Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Little Pine Lake Fishing guide
Little Pine Lake covers 330 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 36 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeFair numbers1.1per gill net20"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2018Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2005Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 3 fish
2000Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeFair numbers7per gill net22"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 65 fish
2024Lengths measured · 133 fish
2018Lengths measured · 144 fish
2005Lengths measured · 53 fish
2000BluegillJust a few16.8per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 442 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 442 fish
2024Lengths measured · 328 fish
2018Lengths measured · 305 fish
2005Lengths measured · 493 fish
2000CrappieJust a few1per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 60 fish
2024Lengths measured · 27 fish
2018Lengths measured · 9 fish
2005Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2000Yellow perchGood numbers9.1per gill net5"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 93 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 93 fish
2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2018Lengths measured · 26 fish
2005Lengths measured · 49 fish
2000Rock bassGood numbers1.2per gill net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 7 fish
2018Only 7 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 2 fish
2005Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2000Rates 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 Pine 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. With 68% 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 68% 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.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23" | 33" | 14" |
| 2018 | 22" | 34" | 16" |
| 2005 | 26" | 31" | 13" |
| 2000 | 22" | 29" | 15" |
| 1995 | 19" | 34" | 12" |
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
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
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
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 2024 survey
Little Pine Lake is the easternmost lake in the 14,000-acre Whitefish chain of lakes in northern Crow Wing County. At 330 acres Little Pine is one of the smaller lakes in the Whitefish chain. The maximum depth is 36 feet and 68% of the lake is 15 feet deep or less. There is no public access on Little Pine Lake however, it can be accessed via multiple accesses on the Whitefish Chain.
Northen Pike were sampled in high numbers at 7.0 per gill net with an average length of 22.2". Out of the 62 Northern Pike sampled 14% were over 26" with the largest fish measured 33.8". This lake is a part of the north central zone for Northern Pike which has a possession limit of 10 with no more than 2 over 26". All from 22"-26" must be immediately released.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye were sampled in low numbers at 1.1 per gill net. The average length was quality at 20.6" with fish up to 23.9" sampled. Walleyes are not directly stocked into Little Pine Lake; however, the Whitefish chain is stocked annually with fry and every other year with fingerlings. Walleyes have the ability to move throughout the whole chain.
Black Crappie were sampled in high numbers at 5.7 per gill net with an average length of 7.4". Black Crappie numbers were lower in the trap net and averaged 8.4". Only 13% of the fish measured 9" or greater, and the maximum length was 10.6". Bluegill were sampled in high numbers at 32.3 per gill net with an average length of 6.5". Bluegills were sampled in lower numbers in the trap nets an averaged 5.3". The largest Bluegill was 8.1" and 27% measured 7" or greater. A 5-fish bag for both Black Crappie and Bluegill were implemented on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes in 2021 to maintain or improve the panfish population.
Largemouth Bass electrofishing was done across the Whitefish Chain, resulting in a catch rate of 44.9 per hour. Average length was 13.1", with fish up to 19.2" sampled.
Little Pine Lake is designated as AIS (aquatic invasive species) infested waters because of Zebra Mussels were confirmed in 2014. Lake users are required to inspect and remove any aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and trailers as well as pull the plug and drain all water from the watercraft, including bilges, livewells and baitwells.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Pine Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Pine 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
- Public access: Access via channel from Daggett Lake.
DNR bathymetry
Little Pine Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Daggett Lake · 258 ac · 1.5 mi
- Command Lake · 21 ac · 1.5 mi
- Goodrich Lake · 382 ac · 2.1 mi
- Ox Lake · 241 ac · 2.2 mi
- O'Brien Lake · 186 ac · 2.5 mi
- Pickerel Lake · 117 ac · 2.7 mi
- East Fox Lake · 241 ac · 2.9 mi
- Island Lake · 232 ac · 2.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Pine Lake?
Little Pine Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 10 ft; about 68% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Pine Lake?
Little Pine Lake covers 330 acres with about 6.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Pine Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Pine Lake average 8.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Pine Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Pine Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Little Pine Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Little Pine Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Pine Lake has one public access site: Public access (Access via channel from Daggett Lake.).
How big do walleye get in Little Pine Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was Little Pine Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Pine Lake in 2024, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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