pike, black crappies, perch, lake whitefish, ciscoes, bluegills, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Whether anglers fish open water or come to the lake to ice fish, they have many different options on Whitefish Chain. Some lakes are gin clear and deep, while some are shallow with murky water. Anglers can fish weeds, or one of the many rock bars that are littered throughout the lakes. Closed throttle and no-wake regulations are in effect in certain areas of the chain. During summer months and especially on weekends, recreational boating traffic can hamper fishing efforts.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
2-10 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.5
0Statewide Range19.48

Whitefish Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Crappie
fish
6-12 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.29
0Statewide Range12.46

Whitefish Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Lake trout
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Largemouth bass
fish
7-19 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.58
0Statewide Range3.68

Whitefish Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Northern pike
fish
9-36 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
10
0Statewide Range19.6

Whitefish Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-12 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
15.17
0Statewide Range43.55

Whitefish Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
2-8 in
Length Range
5 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.08
0Statewide Range6.01

Whitefish Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized pumpkinseed based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202110
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
5-12 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3.25
0Statewide Range6.51

Whitefish Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Smallmouth bass
fish
11-20 in
Length Range
17 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.38
0Statewide Range3.35

Whitefish Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Walleye
fish
10-30 in
Length Range
17 in
Length Range
2018
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2018
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
6.25
0Statewide Range16.93

Whitefish Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
View in the App
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized pumpkinseed based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202110
View in the App

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