Portage Lake
Cass County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 4-6 PM. SEE MORE
Explore 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.
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We want to see what you've caught on Portage Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Portage Lake, MN
- How big is Portage Lake?
- How deep is Portage Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Portage Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Portage Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Portage Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Portage Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Portage Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Portage Lake?
How big is Portage Lake?
How deep is Portage Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Portage Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Cisco (Tullibee), Fathead Minnow, Golden Shiner, Johnny Darter, Lake Whitefish, Mimic Shiner, Sand Shiner, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Portage Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Lake-Link Featured Lodging
Are there boat launches on Portage Lake?
Portage Lake area businesses:
Are there places to eat and drink near Portage Lake?
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Portage Lake was conducted on August 16-17, 2021, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 18 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 16 stations and a 15-foot seine was used to sample two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Fathead Minnow).
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (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 and Fathead Minnow). 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.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Portage Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Leech Lake River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Portage Lake?
Are there any state parks near Portage 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 Portage Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Little Portage Lake | 1.9 mi | 64 | |
| Ten Lake | 3.3 mi | 37 | |
| Hole-In-Bog Lake | 4.4 mi | 74 | |
| Foot Lake | 4.4 mi | 10 | |
| Middle Sucker Lake | 5.2 mi | 286 | 20 ft |
| Upper Sucker Lake | 5.2 mi | 113 | 25 ft |
| Lower Sucker Lake | 5.5 mi | 592 | 35 ft |
| Lydick Lake | 6.2 mi | 68 | 20 ft |
| Mark Lake | 7.4 mi | 15 | |
| Sugar Lake | 7.5 mi | 1,509 | 22 ft |
