Minnesota · Becker County
Little Bemidji Lake Fishing guide
Little Bemidji Lake sits in Becker County, Minnesota, and covers 293 acres, reaching 58 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.3per gill net19"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 14 fish
2023Lengths measured · 11 fish
2018Lengths measured · 12 fish
2013Lengths measured · 28 fish
2008Largemouth bassFair numbers37.6per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 10 fish
2023Lengths measured · 20 fish
2018Lengths measured · 13 fish
2013Lengths measured · 7 fish
2008Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers9.3per gill net23"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 59 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 59 fish
2023Lengths measured · 88 fish
2018Lengths measured · 62 fish
2013Lengths measured · 61 fish
2008BluegillFair numbers32.3per trap net4"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 313 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 313 fish
2023Lengths measured · 245 fish
2018Lengths measured · 225 fish
2013Lengths measured · 429 fish
2008Yellow perchFair numbers1.2per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 19 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 19 fish
2023Lengths measured · 9 fish
2018Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 7 fish
2013Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2008Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rock bassGood numbers0.9per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2023Lengths measured · 12 fish
2023Lengths measured · 5 fish
2018Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 8 fish
2013Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2008Rates 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 Little Bemidji 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 58 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 58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29" | 17" | 35" |
| 2018 | 26" | 17" | 33" |
| 2013 | 21" | 17" | 31" |
| 2008 | 25" | 16" | 29" |
| 2003 | 25" | 14" | 35" |
| 1998 | 21" | 17" | 25" |
| 1993 | 22" | 13" | 29" |
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
Wacky-Rigged Stickworm
5" stickworm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 112,500 fry · 3,631 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 177,500 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 110,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 101,250 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 59,000 fry · 1,352 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 65,500 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,129 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 600 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
Little Bemidji is a lightly developed, 293-acre lake in north central Becker County, within the Ottertail River Watershed. The surrounding watershed is primarily mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with light development. There is a resort on the northwest shore and a public access on the west central shore. Boat access is also available from Elbow Lake via the Otter Tail River. On 07/17/2023, a standard survey of the Little Bemidji fish community was conducted. The primary gamefish species sought by anglers in this lake include Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill.
Walleye numbers have increased slightly since the previous assessment that was conducted in 2018. In 2023, Walleyes ranging in size from 11 inches to 30 inches long were captured, with the average length being nearly 20 inches. Northern Pike sampled ranged from 14 to 35 inches, with an average length of 24 inches. Catch rates were down in 2023 compared to record high numbers of Northern Pike sampled during the 2018 assessment. Bluegills in Little Bemidji Lake are relatively abundant, and generally small. Fish over eight inches were not captured in 2023. The vast majority of the population of Bluegill is between 3.5 and six inches. Only ten Largemouth Bass were sampled during this survey. Bass had an average length of 12 inches, but fish just over 17 inches were observed. The Yellow Perch population has been declining in Little Bemidji since 1983. Just under 20 perch were sampled during the 2023 survey, and those fish averaged seven inches in length. Though the statewide trend for Tullibee (Cisco) is declining, the population within Little Bemidji is doing well. Abundance in 2023 was the highest ever recorded. Cisco ranging from seven inches to nearly 17 inches were sampled during this assessment. Cisco are a high protein forage species and are likely sustaining the forage base in this lake in the absence of Yellow Perch. Other species sampled during this assessment included Black Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.
Read the full DNR narrative
Aquatic habitat near the shoreline in Little Bemidji Lake includes many areas of dense Chara, a native aquatic plant. Some areas of emergent vegetation also exist. These plants provide nesting and rearing areas for fish, as well as help stabilize shorelines and protect water quality. Preservation of the integrity of these vegetation stands are crucial for the long-term health of the aquatic life assemblage in Little Bemidji Lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Bemidji Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Bemidji 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
- Little Bemidji Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Bemidji Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Many Point Lake · 1,701 ac · 1.8 mi
- Elbow Lake · 995 ac · 2.7 mi
- Round Lake · 1,094 ac · 4.2 mi
- Tulaby Lake · 832 ac · 4.4 mi
- Waboose Lake · 232 ac · 4.7 mi
- Juggler Lake · 429 ac · 5.7 mi
- Ice Cracking Lake · 345 ac · 6 mi
- Winter Lake · 117 ac · 6.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Bemidji Lake?
Little Bemidji Lake reaches 58 ft at its deepest point; about 20% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Bemidji Lake?
Little Bemidji Lake covers 293 acres with about 3.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Bemidji Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Bemidji Lake average 9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Bemidji Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Bemidji Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Little Bemidji Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Bemidji Lake has one public access site: Little Bemidji Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Little Bemidji Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 29"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Little Bemidji Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Bemidji Lake in 2023, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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