Minnesota · Polk County
Whitefish Lake Fishing guide
Whitefish Lake sits in Polk County, Minnesota, and covers 243 acres, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 3.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers11.3per gill net18"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 49 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 49 fish
2025Lengths measured · 28 fish
2015Lengths measured · 12 fish
2005Lengths measured · 6 fish
1995Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Northern pikeJust a few5.7per gill net21"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 24 fish
2025Lengths measured · 61 fish
2015Lengths measured · 123 fish
2005Lengths measured · 3 fish
1995Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few8.3per trap net4"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 73 fish
Yellow perchExcellent numbers25.7per gill net5"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 90 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 90 fish
2025Lengths measured · 332 fish
2015Lengths measured · 170 fish
2005Lengths measured · 178 fish
1995Rates 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. In 3.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 75% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. In 3.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- 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. With 75% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops. A 18-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.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Northern pike | Yellow perch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26" | 27" | 6" |
| 2015 | 25" | 28" | 9" |
| 2005 | 15" | 30" | 11" |
| 1995 | 22" | 24" | 9" |
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 · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
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
Yellow perch · Live bait
Slip Bobber + Leech
jumbo or large leech
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 | 183,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 179,980 fry |
| 2023 | Walleye | 183,000 fry |
| 2021 | Walleye | 183,000 fry |
| 2019 | Walleye | 183,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 183,000 fry |
| 2017 | Walleye | 228,750 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Whitefish Lake was conducted July 31st, 2025, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries staff. Data was collected from 10 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, 1 station was sampled with a 50-foot seine and 7 stations were sampled with a 15-foot seine. Two stations were not sampled with a seine because of dense vegetation, water being too deep, muck being too thick, or a combination of circumstances. Nearshore sampling captured 13 species of native fish, which included three species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter and Rock Bass) and three species that are tolerant of disturbance (Black Bullhead, Green Sunfish and Fathead Minnow). The three most common species captured during the nearshore survey in order of abundance were: Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Banded Killifish, and Bluegill.
The nearshore fish survey data was combined with the standard survey data from August 2025 to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Whitefish Lake is located in the Clearwater River Watershed.
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.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Whitefish Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Whitefish Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Turtle Lake · 525 ac · 2.2 mi
- Cross Lake · 320 ac · 2.7 mi
- Poplar Lake · 91 ac · 2.8 mi
- Spring Lake · 134 ac · 5.3 mi
- Sand Hill Lake · 479 ac · 6.7 mi
- Minnow Lake · 110 ac · 9.1 mi
- Lindberg Lake · 96 ac · 9.2 mi
- Island Lake · 616 ac · 9.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Whitefish Lake?
Whitefish Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 75% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Whitefish Lake?
Whitefish Lake covers 243 acres with about 2.8 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Whitefish Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Whitefish Lake average 3.7 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth 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 2017.
Does Whitefish Lake have a public access?
Yes. Whitefish Lake has one public access site: Whitefish Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Whitefish 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 1995.
When was Whitefish Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Whitefish Lake in 2025, the most recent of 7 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Whitefish Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Whitefish Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report