Minnesota · St. Louis County
Whiteface Reservoir Fishing guide
Whiteface Reservoir is a 4,568-acre lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 4.5 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, northern pike, bluegill and crappie in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers9.7per gill net12"Typical22"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 196 fish
2022Lengths measured · 174 fish
2017Lengths measured · 166 fish
2012Lengths measured · 176 fish
2007Northern pikeJust a few2.3per gill net18"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 57 fish
2022Lengths measured · 33 fish
2017Lengths measured · 47 fish
2012Lengths measured · 32 fish
2007BluegillJust a few3.3per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 432 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 67 fish
2022Lengths measured · 365 fish
2021Lengths measured · 95 fish
2017Lengths measured · 55 fish
2012CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 80 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2022Lengths measured · 35 fish
2022Lengths measured · 45 fish
2021Lengths measured · 34 fish
2017Lengths measured · 99 fish
2012Yellow perchFair numbers1.5per gill net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 32 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 32 fish
2022Lengths measured · 27 fish
2017Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012Lengths measured · 545 fish
2007Rock bassExcellent numbers1.7per trap net8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 44 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 44 fish
2022Lengths measured · 16 fish
2017Lengths measured · 12 fish
2012Lengths measured · 13 fish
2007Rates 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 Whiteface Reservoir 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.
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.
- 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 | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 22" | 28" | 13" |
| 2017 | 28" | 26" | 11" |
| 2012 | 21" | 31" | 11" |
| 2007 | 26" | 37" | 12" |
| 2001 | 24" | 32" | 11" |
| 1996 | 24" | 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
Yellow perch · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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 2022 survey
Whiteface Reservoir was established in 1923 as a hydropower water storage reservoir when earthen dams were constructed on the Whiteface River and Skunk Creek. Much of the reservoir basin is flooded forest. At summertime highs, the reservoir occupies 4,567 acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The reservoir is located one mile east of Markham, MN. There is a back-in concrete boat ramp located on the south end near the outlet dam off of the Blais Road. Another public access with a boat ramp exists on the north end of the lake near the US Forest Service campground that is also open to public use.
Special angling regulations designed to protect and improve Whiteface Reservoir's high quality sunfish and Black Crappie populations were implemented in 2021. The regulations are a daily limit of five sunfish, possession limit of 20 and a daily limit of five Black Crappie, possession limit 10. Walleye have not been stocked into Whiteface since 1970 because sufficient natural reproduction has been documented to sustain the Walleye fishery. Whiteface was last surveyed by DNR Fisheries in 2017. Whiteface was surveyed during the summer of 2022 to update information about fish populations.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye abundance of 9.6 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 12.5 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. However, growth has historically been slow for Walleye in Whiteface and is likely a function of the low relative productivity of the reservoir compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Several strong year-classes of young Walleye were evident in the sample suggesting angling for Walleye should remain strong for the next few years as these year-classes mature.
Bluegill abundance of 3.3 per trapnet lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was large at 7.9 inches with fish over 10 inches sampled. The proportion of adult Bluegill that exceeded quality size (greater than 6 inches) was 82%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 8 inches) was 69%. Recruitment was consistent with all year-classes from 2013 to 2020 represented.
Black Crappie abundance of 1.4 per trapnet lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was 9.6 inches. The proportion of adult Black Crappie that exceeded quality size (greater than 8 inches) was 84%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 10 inches) was 52%. Recruitment was consistent with all year-classes from 2015 to 2021 represented.
Northern Pike abundance of 2.3 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size was small at 19.5 inches. Channel Catfish may provide an incidental fishery as one large fish was captured.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Whiteface Reservoir fishing reports
Recent reports on Whiteface Reservoir 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.
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All Whiteface Reservoir fishing reports → · St. Louis County reports
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Whiteface Reservoir (S) (trailer launch)
- Whiteface Reservoir, USFS Campgrounds (N) (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Whiteface Reservoir depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Spring Hole Lake · 2 ac · 5.5 mi
- Harris Lake · 68 ac · 6.4 mi
- Upper Comstock Lake · 267 ac · 6.7 mi
- Loon Lake · 271 ac · 7.1 mi
- Long Lake · 374 ac · 7.5 mi
- Hart Lake · 49 ac · 7.6 mi
- Lower Comstock Lake · 160 ac · 7.8 mi
- Mud Hen Lake · 161 ac · 8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Whiteface Reservoir?
Whiteface Reservoir reaches 35 ft at its deepest point; about 24% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Whiteface Reservoir?
Whiteface Reservoir covers 4,568 acres with about 93 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Whiteface Reservoir?
DNR Secchi readings on Whiteface Reservoir average 4.5 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Whiteface Reservoir?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Whiteface Reservoir stocked?
No stocking is on record for Whiteface Reservoir in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Whiteface Reservoir have a public access?
Yes. Whiteface Reservoir has 2 public access sites, including Whiteface Reservoir (S) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Whiteface Reservoir?
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 1996.
When was Whiteface Reservoir last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Whiteface Reservoir in 2022, the most recent of 8 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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