Minnesota · Douglas County
Little Chippewa Lake Fishing guide
Little Chippewa Lake covers 271 acres in Douglas County, Minnesota, reaching 24 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.6 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.8per gill net14"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 32 fish
2025Lengths measured · 61 fish
2019Lengths measured · 31 fish
2013Lengths measured · 6 fish
2009Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers40.8per hr (electrofishing)13"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 98 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 98 fish
2025Lengths measured · 117 fish
2019Lengths measured · 39 fish
2013Lengths measured · 72 fish
2009Northern pikeFair numbers9.8per gill net23"Typical36"Biggest
Lengths measured · 69 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 69 fish
2025Lengths measured · 37 fish
2019Lengths measured · 96 fish
2013Lengths measured · 73 fish
2009BluegillGood numbers66.3per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 618 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 618 fish
2025Lengths measured · 515 fish
2019Lengths measured · 336 fish
2013Lengths measured · 593 fish
2009CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 15 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 15 fish
2025Lengths measured · 26 fish
2019Lengths measured · 14 fish
2013Lengths measured · 15 fish
2009Yellow perchGood numbers7.8per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 48 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 48 fish
2025Lengths measured · 22 fish
2019Lengths measured · 17 fish
2013Lengths measured · 144 fish
2009No recent survey rating.
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 Little Chippewa 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.
- 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | 19" | 36" |
| 2019 | 27" | 18" | 35" |
| 2013 | 24" | 17" | 31" |
| 2009 | 20" | 19" | 36" |
| 2005 | 25" | 16" | 35" |
| 2001 | 25" | 19" | 35" |
| 1997 | 27" | 17" | 30" |
| 1993 | 24" | 20" | 30" |
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 · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
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
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 | 4,500 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 4,440 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 4,440 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,220 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 1,125 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,642 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 2,220 fingerlings · 12 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
This nearshore survey was conducted during summer 2025 to assess populations of non-game species and small game fish using backpack electrofishing and seining. Backpack electrofishing and/or seining were conducted at 10 stations, representing a variety of habitat types, along the shoreline of Little Chippewa Lake. The survey was conducted during the five-year sampling window for intensive monitoring efforts within the Chippewa River watershed, and will be contributing to a watershed assessment process in coordination with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Thirteen species were collected during this survey. Two species (Banded Killifish and Iowa Darter) were considered "intolerant" and two species (Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish) were considered "tolerant" based on current tolerance classifications for Minnesota lakes.
Nearshore catch data will be used along with gill and trap net catch data to develop an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score, which is indicative of the health of Little Chippewa Lake.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Chippewa Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Chippewa 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 Chippewa Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Chippewa Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Devils Lake · 234 ac · 1.1 mi
- Stowe Lake · 377 ac · 1.8 mi
- Whiskey Lake · 160 ac · 2 mi
- Chippewa Lake · 1,186 ac · 2.8 mi
- Moon Lake · 139 ac · 3.1 mi
- Lake Moses · 824 ac · 4.3 mi
- Long Lake · 202 ac · 5.2 mi
- Lake Aaron · 610 ac · 5.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Chippewa Lake?
Little Chippewa Lake reaches 24 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 15 ft; about 55% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Chippewa Lake?
Little Chippewa Lake covers 271 acres with about 2.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Chippewa Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Chippewa Lake average 9.6 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Chippewa Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Chippewa Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2018.
Does Little Chippewa Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Chippewa Lake has one public access site: Little Chippewa Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Little Chippewa Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 22"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Little Chippewa Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Chippewa Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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