Minnesota · Beltrami County
Bemidji (main lake) Fishing guide
Bemidji (main lake) is a 6,596-acre lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota, reaching 76 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 7.2 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeOne of the best around13.7per gill net6"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 818 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 818 fish
2022Lengths measured · 303 fish
2017Lengths measured · 258 fish
2012Lengths measured · 283 fish
2006Northern pikeJust a few3.5per gill net25"Typical38"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 63 fish
2022Lengths measured · 60 fish
2017Lengths measured · 40 fish
2012Lengths measured · 63 fish
2006MuskellungeLast stocked 2024Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 46 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 46 fish
2022Lengths measured · 1 fish
2012Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
2006Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 1 fish
1994Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers31.6per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 525 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 525 fish
2022Lengths measured · 867 fish
2017Lengths measured · 610 fish
2012Lengths measured · 1709 fish
2006Rock bassExcellent numbers34.6per hr (electrofishing)6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 35 fish
2022Lengths measured · 26 fish
2017Lengths measured · 8 fish
2012Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2006Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Bemidji (main lake) through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 76 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. On a lake that drops to 76 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24" | — | 38" |
| 2017 | 28" | 4" | 34" |
| 2012 | 26" | 6" | 30" |
| 2006 | 25" | 9" | 36" |
| 2001 | 29" | 12" | 35" |
| 1998 | 29" | 5" | 29" |
| 1994 | 27" | 15" | 35" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 1,861 fingerlings · 1 yearlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 1,863 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 1,862 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Muskellunge | 1,862 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Muskellunge | 1,910 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Lake Bemidji is a 6,596-acre lake with a maximum depth of 76 feet located adjacent to the city of Bemidji in southern Beltrami County. There are a total of six public boat landings located around the lake. Accessible fishing piers are located at the inlet of the lake near downtown Bemidji and at Lake Bemidji State Park. Lake Bemidji is part of a connected system of lakes which includes Lake Irving upstream and Stump Lake downstream on the Mississippi River. Both of these lakes are readily accessible by boat from Lake Bemidji and provide additional angling opportunities. The lake is managed primarily for Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike and Muskellunge.
The 2022 catch rate for Walleye was just under 14 fish/gill net which is well above the average for most area lakes. Lengths averaged just over 13 inches and the largest captured during the 2022 survey was over 24 inches. Multiple strong year classes were observed indicating a robust population which continues to keep up despite being one of the most popular Walleye lakes in the area. Night electrofishing for juvenile Walleyes revealed an abundance of smaller fish that will reach catchable sizes in two to three years.
Read the full DNR narrative
Lake Bemidji is well known for its quality Muskellunge population. Muskies were targeted specifically in the spring of 2022 via night electrofishing. A total of 46 adult muskies were measured with the largest just under 55 inches in length. Impressively, the overall average length was just under 48 inches.
Northern Pike continue to maintain a quality population in Bemidji. Pike averaged almost 4 pounds and the largest captured in the 2022 assessment was over 38 inches long. The pike population is thriving with many fish larger than the 22-26 inch north-central zone protected slot which can provide great open water action or a memorable encounter from the surface of the ice.
The Yellow Perch catch rate was over 30 fish/gill net which is comparable to most area lakes. Yellow Perch averaged over 7 inches in length and fish over 10 inches were captured in the survey, though anglers have reported catching larger fish at times. Perch are one of the most important forage species for Walleye, muskies, and pike.
Other species captured in this survey were Rock Bass, Tullibee (Cisco), White Sucker, Bullhead species, redhorse, and a variety of sunfish species.
Lake Bemidji is infested with zebra mussels and the aquatic plant, starry stonewort. Both are aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS can be transferred by anglers and boats from infested to non-infested waterbodies. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. Please follow the current AIS regulations to avoid spreading to other lakes.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Bemidji (main lake) fishing reports
Recent reports on Bemidji (main lake) from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report
All Bemidji (main lake) fishing reports → · Beltrami County reports
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Lake Bemidji, Nymore Beach (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Bemidji (main lake) depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Irving Lake · 662 ac · 3.2 mi
- Big Bass (east basin) Lake · 337 ac · 4 mi
- Marquette Lake · 528 ac · 5.6 mi
- Movil Lake · 855 ac · 6.2 mi
- Beltrami Lake · 726 ac · 6.8 mi
- Grant Lake · 214 ac · 7 mi
- Turtle Lake · 1,607 ac · 8 mi
- Turtle River Lake · 1,740 ac · 8.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Bemidji (main lake)?
Bemidji (main lake) reaches 76 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 34 ft; about 28% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Bemidji (main lake)?
Bemidji (main lake) covers 6,596 acres with about 14.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Bemidji (main lake)?
DNR Secchi readings on Bemidji (main lake) average 7.2 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Bemidji (main lake)?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Bemidji (main lake) stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Bemidji (main lake) have a public access?
Yes. Bemidji (main lake) has one public access site: Lake Bemidji, Nymore Beach (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Bemidji (main lake)?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Bemidji (main lake) last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Bemidji (main lake) in 2022, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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