Minnesota · Washington County
White Bear Lake Fishing guide
White Bear Lake is a 2,428-acre lake in Washington County, Minnesota, reaching 83 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 12.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 24 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers1.1per gill net19"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 25 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2024Lengths measured · 8 fish
2022Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2020Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Largemouth bassFair numbers26per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 81 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 11 fish
2024Lengths measured · 70 fish
2022Lengths measured · 37 fish
2020Lengths measured · 2 fish
2020Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Northern pikeGood numbers10.9per gill net21"Typical32"Biggest
Lengths measured · 253 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 141 fish
2024Lengths measured · 112 fish
2022Lengths measured · 75 fish
2020Lengths measured · 8 fish
2020Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Present and managed by the DNR.
BluegillPresent8.2per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 188 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 98 fish
2024Lengths measured · 90 fish
2022Lengths measured · 60 fish
2020Lengths measured · 320 fish
2020CrappiePresent2.3per gill net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 52 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 22 fish
2024Lengths measured · 30 fish
2022Lengths measured · 45 fish
2020Lengths measured · 13 fish
2020Yellow perchFair numbers1.4per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 13 fish
2024Lengths measured · 19 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2020Lengths measured · 1 fish
2020Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Last recorded in the 1994 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassExcellent numbers4.3per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 99 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024Lengths measured · 25 fish
2024Lengths measured · 74 fish
2022Lengths measured · 45 fish
2020Lengths measured · 1 fish
2020Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
No 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 White Bear Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.5 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. On a lake that drops to 83 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.5 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 83 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.
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 | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32" | 21" | 15" |
| 2022 | 31" | 24" | 18" |
| 2020 | 32" | 22" | 15" |
| 2018 | 35" | 27" | 17" |
| 2017 | 31" | 29" | 17" |
| 2016 | 30" | 26" | 18" |
| 2014 | 34" | 25" | 16" |
| 2012 | 31" | 28" | 14" |
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 · 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
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
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 | Muskellunge | 2,725 fingerlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 7,079 fingerlings · 994 yearlings · 50 adults |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 1,228 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 3,975 fingerlings · 303 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 18,452 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 1,315 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 24,766 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 10 adults |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,576 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Muskellunge | 82 yearlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 17,678 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 1,309 fingerlings · 18,806 |
Stocking records before 2019 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
White Bear Lake is a mesotrophic, class 22 lake located in Ramsey and Washington Counties. The Lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet and is 2,427 acres in surface area, with 1,314 littoral acres (54.4%). The primary management species are Walleye and Muskellunge, and the secondary management species are Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. Since 2017 Walleye fingerlings have been stocked at variable rates of 1.0 pound per littoral acre (1,314 pounds) or 0.65 pounds per littoral acre (854 pounds) to assess the effect of stocking rate on Walleye year class strength. Muskellunge are stocked at rate of 1.0 fish per littoral acre (1,314 fish), when available. Supplemental stocking of Muskellunge has occurred under permit by local sportsman clubs. All Muskellunge stocked in White Bear Lake since 1990 have been the Leech Lake strain. Muskellunge population estimates are produced using 2-year mark and recapture surveys that occur every 8 years using Spring trap netting. The next mark and recapture survey for Muskellunge is scheduled to occur in 2028 and 2029. Gill net surveys to monitor Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch occur every two years, and this report details the most recent gill net survey conducted in July of 2024. The previous gill net survey occurred in 2022.
Walleyes were sampled using gill nets at a rate of 1.5 fish per net. This catch rate is low, but not unusual for White Bear Lake. The mid-range management goal is to maintain a catch rate of 4 Walleyes per net. Within the last 25 years, this goal has only been met in 1999 and 2012. Although slightly lower than the previous gill net survey, average size was relatively large at 18.4 inches in length. Walleye lengths ranged from 5.4 to 21.6 inches, and most fish were 4-6 years old.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 11.6 fish per gill net. This catch rate is the highest catch rate since 1999. Size was above average for the lake class with a mean length of 22.5 inches in. This is the largest average length for White Bear Lake in recent history. Northern Pike ranged from 15.6 to 32.4 inches in length, and about 3% of fish were 30 inches or longer.
Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 1.2 fish per gill net. This catch rate is relatively low, but not uncommon for surveys in the last decade on White Bear Lake. Even in years of higher catch rates, White Bear Lake has never exceeded the average Yellow Perch catch rate for the lake class. Average size was just 6.5 inches in length. Fish ranged from 6 to 7.1 inches in length.
Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were also sampled in gill nets; however, summer gill nets typically do not produce reliable data to evaluate these populations. Of the 11 Largemouth Bass sampled, none were of notable size. Other fish species were sampled including Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, and Hybrid Sunfish. Although Smallmouth Bass have previously been sampled in low numbers, none were sampled in this gill net survey.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
White Bear Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on White Bear 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
- White Bear Lake, Matoska (trailer launch)
- White Bear Lake, WBL Park (N) (trailer launch)
- White Bear Lake (S) (carry-in)
- White Bear Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
- White Bear Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
White Bear Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Lost Lake · 22 ac · 2.1 mi
- Bald Eagle Lake · 1,049 ac · 3.3 mi
- Silver Lake · 76 ac · 3.5 mi
- Casey Lake · 12 ac · 4 mi
- Otter Lake · 302 ac · 4.1 mi
- DeMontreville Lake · 157 ac · 4.4 mi
- Olson Lake · 87 ac · 4.7 mi
- Jane Lake · 158 ac · 5.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is White Bear Lake?
White Bear Lake reaches 83 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 20 ft; about 54% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is White Bear Lake?
White Bear Lake covers 2,428 acres with about 13.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in White Bear Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on White Bear Lake average 12.5 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in White Bear Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge, rock bass, white bass, sauger.
Is White Bear Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does White Bear Lake have a public access?
Yes. White Bear Lake has 5 public access sites, including White Bear Lake, Matoska (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in White Bear Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 32"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2012.
When was White Bear Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed White Bear Lake in 2024, the most recent of 24 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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