Minnesota · Itasca County
Blandin Lake Fishing guide
Blandin Lake sits in Itasca County, Minnesota, and covers 490 acres, reaching 38 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Smallmouth bassPresent1.3per gill net14"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2012Lengths measured · 7 fish
2004Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeJust a few2.4per gill net19"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 30 fish
2023Lengths measured · 17 fish
2012Lengths measured · 27 fish
2004Lengths measured · 22 fish
1996Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
BluegillJust a few2per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 27 fish
2023Lengths measured · 24 fish
2012Lengths measured · 40 fish
2004Lengths measured · 12 fish
1996Yellow perchFair numbers3.9per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 41 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 41 fish
2023Lengths measured · 35 fish
2012Lengths measured · 64 fish
2004Lengths measured · 50 fish
1996Rock bassExcellent numbers3.6per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 34 fish
2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2012Lengths measured · 18 fish
2004Lengths measured · 45 fish
1996Rates 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 Blandin Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.5 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. With 75% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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. At 11.5 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. With 75% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15" | 15" | 17" |
| 2018 | 25" | — | — |
| 2012 | 18" | 17" | 17" |
| 2004 | 21" | 17" | 14" |
| 1996 | 26" | 16" | — |
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 · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 56 yearlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 225,000 fry |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 13 adults |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 366 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Muskellunge | 91 adults |
| 2016 | Muskellunge | 90 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 6,472 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Blandin Reservoir is a 449 acre impoundment on the Mississippi River, which is controlled by a dam at the Blandin Paper Company in Grand Rapids, MN. The reservoir has minimal storage capacity and functions more as a flow-through system, minimizing water level fluctuations. The reservoir has a high percentage of shallow water containing an abundance of wood and wild rice. The 2013 management plan lists Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie as primary management species. Muskellunge and Largemouth Bass were listed as secondary management species. Walleye fingerling stocking was discontinued in 2017.
Catches for Bluegill and Black Crappie were lower than lakes with similar habitat. The low number of fish generally sampled suggests mid-summer test netting is a poor method of sampling and catch rates are not a true indicator of relative abundance. Anecdotal reports suggest fair numbers of panfish are caught at times, especially in the winter.
Read the full DNR narrative
The Walleye catch was modest, especially considering lakes like Blandin are not known to produce an abundance of Walleye. The sampled fish were young, averaging 13 inches and assumed to be from natural reproduction. Angling opportunities appear favorable, especially seasonally.
The Northern Pike catch was lower than the expected range for lakes with similar habitat, yet similar to previous surveys. Low catches are generally desirable as its often associated with quality size structure. However, as in previous surveys, size structure was poor. Sampled fish ranged from 15.6 to 29.3 inches and averaged 21 inches. Fish within the protected slot (22-26 inches) of the North-central zone regulation comprised 29% of the sample.
Angling opportunities for bass are likely favorable at times. Largemouth Bass are not sampled well with nets and only a few were sampled in 2023. Electrofishing in 2013 had a moderately high rate. A modest gill net sample of Smallmouth Bass indicated a decent size structure with fish up to 17 inches sampled.
Other species sampled included Bowfin, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rockbass, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Blandin Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Blandin 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.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- DNR access: DNR-administered access at Isaac Walton Park on County Road 63.
- City access: Sylvan Bay access.
DNR bathymetry
Blandin Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Forest Lake · 37 ac · 0.6 mi
- Hale Lake · 130 ac · 1 mi
- Ice Lake · 39 ac · 1.7 mi
- McKinney Lake · 106 ac · 1.8 mi
- Little Jay Gould Lake · 150 ac · 2.5 mi
- Tioga Mine Pit · 49 ac · 2.7 mi
- Pokegama Lake · 6,721 ac · 3.5 mi
- Little Bass Lake · 161 ac · 4.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Blandin Lake?
Blandin Lake reaches 38 ft at its deepest point; about 75% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Blandin Lake?
Blandin Lake covers 490 acres with about 12.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Blandin Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Blandin Lake average 11.5 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Blandin Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Blandin Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Blandin Lake have a public access?
Yes. Blandin Lake has 2 public access sites, including a DNR access (DNR-administered access at Isaac Walton Park on County Road 63.).
How big do walleye get in Blandin Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 15"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1996.
When was Blandin Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Blandin Lake in 2023, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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