Minnesota · Beltrami County
Dellwater Lake Fishing guide
Dellwater Lake sits in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and covers 199 acres, reaching 29 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 16.2 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2020, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 6 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassPresent0.2per trap net14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 7 fish
2020Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 58 fish
2015Lengths measured · 42 fish
2010Lengths measured · 6 fish
1993Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeExcellent numbers15.3per gill net21"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 66 fish
Recent · 2020Lengths measured · 66 fish
2020Lengths measured · 67 fish
2010Lengths measured · 41 fish
2000Lengths measured · 28 fish
1993BluegillFair numbers26.1per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 465 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 303 fish
2020Lengths measured · 162 fish
2015Lengths measured · 804 fish
2010Lengths measured · 127 fish
2000CrappieJust a few2per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 91 fish
Recent · 2015 + 2020Lengths measured · 26 fish
2020Lengths measured · 65 fish
2015Lengths measured · 9 fish
2010Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates 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 Dellwater Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 16.2 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 82% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 16.2 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 82% 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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass | Bluegill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 28" | 19" | 8" |
| 2015 | — | 18" | 7" |
| 2010 | 28" | 17" | 9" |
| 2000 | 32" | — | 10" |
| 1993 | 26" | 15" | 9" |
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:
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2020 survey
Dellwater Lake is a 199-acre lake located in western Beltrami County. The lake is classified as moderately productive and surround by forest and agricultural land. Water clarity averages 19 feet and the maximum depth is 29 feet. Dellwater has a mean depth of only 8 feet and is 82% littoral (< 15.0 feet), making it prone to partial winterkills. There are 2.5 miles of shoreline with no inlets or outlets connecting to other waterbodies. A public boat access is located on the western shore and has space for 10 vehicles.
A standard survey was completed on Dellwater Lake in 2020 to assess the fish community. Gamefish species targeted by anglers in this lake include Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike abundance was high and has steadily increased since 2005. Northern Pike ranged from 14 to 28 inches in length and averaged about 2 pounds each. With 72% of Northern Pike outside the statewide/zone protected slot of 22-26 inches, anglers should have the opportunity to catch harvestable sized fish.
Bluegill lengths ranged from 4 to 8 inches and averaged 7 inches. Bluegill abundance was high and all but 1 fish were less than 8 inches long. Bluegill ages ranged from 1 to 10 years old. Bluegill growth is slow in Dellwater, with fish averaging just over 4 inches at 4 years old. The Bluegill population appears stunted due to high abundance, causing slow growth.
Black Crappie ranged from 6 to nearly 11 inches and averaged around 9 inches. Black Crappie abundance has recovered since adults were stocked in 2002, following a partial winterkill. Black Crappie also grow slowly in Dellwater Lake.
A total of 7 Largemouth Bass were captured with lengths ranging from 9 to 19 inches. Previous surveys targeting Largemouth Bass in 2006, 2008, and 2015 confirmed the population has reestablished following stocking to reintroduce the species in 2002.
Yellow Perch are an important forage species for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass. Yellow Perch abundance was below average compared to similar lakes in the area. Yellow Perch ranged from 6 to 7 inches in length.
Other species sampled during the survey included Brown Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and White Sucker.
Currently no aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been found in Dellwater Lake. 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 lake. Please follow the current AIS regulations to avoid spreading to other lakes.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Dellwater Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Dellwater 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
- Dellwater Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Dellwater Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Balm Lake · 537 ac · 1.5 mi
- Island Lake · 424 ac · 2.5 mi
- Moose Lake · 132 ac · 3.4 mi
- Sandy Lake · 103 ac · 5.2 mi
- Clearwater Lake · 999 ac · 6.2 mi
- Bagley Lake · 97 ac · 7.3 mi
- Deer Lake · 298 ac · 9.3 mi
- Long Lake · 664 ac · 10.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Dellwater Lake?
Dellwater Lake reaches 29 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 8 ft; about 82% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Dellwater Lake?
Dellwater Lake covers 199 acres with about 2.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Dellwater Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Dellwater Lake average 16.2 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Dellwater Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2020) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Dellwater Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Dellwater Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Dellwater Lake have a public access?
Yes. Dellwater Lake has one public access site: Dellwater Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Dellwater Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Dellwater Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Dellwater Lake in 2020, the most recent of 8 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Dellwater Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Dellwater Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report