Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake Fishing guide
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake covers 536 acres in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 50 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 17 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.2per gill net11"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 95 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 95 fish
2021Lengths measured · 99 fish
2015Lengths measured · 52 fish
2009Lengths measured · 103 fish
2009Largemouth bassGood numbers92.7per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 105 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 105 fish
2021Lengths measured · 88 fish
2015Lengths measured · 57 fish
2009Lengths measured · 152 fish
2002Smallmouth bassJust a few4.5per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 11 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 11 fish
2021Lengths measured · 9 fish
2015Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeFair numbers7.3per gill net20"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 67 fish
2021Lengths measured · 47 fish
2015Lengths measured · 84 fish
2009Lengths measured · 51 fish
2009BluegillJust a few22.9per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 193 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 193 fish
2021Lengths measured · 139 fish
2015Lengths measured · 204 fish
2009Lengths measured · 328 fish
2002Yellow perchFair numbers1.9per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 18 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 18 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2015Lengths measured · 46 fish
2009Lengths measured · 41 fish
2002Rock bassExcellent numbers5.4per gill net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 63 fish
2021Lengths measured · 44 fish
2015Lengths measured · 46 fish
2009Lengths measured · 36 fish
2002Rates 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 Rabbit (West Portion) Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17 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. On a lake that drops to 50 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. At 17 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. On a lake that drops to 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26" | 18" | 32" |
| 2015 | 25" | 18" | 32" |
| 2009 | 28" | 18" | 36" |
| 2002 | 24" | 17" | 33" |
| 1997 | 29" | 14" | 38" |
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
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 | 308 fingerlings · 160 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 3,000 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 3,960 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,956 fingerlings · 297 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,475 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Walleyes are currently stocked at the rate of 165 lbs of fingerlings every other year (odd years). The 2021 catch was average at 4.2/gill net. Average length was 18.3" and 87% of the fish were 12" or larger.
Northern Pike numbers were average for this type of lake at 7.3/gill net. Average size was 22.3" and 33% of the fish measured 24" or larger, with fish caught up to 32.6". Please be aware that if you decide to fish for Northern Pike, there is a 24"-36" protected slot length limit on the lake. Any fish caught in that size range must be immediately returned to the water. This regulation is intended to increase the average size of northern pike and improve the survival of yellow perch.
The Largemouth Bass electrofishing catch rate was 87.4/hour. Average length was 11.2" and 41% of the fish were 12" or larger. Fish ranged in size from 5.5"-18.3". Smallmouth Bass are also present in low numbers. Four were caught while electrofishing ranging from 10.6"-19.1".
Only five Black Crappies were captured the entire survey. Bluegill numbers looked decent at 22.9/trap net. Average size was 6.1" and 29% measured 7" or larger. Fish up to 9.3" were caught.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Rabbit (West Portion) 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
- Rabbit Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Clinker Lake · 81 ac · 1 mi
- Rabbit (East Portion) Lake · 670 ac · 1.2 mi
- Island Lake · 126 ac · 2 mi
- Manuel Mine Lake · 41 ac · 2.3 mi
- Portsmouth Mine Lake · 149 ac · 3.1 mi
- Serpent Lake · 1,116 ac · 3.5 mi
- Black Lake · 106 ac · 3.7 mi
- Pennington Mine Lake · 62 ac · 3.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Rabbit (West Portion) Lake?
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake reaches 50 ft at its deepest point; about 31% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Rabbit (West Portion) Lake?
Rabbit (West Portion) Lake covers 536 acres with about 6.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Rabbit (West Portion) Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Rabbit (West Portion) Lake average 17 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Rabbit (West Portion) Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Rabbit (West Portion) Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Rabbit (West Portion) Lake have a public access?
Yes. Rabbit (West Portion) Lake has one public access site: Rabbit Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Rabbit (West Portion) Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 26"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Rabbit (West Portion) Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Rabbit (West Portion) Lake in 2021, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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