Minnesota · Freeborn County
White Lake Fishing guide
White Lake sits in Freeborn County, Minnesota, and covers 168 acres, reaching 4 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 1 time, most recently in 2015, with yellow perch in the nets. That survey is 11 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Yellow perchExcellent numbers13per gill net7"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
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 yellow perch on White Lake through the year
- Spring
- Perch are draping eggs over flooded cover and weed stems on the shallow flats. In 3 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Perch are spread over sand-grass flats and the first weed edges in loose packs.
- Summer
- Perch are over deeper soft-bottom flats and the basin, on the bottom and in schools.
- Fall
- Perch are roaming the mid-depth flats in loose schools, chasing young-of-year bait while it is still shallow. A 4-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Yellow perch · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Northern Pike | 25,220 fry |
| 2016 | Northern Pike | 40,446 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2015 survey
White Lake, also known as Lake Chapeau, is a 168 acre lake located in Freeborn County near the town of Albert Lea. It has a maximum depth of 5 feet, with the entire surface area classified as littoral. Very little is known about the lake to this point and it has not been managed by DNR Fisheries due to a lack of public access. However, its connection to downstream lakes and as a potential Common Carp source makes it worth assessing as part of a larger watershed-scale management strategy. Rotenone reclamation was presented in 2010 as a tool to improve water quality and habitat but was met with opposition from public stakeholders. Previous data from White Lake were limited to a Special Assessment in 2010 using one gill net and 4 nonstandard trap nets. Regular dissolved oxygen monitoring has not taken place on White Lake, but winterkill events have likely occurred concurrently with other shallow lakes in the area. White Lake was surveyed the week of July 6, 2015 to establish a fisheries management plan with the hope that a public access will eventually be built on the lake. The fish community was assessed using one gill net and nine trap nets and water quality was recorded using secchi depth, dissolved oxygen, and temperature measurements.
Yellow Perch
Read the full DNR narrative
A total of 13 Yellow Perch were sampled with the gill net for a catch rate of 13.0/net. This represents a drastic decline from the 2010 catch rate of 260/net. Lengths ranged from 7.1 to 8.3 inches with an average of 7.7 inches. Another 11 Yellow Perch ranging from 5.5 to 8.0 inches were sampled with trap nets. Fish from both gears were 1 or 2 years old, with 1 year old fish comprising over 91% of the sample. The drastic drop in catch rate from 2010 to 2015 and the young age of fish in the sample suggest that the population has experienced a significant mortality event in the recent past, most likely a winterkill in 2013-2014.
Black Bullhead
A total of 638 Black Bullheads ranging from 3.8 to 11.1 inches long were sampled with trap nets for a catch rate of 70.9/net. This represents an increase in abundance since the 2010 assessment that sampled 23.0/net, providing further proof that the lake most likely winterkilled between 2010 and 2015. An additional 10 Black Bullheads were sampled with the gill net. Given the shallow and winterkill-prone nature of White Lake, Black Bullheads are likely to remain a substantial member of a simple fish community.
Other Species
Other species sampled in 2015 include Fathead Minnow, Goldfish, Green Sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. Green Sunfish were the most commonly sampled fish, with 133 sampled with the gill net and over 94 sampled per trap net. A fish barrier now exists between White Lake and Fountain Lake, which coupled with a likely winterkill in 2013-2014, may explain the absence of species that were sampled in 2010 including Black Crappie, Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, and White Sucker.
Water Quality Parameters
Water quality parameter measurements included secchi depth, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen readings. At the time of this survey, secchi depth was 3 feet, indicating low water clarity. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen readings throughout the water column ranged from 72.3 degrees Fahrenheit and 8.1 ppm at the surface to 71.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 7.8 ppm at 5 feet. Water quality in 2010 was described as being in a bright green and hypereutrophic state and aquatic plants were rarely observed. In 2015 however, the water was described as brown in color and aquatic plants, specifically Sago Pondweed and Chara, were noted as being commonly observed throughout the lake. This change can be attributed most likely to the absence of Common Carp due to a recent winterkill.
Shoreline property owners also play an important role in the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem, including the fish population. Natural shorelines, including vegetation, woody debris, and bottom substrates, provide valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, help maintain water quality, and reduce bank erosion. By leaving natural shorelines unaltered or restoring them to natural conditions, shoreline property owners are doing their part to maintain or improve a healthy ecosystem in the lake and protect the resource for future generations.
-Sky Wigen, Fisheries Specialist
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
White Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on White 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.
DNR bathymetry
White Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fountain Lake · 522 ac · 1.5 mi
- Pickeral Lake · 588 ac · 2.2 mi
- Albert Lea Lake · 2,669 ac · 5.5 mi
- Morin Lake · 21 ac · 8.4 mi
- Bear Lake · 1,033 ac · 9.1 mi
- Freeborn Lake · 2,034 ac · 9.5 mi
- State Line Lake · 372 ac · 11 mi
- Rice Lake · 266 ac · 16.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is White Lake?
White Lake reaches 4 ft at its deepest point.
How big is White Lake?
White Lake covers 168 acres with about 2.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in White Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on White Lake average 3 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in White Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2015) record yellow perch.
Is White Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked northern pike in 2018; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
How big do yellow perch get in White Lake?
The biggest yellow perch measured in recent DNR surveys taped 8".
When was White Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed White Lake in 2015. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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