Whitefish Lake

How big is Whitefish Lake?

How deep is Whitefish Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Whitefish Lake?

What are the closest cities to Whitefish Lake?

Are there boat launches on Whitefish Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Whitefish Lake?

Whitefish Lake is a 125-acre lake with a maximum depth of 30 feet located 1 mile northeast of Pinewood in Beltrami County. There is a County-owned public water access located on the northeast shore of the lake with an earthen ramp and parking for 3 vehicles/trailers. Whitefish Lake is managed primarily for Bluegill and Black Crappie, with Walleye managed as a secondary species.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has classified Minnesota lakes into 43 different lake classes based on physical characteristics and the fish community present in the lake. Whitefish Lake is in lake class 31. The following discussion makes comparisons between Whitefish Lake and other class 31 lakes in the state. Other Bemidji area lakes in this class include Julia, Little Wolf, and Deer Lake.

Whitefish Lake is managed as an occasional winterkill lake, although extensive winterkill of fish has not occurred in some time. The 2015 survey documented a variety of sizes and ages of many of the gamefish species found in the lake, which indicates that those populations of fish are surviving, reproducing successfully and exhibiting good growth rates.

The 2015 Bluegill trap net catch rate of 9.33/trap net was within the normal range of 6.14/trap net to 46.60/trap net for class 31 lakes. The average size of Bluegill captured was 7.38 inches in length, with fish up to 9.21 inches in length captured in the survey. A good portion of the trap net catch exceeded 8 inches in length.

An electrofishing assessment targeting Largemouth Bass was conducted as part of the 2015 survey. The catch rate of 20.92 bass per hour was wasn't the highest measured in the Bemidji area but shows a good population of Largemouth Bass in Whitefish Lake. Bass captured ranged from 9.61 inches to 18.03 inches in length with an average size of 15.18 inches in length.
The 2015 catch rate for Northern Pike was 10.33/gill net, which was near the top of the range for class 31 lakes (3.5/gill net to 10.5/gill net). The average size of Pike captured in the survey was 19.81 inches in length and 2.20 lbs/fish with pike up to 36.14 inches in length present.

Whitefish Lake is stocked with Walleye fry on alternate years and has provided some Walleye fishing opportunity at times. The 2015 survey showed few Walleye in the lake. The catch rate (0.50/gill net) was below the normal range of 1.33/gill net to 5.0/gill net for class 31 lakes. Walleye numbers in Whitefish Lake have declined since the most recent assessment in 2007 (2.33/gill net). Walleye anglers may want to consider one of the many other lakes in the Bemidji area that have more consistent Walleye fishing than Whitefish Lake.

Black Crappie catch rates were also below the normal range for class 31 lakes and down from historic surveys. The few Black Crappie captured in the survey (6 total) measured up to 11.97 inches in length. As with Walleye, anglers seeking Black Crappie may want to give Whitefish Lake a pass and focus their efforts on one of the many other quality crappie lakes in the Bemidji Area.

Other species of fish captured in the 2015 survey were Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Brown Bullhead.

What is the average air temp for Whitefish Lake?

Are there any state parks near Whitefish Lake?