Portage

Itasca County, Minnesota — DOW #31082400

30 Surveys

Special Regulations for Portage

This lake has regulations that differ from statewide defaults. Always check before fishing.

All from 20-24" must be immediately released. Only one over 24" allowed in possession. (Including connecting Birds Eye Lake, Little Sand Lake, Portage Lake, Rice Lake, and Bowstring River upstream to County Road 35 bridge and downstream to the County Road 145 bridge.)

Invasive Species Alert

Portage has confirmed populations of:

zebra mussel

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

714.55

Acres

60 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.5 – 2.2	1.00 lb	2
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.2	1.70 lb	1

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	4.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 3.8	0.17 lb	19
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	5.7 (normal)	1.5 – 23.0	0.14 lb	17
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.8	0.80 lb	1
1978-08-07	Standard gill nets	1.0 (below normal)	1.5 – 23.0	0.05 lb	2

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	5.0 (normal)	2.8 – 8.7	1.51 lb	15
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	0.40 lb	1
1978-08-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (below normal)	2.8 – 8.7	0.93 lb	3

GLR

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	0.3	—	3.30 lb	1
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	5.20 lb	1

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.0	0.70 lb	1
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.5 – 2.8	0.37 lb	3
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 2.8	1.10 lb	1

Yellow Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.0 – 8.4	0.57 lb	3

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	1.52 lb	4
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	1.43 lb	3
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.2 – 0.8	7.80 lb	1

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 11.0	0.60 lb	1

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	1.5 (normal)	1.3 – 6.3	0.15 lb	6
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.7 (below normal)	1.3 – 6.3	0.50 lb	2

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	1.5 (below normal)	5.7 – 40.5	0.30 lb	6
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	5.7 – 40.5	0.90 lb	1

Bowfin

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.5 (normal)	0.4 – 1.3	5.40 lb	2

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.7	2.10 lb	1

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1986-07-17	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.40 lb	1
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.50 lb	1

Tullibee (Cisco)

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1978-08-07	Standard gill nets	15.5 (above normal)	1.0 – 13.3	0.97 lb	31

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.3 – 1.6	4.50 lb	1

RHS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1978-08-07	Standard trap nets	1.0	—	5.90 lb	3

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids, MN

★ 3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 326-0351

★ 4.3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

Marine Clinic

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 244-4281

★ 4.9

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 812-8888

NorthStar Barge

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 269-0566

★ 5

Resorts & Lodges Near Portage

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Portage.

Anchor Inn Resort

Fishing Resort Spring Lake

(218) 659-2718

Birch Haven Resort Closed

Fishing Resort Bovey

(218) 910-9707

Bowen Lodge

Fishing Resort Deer River

(218) 246-8707

Loon Point Resort

Fishing Resort Bigfork

(218) 245-1470

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Black Bullhead Black Crappie Bluegill Bowfin Brown Bullhead GLR Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed RHS Rock Bass Tullibee (Cisco)Walleye White Sucker Yellow Bullhead Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Portage

Bro's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 340-6051

Early Bird Fishing Guide Jeff Sundin

Fishing Guide

(218) 245-9858

Grand Rapids Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-7140

Minnesota Fishing Connections

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-2628

MN Fishing Pros

Fishing Guide

(218) 244-2517

Moo Moo's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 398-7593

View all 9 guides →

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Plan Your Trip to Portage

Weather forecast for Portage — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.5825°N, 93.9708°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

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

Portage

Special Regulations for Portage

Invasive Species Alert

DNR Fish Surveys

Brown Bullhead

Yellow Perch

Northern Pike

GLR

Rock Bass

Yellow Bullhead

Walleye

Black Bullhead

Pumpkinseed

Bluegill

Bowfin

White Sucker

Black Crappie

Tullibee (Cisco)

Largemouth Bass

RHS

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Best Bet Waxworm Wholesale Bait & Breeder Kits

Bite Me Waxworms Wholesale Bait Shop

Diamond Custom Rods

Fred's Live Bait & Tackle

Frontier Sports

Glen's Army & Navy Store

God's Country Outfitters

Hollywood Bait

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids Marine

Marine Clinic

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

NorthStar Barge

Resorts & Lodges Near Portage

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Portage

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Alice

Allen

Amen

Anderson

Ann

Antler

Plan Your Trip to Portage