READER’S GUIDE to USING this PUBLICATIONYour fishing map guide is a thorough, easy-to-use collection of accurate contour lake maps along with geographic and biologic statistical information to help you locate a lake and enjoy a successful day out on the water of one of Minnesota’s excellent fisheries.

The heart of this book is the contour lake map. Copyrighted maps are used with permission from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and are not intended for navigation. The lakes selected for this guide are confined to those that are accessible to the public.

Each map is accompanied by a detailed write-up. In each piece, you’ll find fishing tips and hot spots specific to the body of water you’re planning to fish.

Lake stocking records and population survey statistics are provided courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and summarized to reflect management trends and objectives for each fishery represented. Please keep in mind that annual fish stocking aspirations are directly affected by state hatchery production levels and sometimes the numbers available for stocking fluctuate considerably.

Detailed area road maps (1:137,500 scale) and lake access information is provided to help you plan your route to the lake. If there is more than one access point on a body of water, the GPS coordinates refer to the primary access. To locate a lake on these road maps, simply use the alphabetical lake listing on the back cover. Turn to that page to find the area road map page and coordinates for the lake. As a cross-reference, the area road maps include numbers on or adjacent to featured lakes, which designate the pages of the lake maps and information. Streams and rivers are also referenced in these area road maps.

While every effort is made to create the most accurate maps possible, the process of merging existing DNR maps with the latest GPS information will cause some slight differences to occur. (Especially on larger, more complicated lakes.) Please use the GPS grids provided in this book only as a guideline.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Gill net: This is the main piece of equipment used for sampling walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, cisco, whitefish, trout, and salmon. The standard gill net is 6 feet tall by 250 feet long, with 5 different mesh sizes. Gill nets are generally set in off shore areas in water deeper than 9 feet. Nets are fished for a period of 24 hours. Fish are captured by swimming into the net and becoming entangled. Fisheries workers record length and weight data from each fish, determine the sex, look for parasites or disease, and remove several of the fishes scales for determining the fishes age. Most of the fish taken in gill nets are

killed, but only a small portion of the lakes fish population is sampled during an individual survey event. The number of gill nets set during a survey is dependant on the lake acreage.

Trap net: This is the main piece of equipment used for sampling bluegill, crappie, and bullheads. The standard trap net is 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide with a 40 foot lead. Trap nets are generally set perpendicular to shore in water less than 8 feet in depth. Nets are fished for a period of 24 hours. Fish are captured by swimming into the lead and following it towards the trap. Most of the fish collected in trap nets are returned back to the water as soon as the necessary biological data is recorded. The number of trap net sets during a survey is dependant on the lake acreage.

Electrofishing: This is a specialized type of equipment that is most often used for sampling largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and young of the year walleye. A boat-mounted generator is used to induce electrical current into the water that stuns the fish, allowing fisheries workers to net the fish for placement in live wells. Most of the fish caught by electrofishing recover rapidly and are promptly returned to the water after the necessary biological data is recorded.

CPUE: An acronym representing “Catch Per Unit of Effort,” a way of representing the density of a species population. Readings are in fish captured per hour or minute of surveying. The higher the CPUE value, the greater the number of fish present.

PSD: An acronym for “Proportional Stock Density,” which is a way of representing the size structure of fish populations. It represents the percentage of “quality-size” fish within a given population. In arriving at this figure, one considers only fish of “stock” length (the size at which members of a given species reach sexual maturity) or greater. Young-of year fish are not included in the calculation. The higher the PSD number, the greater the percentage of “quality” fish within a particular population.

RSD-12 (or -10 or -14, etc.): An acronym for “Relative Stock Density,” which is yet another way of representing the size structure of fish populations. This corresponds to the percentage of fish at a given length or larger within a population. Hence, an RSD-14 reading of 25 for largemouth bass indicates that 25 percent of sexually mature bass are at least 14 inches in length. On another measurement scale, the RSD- values could be stated as “preferred,” “memorable,” or “trophy.”

YAR: An acronym for “Young-(to)-Adult Ratio.” This refers to the proportion of young-of-year fish in relation to adult or “quality-size” fish within a particular population. For balanced populations, the index should be about 1-to-10. In smaller waters, 1-to-3 is considered a reasonable ratio.

Secchi Disk: Used in measuring water clarity, it is a white-colored, plate-size device submerged on the end of a line until it reaches a point where it’s no longer visible; the depth at which this occurs is measured and recorded. In this book, secchi disk readings are given in English measure. Of course, many factors influence water clarity, and secchi disk readings vary according to season, growth of vegetation, weather, location in a lake, even human activity. Hence the readings given are approximations for any lake — snapshots of the water clarity at a given time and in a given location.

LEGEND

Bridge

Campground

Portage Access

Fish Attractors

Fishing Dock (Pier)

Picnic Area

Boat Ramp

Carry Down Access

1 County Road

1 State Highway

1 US Highway

GPS Grid

Flooded Timber

River Mile24

Marked Fishing Spots1

Shore Fishing

Marsh

Emergent Vegetation

Marina

Lily Pads

Submergent Vegetation

Emergent Vegetation

Stumps

Access Information MarkerA

Interstate1

Light & Daymarker300.0

Rocks

Submerged Culvert

Submerged Ruins

Daymarker5

Submerged Rail

Submerged Riverbed35° 30' 00"

90°

02' 3

0"

Submerged Road

Boat tie-up

Manmade Canal

Access by Navigable Channel

White Hazard BuoyW

Red & Green Channel Buoys24AB

24AB

24AB

Bridge

Campground

Portage Access

Fish Attractors

Fishing Dock (Pier)

Picnic Area

Boat Ramp

Carry Down Access

1 County Road

1 State Highway

1 US Highway

GPS Grid

Flooded Timber

River Mile24

Marked Fishing Spots1

Shore Fishing

Marsh

Emergent Vegetation

Marina

Lily Pads

Submergent Vegetation

Emergent Vegetation

Stumps

Access Information MarkerA

Interstate1

Light & Daymarker300.0

Rocks

Submerged Culvert

Submerged Ruins

Daymarker5

Submerged Rail

Submerged Riverbed35° 30' 00"

90°

02' 3

0"

Submerged Road

Boat tie-up

Manmade Canal

Access by Navigable Channel

White Hazard BuoyW

Red & Green Channel Buoys24AB

24AB

24AB

Bridge

Campground

Portage Access

Fish Attractors

Fishing Dock (Pier)

Picnic Area

Boat Ramp

Carry Down Access

1 County Road

1 State Highway

1 US Highway

GPS Grid

Flooded Timber

River Mile24

Marked Fishing Spots1

Shore Fishing

Marsh

Emergent Vegetation

Marina

Lily Pads

Submergent Vegetation

Emergent Vegetation

Stumps

Access Information MarkerA

Interstate1

Light & Daymarker300.0

Rocks

Submerged Culvert

Submerged Ruins

Daymarker5

Submerged Rail

Submerged Riverbed35° 30' 00"

90°

02' 3

0"

Submerged Road

Boat tie-up

Manmade Canal

Access by Navigable Channel

White Hazard BuoyW

Red & Green Channel Buoys24AB

24AB

24AB

Bridge

Campground

Portage Access

Fish Attractors

Fishing Dock (Pier)

Picnic Area

Boat Ramp

Carry Down Access

1 County Road

1 State Highway

1 US Highway

GPS Grid

Flooded Timber

River Mile24

Marked Fishing Spots1

Shore Fishing

Marsh

Emergent Vegetation

Marina

Lily Pads

Submergent Vegetation

Emergent Vegetation

Stumps

Access Information MarkerA

Interstate1

Light & Daymarker300.0

Rocks

Submerged Culvert

Submerged Ruins

Daymarker5

Submerged Rail

Submerged Riverbed35° 30' 00"

90°

02' 3

0"

Submerged Road

Boat tie-up

Manmade Canal

Access by Navigable Channel

White Hazard BuoyW

Red & Green Channel Buoys24AB

24AB

24AB

55

ww

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Crow Wing County WHITEFISH LAKECrow

Wing County W

HITEFISH

LAKEb

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b

bb C

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UV192

Pine River

PineRi

ver

UV193

UV189

UV357

UV208

UV234

UV140

UV228

UV195

UV756

UV145

UV146

UV902

UV194

UV200

UV361

UV112

Spr

i ng

Br o

ok

UV154

UV120

UV340

UV212 UV172

UV660

UV214

UV103

UV202

UV182UV1190

UV236

UV157UV132

UV204

UV207

UV134

UV235

UV219

UV223

UV221UV1161

UV1

UV368

Willow

Cre

ek

PelicanBrookUV5080

UV371

UV158

UV39

UV3

UV17

UV15

UV16

UV36

UV66

UV11

Lake Ossawinnamakee

PigLake

Isla

ndLa

k e

Arrowhead

Lake

HenLake

WestFox Lake

ClamshellLake

PelicanLake

BigTrout Lake

Uppe

rHa

yLa

ke

Big Pine

Lake

Dagget LakeRush Lake

StrawberryLake

WhitefishLake

Bertha

Lake

CrossLake

Clea

rLa

ke

LowerH

ayLake

DewdropLake

MudLake

GrassLake

McClainLake

Little Beaver Lake

DuckLake

Rat Lake

IslandLake

RatLake

ClearLake

RushLake

NelsonLake

LittleOx Lake

Ox

Lake

Hooligans Hole

LittleStar Lake

Meyer Lake

LundLake

Fern Lake

CorralLake

Arla's Pond

FawnLake

Star LakeBass

Lake

Little Bass Lake

Crosslake

BreezyPoint

FiftyLakes

ManhattanBeach

PequotLakes

CROW WINGSTATE FOREST

Cross Lake

SwanburgArea map page / coordinates: 8 / E-2,3 & 12 / A-2,3Watershed: PineSurface water area / shorelength: 7,370 acres / 28.4 milesMaximum / mean depth: 138 feet / 47 feetWater color / clarity: Light green / 13 ft. secchi (2001)Shoreland zoning classification: General developmentManagement class / Ecological type: Walleye-centrarchid /centrarchid-walleyeAccessibility: 1) State-owned public access with concrete ramp on west shore, just south of Pine River inlet; 2) COE-owned public access with concrete ramp on north shore of Clamshell Lake; 3) county-owned public access with concrete ramp on south shore of Pig LakeAccommodations: Resorts, camping, picnicking

FISH STOCKING DATAyear species size # released00 Walleye Fingerling 111,68802 Walleye Fry 9,200,00003 Walleye Adult 2,71803 Walleye Fingerling 32,63103 Walleye Fry 17,000,00003 Walleye Yearling 18,96303 Walleye Yearling 003 Walleye Fingerling 1,35304 Walleye Adult 3,20104 Walleye Fingerling 44,53104 Walleye Fry 13,140,00004 Walleye Yearling 14005 Walleye Fry 13,907,056

NET CATCH DATA Date: 08/01/2005 Gill Nets Trap Nets

species # per netavg. fish

weight (lbs.) # per netavg. fish

weight (lbs.)Black Crappie 0.6 0.56 3.3 0.38Bluegill 1.2 0.24 22.6 0.14Bowfin (Dogfish) 0.1 5.99 1.6 4.27Common Shiner - - 0.5 0.07Hybrid Sunfish trace 0.55 1.6 0.23Lake Whitefish 0.3 1.03 - -Largemouth Bass 1.4 1.32 2.6 0.77Northern Pike 12.3 2.18 0.8 1.88Pumpkinseed Sunfish 0.3 0.11 1.7 0.22Rock Bass 1.7 0.48 1.1 0.24Smallmouth Bass trace 2.43 - -Walleye 5.0 1.23 0.4 0.82Yellow Bullhead 3.3 0.75 2.0 0.55Yellow Perch 6.7 0.10 0.1 0.10

LENGTH OF SELECTED SPECIES SAMPLED FROM ALL GEARNumber of fish caught for the following length categories (inches):

species 0-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 >30 Total Black Crappie 3 51 51 - - - - - 105Bluegill 333 161 - - - - - - 494Brown Bullhead 1 7 9 2 - - - - 19Hybrid Sunfish 19 29 - - - - - - 48Lake Whitefish - 1 2 1 2 - - - 6Largemouth Bass 4 34 24 34 10 - - - 106Northern Pike - - 4 7 123 151 27 5 317Pumpkin. Sunfish 29 27 - - - - - - 56Rock Bass 13 46 13 - - - - - 72Smallmouth Bass - - - - 1 - - - 1Tullibee (Cisco) - 29 17 - - - - - 46Walleye - 10 65 22 20 10 6 - 133Yellow Bullhead 3 21 95 16 - - - - 135Yellow Perch 107 42 3 - - - - - 152

FISHING INFORMATION

Whitefish Lake is the namesake of the Whitefish Chain, a series of 11 lakes on the Pine River. Whitefish itself was once three separate lakes which ran together with damming of the river. In many ways the big lake is still three separate fisheries, and you will want to know each of them. There’s a lot of structure, including islands, channels, points, bars, and vegetation.

The lake is well-stocked with walleyes and has a big popu-lation of northern pike, as well as bass and panfish. Carol Ottoson, owner of The Bait Box & Marina, 36624 County Road 66, Cross lake, MN 56422 (218) 692-3850, says wall-eyes are probably the most fished-for species. They’re nice, and one spot is famous for them: the shore-to-shore sand bar that separates the lower basin from the middle one (Spot 1). This is officially known as “Father Foley’s Bar,” and boats surround it as though communion were being offered. Many other places also hold walleyes. In the lower (east) basin there is Butternut Point (Spot 2). On the south, there’s the entrance to Pig Lake (Spot 3). And, then there are the sharp drop-offs just off the shoreline on the north side (Spot 4). In the middle basin, look for Fish House Point (Spot 5) and the good humps in the southwest (Spots 6). The upper basin sports some fine bars on its west side (Spots 7), and on the north side (Spots 8). Work these with a bottom rig and leech or shiner minnow early. As the water warms, you’ll find the walleyes in deeper water off the points and islands.

Look for largemouth bass, meanwhile, in the thicker weedbeds, especially those close to the channels. There aren’t many smallmouths, but the lower basin and the smaller connecting lakes are decent. Northern pike can be found all over the three basins. The steep drop-offs east of Father Foley’s Bar (Spot 9) are a good spots, as are most outside weed edges.

Big TroutLake

16

16

Upper Whitefish Lake ArrowheadLake

BerthaLake

Clamshell Lake

40

10

30

5069'

27'

20

60

60

15

40

20

11'

15

20

10

30

20

4050

1030

20

40

50

60

10

20

1010

10

30

20

4050

70

70

80

86'

60

30

20

40

50

30

20

40

50

60

68'

30

24'24'

30

50

15

30

55'

3020

4010

46'

Ruttger'sBay

30

20

40

40 60

70

80

88'

70

60

56'

60

30 2040

30

20

40

60

70

20

29'

3040'

6050'

15'

20

4030

10

5056'

PigLake

20

40

30

50

30

23'

23'

3040

5063'

7'10

20

40

103'

90

90

100

60

89'

7'

10

20

5040

80

70

60

130

100

9080

110

120

20

50

30

40

70100

90

110

17'

15'20

30

90

88'110

120

5070

100

90

110

20

30

40

70

60

130138'Max

130120

Knutson P

oint

Wabigoniss Point

Butternut P

ointFish House

Point

Ruttger's Point

PickerelPoint

SimpsonBar

WillowBar

KilworryBar

WillowCreekBay

21'

50

Pine RBar

ToIndianIsland

15

Swede'sBar

SteamboatIsland

Less than10'

Lower Whitefish Lake

IslandLake

Rush-HenLake

LowerHayLake

16

30

20

40

50

50'

E.V. = Emergent VegetationS.V. = Submergent VegetationF V. = Floating Vegetation

120

3

5

7

7

7

9

8

8

6

4

4

2

1

1

2

3

46° 42' 00"

94° 17' 00"

94° 16' 00"

94° 15' 00"

94° 14' 00"

94° 13' 00"

94° 12' 00"

94° 11' 00"

94° 10' 00"

94° 09' 00"

94° 16' 30"

94° 15' 30"

94° 14' 30"

94° 13' 30"

94° 12' 30"

94° 11' 30"

94° 10' 30"

94° 09' 30"

94° 08' 30"

46° 43' 00"

46° 41' 00"

46° 40' 00"

46° 42' 30"

46° 41' 30"

46° 40' 30"

56 Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, USGS © Copyright Sportsman's Connection. All Rights Reserved.

WHIT

EFIS

H L

AKE

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NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Big TroutLake

16

16

Upper Whitefish Lake ArrowheadLake

BerthaLake

Clamshell Lake

40

10

30

5069'

27'

20

60

60

15

40

20

11'

15

20

10

30

20

4050

1030

20

40

50

60

10

20

1010

10

30

20

4050

70

70

80

86'

60

30

20

40

50

30

20

40

50

60

68'

30

24'24'

30

50

15

30

55'

3020

4010

46'

Ruttger'sBay

30

20

40

40 60

70

80

88'

70

60

56'

60

30 2040

30

20

40

60

70

20

29'

3040'

6050'

15'

20

4030

10

5056'

PigLake

20

40

30

50

30

23'

23'

3040

5063'

7'10

20

40

103'

90

90

100

60

89'

7'

10

20

5040

80

70

60

130

100

9080

110

120

20

50

30

40

70100

90

110

17'

15'20

30

90

88'110

120

5070

100

90

110

20

30

40

70

60

130138'Max

130120

Knutson P

oint

Wabigoniss Point

Butternut P

ointFish House

Point

Ruttger's Point

PickerelPoint

SimpsonBar

WillowBar

KilworryBar

WillowCreekBay

21'

50

Pine RBar

ToIndianIsland

15

Swede'sBar

SteamboatIsland

Less than10'

Lower Whitefish Lake

IslandLake

Rush-HenLake

LowerHayLake

16

30

20

40

50

50'

E.V. = Emergent VegetationS.V. = Submergent VegetationF V. = Floating Vegetation

120

3

5

7

7

7

9

8

8

6

4

4

2

1

1

2

3

46° 42' 00"

94° 17' 00"

94° 16' 00"

94° 15' 00"

94° 14' 00"

94° 13' 00"

94° 12' 00"

94° 11' 00"

94° 10' 00"

94° 09' 00"

94° 16' 30"

94° 15' 30"

94° 14' 30"

94° 13' 30"

94° 12' 30"

94° 11' 30"

94° 10' 30"

94° 09' 30"

94° 08' 30"

46° 43' 00"

46° 41' 00"

46° 40' 00"

46° 42' 30"

46° 41' 30"

46° 40' 30"

57Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, USGS © Copyright Sportsman's Connection. All Rights Reserved.

WHITEFISH

LAKEw

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NOT FOR NAVIGATION