White Pine Lake

How big is White Pine Lake?

How deep is White Pine Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in White Pine Lake?

What are the closest cities to White Pine Lake?

Are there boat launches on White Pine Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near White Pine Lake?

White Pine Lake is located about 7 miles north of Lutsen Township. There is concrete public access within the USFS campground located on the south shore which can be reached via the Honeymoon Trail. The campground also features an accessible fishing deck next to the boat launch. White Pine Lake is an Ecological Class 12 lake, which is characterized by a shallow maximum depth, complete littoral coverage, and very soft bog-stained water. Most of the shoreline is forested, with light development primarily on the south shore. Walleye and Yellow Perch are the primary management species for White Pine Lake, although the lake also supports populations of Northern Pike, Bluegill, and Pumpkinseed.

The 2022 Walleye gill net catch of 3.33 fish/set was the highest recorded since the 2002 but was near the lower end of the normal range of Walleye catch rates observed in similar lakes in this area. The 2022 catch did represent an increase from the previous three surveys (2007, 2012, and 2016) where catch rates ranged from 1.33 - 2.50 fish/set, which may be an indication of stabilizing natural recruitment by the Walleye population. Walleye sampled in gill nets and 0.75-inch-mesh trap nets ranged from 8.1 - 25.5 inches and had a mean length of about 14 inches. Aging results from the Walleye sample indicate small, but consistent natural year classes were produced 2018 - 2021. These results suggest that Walleye natural recruitment and relative abundance has improved recently, but remained short of the long-range goal identified for the population in the current lake management plan (5.0 fish/gill net set).

The 2022 Yellow Perch gill net catch of 21.00 fish/set was considered high when compared to similar lakes in the region but typical for this lake. Average size of Yellow Perch sampled in gill net sets was also high with an average weight of 0.27 lb/fish. Lengths of fish collected in all sampling gears ranged from 5.5 - 11.8 inches. Yellow Perch in White Pine Lake provide a high-quality forage base for Walleye and Northern Pike in addition to quality angling opportunities, as about 29% of the perch sampled in 2022 were nine inches or greater.

Northern Pike appeared very abundant in White Pine Lake in 2022. The gill net catch (7.17 fish/set) was the highest observed to date for the lake and fell above the normal range of catch rates observed on similar lakes. No aging structures were collected from Northern Pike in 2022, although the length frequency of collected Northern Pike indicated multiple age classes contributed to the sample and included fish as large as 36.7 inches. A notable proportion of the fish sampled in 2022 were near or above the preferred size (28 inches) for Northern Pike, suggesting the population can provide quality angling opportunities and the potential for memorable fish, even at higher densities.

Bluegill have been established in White Pine Lake since at least 1990 but have generally appeared at low-moderate abundances in most surveys. The 2022 Bluegill 0.75-inch-mesh trap net was the highest recorded to date by a wide margin (6.8 fish/set) and was considered high compared to similar lakes that support Bluegill. The Bluegill sample included fish between 3.7 and 10.8 inches, with about 25% of the sample comprised of quality sized fish (six inches or larger). Aging results identified nine naturally produced year classes, including fish as old as 10 years old. Increased Bluegill abundance documented in 2022 was bolstered by strong survival of the 2020 (age-2) year class, which accounted for about 68% of the sample. Catch rates of Pumpkinseed were also the highest recorded to date for White Pine Lake. The sample included fish from from 3.5 - 6.3 inches, although most were five inches or less. With increasing relative abundance and size structure of both Bluegill and Pumpkinseed, White Pine Lake may provide a valuable opportunity for anglers to target panfish in an area where those fisheries have historically been limited.

As of 2022, no aquatic invasive species had been reported or identified in White Pine Lake. Anglers and boaters are reminded to review the recommended actions for cleaning watercraft and gear before and after accessing any waterbody, and to adhere to all Minnesota aquatic invasive species laws to protect Minnesota lakes and rivers from additional infestations.

Are there any state parks near White Pine Lake?