Blandin Reservoir
Itasca County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be fairly active with peak fishing times around 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Blandin Reservoir.Frequently Asked Questions About Blandin Reservoir, MN
- How big is Blandin Reservoir?
- How deep is Blandin Reservoir?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Blandin Reservoir?
- What are the closest cities to Blandin Reservoir?
- Are there places to stay in the Blandin Reservoir area?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Blandin Reservoir?
- What is the average air temp for Blandin Reservoir?
- Are there any state parks near Blandin Reservoir?
How big is Blandin Reservoir?
How deep is Blandin Reservoir?
What kind of fish can you catch in Blandin Reservoir?
What are the closest cities to Blandin Reservoir?
Are there places to stay in the Blandin Reservoir area?
More Lodging Options
Are there places to eat and drink near Blandin Reservoir?
What aquatic invasive species are found in Blandin Reservoir?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
Blandin Reservoir is a 449 acre impoundment on the Mississippi River, which is controlled by a dam at the Blandin Paper Company in Grand Rapids, MN. The reservoir has minimal storage capacity and functions more as a flow-through system, minimizing water level fluctuations. The reservoir has a high percentage of shallow water containing an abundance of wood and wild rice. The 2013 management plan lists Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie as primary management species. Muskellunge and Largemouth Bass were listed as secondary management species. Walleye fingerling stocking was discontinued in 2017.
Catches for Bluegill and Black Crappie were lower than lakes with similar habitat. The low number of fish generally sampled suggests mid-summer test netting is a poor method of sampling and catch rates are not a true indicator of relative abundance. Anecdotal reports suggest fair numbers of panfish are caught at times, especially in the winter.
The Walleye catch was modest, especially considering lakes like Blandin are not known to produce an abundance of Walleye. The sampled fish were young, averaging 13 inches and assumed to be from natural reproduction. Angling opportunities appear favorable, especially seasonally.
The Northern Pike catch was lower than the expected range for lakes with similar habitat, yet similar to previous surveys. Low catches are generally desirable as its often associated with quality size structure. However, as in previous surveys, size structure was poor. Sampled fish ranged from 15.6 to 29.3 inches and averaged 21 inches. Fish within the protected slot (22-26 inches) of the North-central zone regulation comprised 29% of the sample.
Angling opportunities for bass are likely favorable at times. Largemouth Bass are not sampled well with nets and only a few were sampled in 2023. Electrofishing in 2013 had a moderately high rate. A modest gill net sample of Smallmouth Bass indicated a decent size structure with fish up to 17 inches sampled.
Other species sampled included Bowfin, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rockbass, Shorthead Redhorse, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead and Yellow Perch.
What is the average air temp for Blandin Reservoir?
Are there any state parks near Blandin Reservoir?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Blandin Reservoir...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Blandin Lake | 0.2 mi | 490 | 38 ft |
| Blandin Lake | 0.3 mi | 490 | 38 ft |
| Forest Lake | 0.7 mi | 37 | 31 ft |
| Hale Lake | 1.1 mi | 130 | 60 ft |
| Hale Lake | 1.1 mi | 130 | 60 ft |
| Hale Lake | 1.1 mi | 130 | 60 ft |
| Horseshoe Lake | 1.7 mi | 142 | 11 ft |
| Ice Lake | 1.8 mi | 39 | 53 ft |
| McKinney Lake | 2.0 mi | 106 | 34 ft |
| Little Jay Gould Lake | 2.5 mi | 150 | 56 ft |
