Minnesota · Crow Wing County
Whitefish Lake Fishing guide
Whitefish Lake is a 7,714-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 138 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 11.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 28 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers5.3per gill net13"Typical28"Biggest
Lengths measured · 268 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2025Lengths measured · 25 fish
2024Lengths measured · 118 fish
2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2023Largemouth bassFair numbers45.6per hr (electrofishing)12"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 260 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 222 fish
2024Lengths measured · 38 fish
2021Lengths measured · 208 fish
2018Lengths measured · 8 fish
2015Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Smallmouth bassJust a few0.9per hr (electrofishing)15"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 4 fish
2024Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2021Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2018Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 12 fish
2015Northern pikeFair numbers9per gill net22"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 439 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 199 fish
2024Lengths measured · 240 fish
2021Lengths measured · 306 fish
2018Lengths measured · 191 fish
2015BluegillFair numbers26.3per trap net5"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 723 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 687 fish
2024Lengths measured · 36 fish
2021Lengths measured · 719 fish
2018Lengths measured · 51 fish
2015CrappieJust a few0.7per trap net7"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 61 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 30 fish
2024Lengths measured · 31 fish
2021Lengths measured · 24 fish
2018Lengths measured · 4 fish
2015Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Yellow perchExcellent numbers19.6per gill net6"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 950 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 587 fish
2024Lengths measured · 363 fish
2021Lengths measured · 198 fish
2018Lengths measured · 166 fish
2015Rock bassGood numbers3per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 154 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 76 fish
2024Lengths measured · 78 fish
2021Lengths measured · 88 fish
2018Lengths measured · 42 fish
2015Rates 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 Whitefish Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 11.8 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 138 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 11.8 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 138 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | — | — |
| 2024 | 28" | 19" | 33" |
| 2023 | 26" | — | — |
| 2022 | 24" | — | — |
| 2021 | 26" | 15" | 29" |
| 2020 | 26" | — | — |
| 2019 | 12" | — | — |
| 2018 | 29" | 18" | 35" |
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 · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | 5,000,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 5,000,000 fry · 36,849 fingerlings · 14,993 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 5,000,000 fry · 2,840 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 5,000,000 fry · 56,201 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 8,300,000 fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 49,428 fingerlings · 2,310 yearlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 8,000,000 fry · 23,516 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 5,000,000 fry · 61,398 fingerlings · 1,042 yearlings · 418 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 6,300,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 6,300,000 fry · 67,271 fingerlings · 2,975 yearlings · 715 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
The current management plan calls for 5 million Walleye fry to be stocked annually into Whitefish and another 880,000 into connected Cross Lake. Whitefish is also stocked in even numbered years with Walleye fingerlings at the rate of one pound per littoral acre (2,714 pounds). Prior to the current plan, Whitefish was considered a "core" lake and as such was stocked for a number of years at a rate of 2 pounds per littoral acre. Given that additional stocking did not result in an increase in abundance, stocking reverted to the original 1 pound per littoral acre rate in 2022. Night electrofishing was conducted on September 17th, 2025, to monitor the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Walleyes. The total sample time was 2 hours with no YOY Walleye caught. YOY Walleye were caught at the rate of 12 per hour the previous year (2024) and past catches have been as high as 44.4 per hour. Age 1 and older Walleye were caught at the rate of 5.0 per hour. These fish ranged in size from 8.3 to 22.2 inches, with a mean length of 12.2 inches.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Whitefish Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Whitefish 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.
Open the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report
All Whitefish Lake fishing reports → · Crow Wing County reports
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Upper Whitefish Lake (trailer launch)
- Whitefish Lake, Pig Bay Public Water Access (carry-in)
DNR bathymetry
Whitefish Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Clamshell Lake · 211 ac · 1.6 mi
- Arrowhead Lake · 296 ac · 1.8 mi
- Pig Lake · 196 ac · 2.1 mi
- Bertha Lake · 337 ac · 2.3 mi
- Grass Lake · 46 ac · 2.4 mi
- Kimball Lake · 190 ac · 2.9 mi
- Bass Lake · 121 ac · 2.9 mi
- Lower Hay Lake · 700 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Whitefish Lake?
Whitefish Lake reaches 138 ft at its deepest point; about 35% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Whitefish Lake?
Whitefish Lake covers 7,714 acres with about 32.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Whitefish Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Whitefish Lake average 11.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Whitefish Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Whitefish Lake have a public access?
Yes. Whitefish Lake has 2 public access sites, including Upper Whitefish Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Whitefish Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 28"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2018.
When was Whitefish Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Whitefish Lake in 2025, the most recent of 28 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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