Kabetogama Lake

Kabetogama Lake

View in the App
Size
22360ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Kabetogama Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Sauger
Sauger
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
Walleye
Walleye

Kabetogama Lake Overview

Fishing Regulations

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: Including Sullivan Bay and Ash River to Ash River Falls

  • Walleye and Sauger: Combined possession limit six, only four may be walleye. All walleye from 18-26” must be immediately released. One over 26” allowed in possession.

Features

Lake Kabetogama is located within Voyageurs National Park and is part of the chain of four boundary-area lakes that border the U.S. and Canada border. However, Kabetogama is different than the rest of the lakes on the chain. Lake Kabetogama is the only border lake that is not on the border at all. The 25,000 plus acres of Kabetogama is entirely with the Minnesota borders. Still considered as a Canadian Shield lake, Kabetogama offers beautiful scenery, excellent wildlife and an outstanding fishery. There is plenty of habitat that hold fish such as rocks, humps, sandbars, reefs and weeds. The lake is known for its abundant walleyes and jumbo perch, trophy northern pike, plenty of hard-fighting smallmouth bass and black crappies. The lake is surrounded by the Voyageurs National Park and is open to the public for camping. There are campsites along the shoreline as well as on the hundreds of islands that litter the lake. The National Park Service offers campsites with amenities, boat tours and other services to the public. Camping on the lake requires a camping permit. Contact Voyageurs National Park Headquarters at (218)-283-6600 for any questions you might have. To help boaters get around the lake safely, red and green navigational buoys have been placed throughout the lake to mark the channel that runs east to west. Boaters should use caution when boating since there are many hazards that lie just under the surface of the water. There is also a “No-Wake” zone along the Ash River just upstream from Sullivan Bay. Whether you are looking for outstanding fishing, beautiful scenery, or just a relaxing getaway, Lake Kabetogama has something for everyone.

Forage

Bluntnose minnow, spottail shiner and darters are just a few of the vast variety of minnow species that can be found throughout the lake. Rainbow smelt, ciscoes a juvenile perch also provide forage for many of the larger fish. Ciscoes populations fluctuate due to high summer water temps.

Seasonal Movements

In early spring, the west end of the lake and numerous shallow water bays throughout the lake will attract walleyes, perch and northern pike. From mid-May to mid-June, new weed growth, warm water and areas of current should be targeted. The inlet of the Ash River and water flow through the channel leading to Lake Namakan can also hold spawning fish. In the fall, areas of current will again attract fish following schools of baitfish.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
0.1
0Statewide Range19.55

Kabetogama 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
2019
Jul
2022
Jul
Crappie
fish
8-11 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.75
0Statewide Range12.46

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Largemouth bass
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
Muskellunge
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
Northern pike
fish
11-38 in
Length Range
23 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3.75
0Statewide Range19.6

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
8.75
0Statewide Range43.55

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
0.05
0Statewide Range6.01

Kabetogama Lake Pumpkinseed 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
2022
Jul
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
5-10 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
1.35
0Statewide Range6.54

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Sauger
fish
8-19 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3
0Statewide Range7.38

Kabetogama Lake Sauger 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Smallmouth bass
fish
8-18 in
Length Range
12 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
15.32
0Statewide Range72.13

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App
Sturgeon
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
Walleye
fish
8-26 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
8.2
0Statewide Range16.93

Kabetogama 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
2022
Jul
2023
Jun
View in the App

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