Helen

Itasca County, Minnesota — DOW #31002300

75 Surveys
157.79
Acres
33 ft
Max Depth
15 ft
Mean Depth
10
Fish Species
9
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Helen. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Largemouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 8.6 12
2011-08-22 Standard electrofishing 36.0 1.22 lb 36
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 7.0 7
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 0.7 (normal) 0.4 – 1.6 1.43 lb 4
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.3 – 1.4 3.64 lb 2
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 2.3 (above normal) 0.4 – 1.6 1.64 lb 7
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 9.3 9
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 4.0 4
1977-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (normal) 0.3 – 1.4 1.40 lb 1
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 1.0 (normal) 0.4 – 1.6 1.67 lb 3

Bluegill

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 10.8 15
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 30.0 30
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 2.7 0.10 lb 16
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 4.7 (below normal) 9.5 – 57.3 0.10 lb 42
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 11.7 (normal) 9.5 – 57.3 0.15 lb 35
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 7.0 0.25 lb 21
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 9.3 9
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 16.0 16
1977-08-18 Standard trap nets 4.0 (below normal) 9.5 – 57.3 0.01 lb 12
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.7 0.07 lb 2

Yellow Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 2.1 – 15.8 0.36 lb 2
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 2.1 – 15.8 0.50 lb 1
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 1.0 (below normal) 2.7 – 13.5 0.27 lb 3
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 1.0 1
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 2.1 – 15.8 0.50 lb 1

Black Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 2.9 4
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 4.7 (above normal) 1.0 – 3.9 0.20 lb 28
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 1.9 (normal) 0.8 – 4.0 0.17 lb 17
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 10.3 (above normal) 1.0 – 3.9 0.37 lb 31
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.8 – 4.0 0.30 lb 1
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 1.0 1
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 16.0 (above normal) 1.0 – 3.9 0.25 lb 48
1977-08-18 Standard trap nets 2.3 (normal) 0.8 – 4.0 0.06 lb 7

Northern Pike

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 4.0 (normal) 3.5 – 8.9 1.88 lb 24
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 0.7 2.05 lb 6
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 5.3 (normal) 3.5 – 8.9 2.44 lb 16
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 0.3 1.00 lb 1
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.7 (below normal) 3.5 – 8.9 1.90 lb 2

Yellow Perch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 5.0 7
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 3.0 3
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 0.2 (below normal) 1.0 – 10.3 0.07 lb 1
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 15.5 15
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 5.0 5
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 1.7 (normal) 1.0 – 10.3 0.05 lb 5

Johnny Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 2.2 3
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 7.2 7
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1

Golden Shiner

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.5 – 1.5 0.07 lb 1
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 0.7 1

Hybrid Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 0.2 0.64 lb 1
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 0.2 0.46 lb 2

BST

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1

Bluntnose Minnow

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 4.3 6
2011-08-22 15-ft beach seine 8.0 8

Rock Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 0.7 1

BCS

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-22 Backpack electrofishing 0.7 1

White Sucker

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard gill nets 1.2 (normal) 0.3 – 1.7 2.24 lb 7
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 3.3 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.7 2.70 lb 10
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 0.3 (normal) 0.3 – 0.9 1.50 lb 1
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 3.0 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.7 1.86 lb 9

Pumpkinseed

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2011-08-22 Standard trap nets 0.4 (below normal) 1.5 – 6.8 0.11 lb 4
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 2.7 (normal) 1.5 – 6.8 0.31 lb 8
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 1.0 1
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1
1977-08-18 Standard trap nets 1.0 (below normal) 1.5 – 6.8 0.05 lb 3

Black Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1982-09-01 Standard gill nets 2.0 (normal) 0.4 – 3.1 0.38 lb 6
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.4 – 3.1 0.40 lb 1

Brown Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1982-09-01 Standard trap nets 0.7 (normal) 0.6 – 2.6 0.50 lb 2
1977-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.4 – 2.5 1.10 lb 1
1977-08-18 Standard trap nets 1.0 (normal) 0.6 – 2.6 0.70 lb 3

Iowa Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-19 15-ft beach seine 1.0 1

Tadpole Madtom

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2011-08-19 Backpack electrofishing 1.0 1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

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Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Helen. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black CrappieBluegillHybrid SunfishLargemouth BassNorthern PikePumpkinseedRock BassWhite SuckerYellow BullheadYellow Perch

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Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.