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Visit Leech Lake
Leech Lake is known for offering the best Walleye fishing and Muskie fishing in the Midwest. With 195 miles of shoreline and 112,835 acres to explore, both professional fishermen and family fishing trips alike are sure to enjoy a successful day of fishing on Leech Lake.
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Baby Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Lake, MN
- How big is Baby Lake?
- How deep is Baby Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Baby Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Baby Lake area?
- Are there topographical lake maps available Baby Lake?
- Are there boat launches on Baby Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Baby Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Baby Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Baby Lake?
How big is Baby Lake?
How deep is Baby Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Baby Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Bluntnose Minnow, Brook Stickleback, Central Mudminnow, Cisco (Tullibee), Common Shiner, Golden Shiner, Hybrid Sunfish, Iowa Darter, Johnny Darter, Least Darter, Mottled Sculpin, Tadpole Madtom and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Baby Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there topographical lake maps available Baby Lake?
Are there boat launches on Baby Lake?
Baby Lake area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Baby Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
Baby Lake is a 705 acre lake located near Hackensack, Minnesota that has 11.73 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 69 feet. There is a state owned public access on the southeast shore. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different classes based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Baby Lake is in Lake Class 23; lakes in the class are generally deep and very clear lakes. Baby Lake is managed primarily for muskellunge, smallmouth and largemouth bass, with secondary species being northern pike, bluegill, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch and cisco (tullibee).
Muskellunge were specifically targeted during spring 2012. Lengths of fish caught ranged from 17 to 45 inches, with catch rates above the long term goal for Baby Lake. Using a mark-recapture design, the muskellunge population of 30.0" and longer fish was estimated to be 2.9 fish per acre. Abundance of smallmouth and largemouth bass was the highest observed to date. Smallmouth bass ranged in length from 9 to 20 inches and averaged 13 inches overall. Largemouth bass lengths ranged from 5 to 16 inches and averaged 9 inches. Walleye numbers are lower than the historic high found in 2006, but are within the average for Lake Class 23. Two strong year classes of age-4 and age-2 fish were observed, and the majority of age-4 fish were 15 inches at the time of this survey. Overall, the average length of walleye sampled was also 15 inches and fish up to 24 inches were captured. Northern pike catch rates were similar to previous surveys and lengths ranged from 16 to 31 inches. . Yellow perch numbers were also similar to previous surveys and lengths ranged from 5 to 10 inches. Black crappie and cisco numbers were very low with only 5 black crappie and 2 cisco sampled in 2012. Bluegill catch rates and sizes are also on the lower end of the averages for lake class 23.
Other fish species that are available to anglers are bowfin (dogfish), hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish and rock bass.
People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Currently the only aquatic invasive species (AIS) that has been identified in Baby Lake is the rusty crayfish. AIS are moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters, and lake shore owners and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Walker Area Fisheries office.
What is the average air temp for Baby Lake?
Are there any state parks near Baby Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Baby Lake...DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
Kid Lake | 1.2 mi | 168 | 52 ft |
Man Lake | 1.2 mi | 491 | 93 ft |
Kerr Lake | 1.6 mi | 83 | 79 ft |
Child Lake | 1.6 mi | 285 | 29 ft |
McKeown Lake | 1.6 mi | 168 | 37 ft |
Lost Lake | 1.7 mi | 69 | 26 ft |
Little Woman Lake | 1.9 mi | 36 | 14 ft |
Moccasin Lake | 2.0 mi | 272 | 95 ft |
Barnum Lake | 2.1 mi | 151 | 30 ft |
Squeedunk Lake | 2.3 mi | 17 | 35 ft |