Minnesota Fishing Guide

Watab

Stearns County, Minnesota — DOW #73007000

85 Surveys

Invasive Species Alert

Watab has confirmed populations of:

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

96.64
Acres
54 ft
Max Depth
19.4 ft
Mean Depth
14
Fish Species
4
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Black Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 2.3 (normal) 0.3 – 2.8 0.36 lb 14
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 17.3 (above normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.25 lb 69
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 122.5 (above normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.09 lb 245
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 14.0 (above normal) 0.3 – 2.8 0.22 lb 42
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 2.8 (above normal) 0.3 – 2.8 0.34 lb 17
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 3.8 (normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.32 lb 15

White Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 1.3 (normal) 0.3 – 4.5 0.36 lb 5
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 1.8 — 0.32 lb 11
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 4.5 (normal) 0.3 – 4.5 0.17 lb 9
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 2.0 — 0.28 lb 6
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.3 – 4.5 0.10 lb 1

Brown Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 1.5 (normal) 0.5 – 2.2 0.32 lb 9
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.2 0.20 lb 1
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.2 0.20 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.2 0.50 lb 1

Yellow Perch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 4.7 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.8 0.13 lb 28
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 4.5 (normal) 1.5 – 23.0 0.11 lb 18
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 3.8 0.20 lb 1

Green Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.7 (below normal) 0.7 – 3.1 0.12 lb 4
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.7 – 3.1 0.08 lb 1
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.3 — 0.01 lb 1

Yellow Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 1.5 (normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.42 lb 6
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 8.8 (above normal) 1.0 – 8.4 0.45 lb 53
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 1.5 (normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.60 lb 3
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 3.3 (normal) 1.0 – 8.4 0.53 lb 10
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 1.0 – 8.4 0.87 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.8 (normal) 0.5 – 11.0 0.37 lb 3
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 2.8 (normal) 1.0 – 8.4 0.51 lb 17

Northern Pike

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 4.5 (normal) 2.8 – 8.7 1.66 lb 18
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.3 — 2.25 lb 2
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 2.5 (below normal) 2.8 – 8.7 2.18 lb 5
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 — 1.00 lb 1
2008-08-18 Standard gill nets 4.0 (normal) 2.8 – 8.7 1.71 lb 8
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.3 — — 1
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 2.8 – 8.7 11.00 lb 1
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 — 6.60 lb 2

Smallmouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.3 – 1.1 1.50 lb 1
2008-08-18 Standard electrofishing 7.6 — 2.07 lb 4
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.7 — — 2

Rock Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.8 0.10 lb 2
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.8 0.20 lb 1
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.8 0.09 lb 1

Walleye

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 0.5 (normal) 0.5 – 3.3 1.75 lb 2
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.2 – 0.8 1.70 lb 1
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 1.5 (normal) 0.5 – 3.3 2.07 lb 3
2008-08-18 Standard gill nets 0.5 (normal) 0.5 – 3.3 2.43 lb 1
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.2 – 0.8 0.49 lb 1
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.5 (normal) 0.5 – 3.3 0.75 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.5 (normal) 0.2 – 0.8 3.93 lb 3

Hybrid Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.2 — 0.10 lb 1

Bluegill

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 1.5 — 0.20 lb 6
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 26.5 (normal) 5.7 – 40.5 0.19 lb 159
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 9.7 (normal) 5.7 – 40.5 0.29 lb 29
2008-08-18 Survey seining 2.7 — 0.02 lb 8
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 1.7 (below normal) 5.7 – 40.5 0.14 lb 10
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.3 — 0.20 lb 1
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 7.5 (normal) 5.7 – 40.5 0.15 lb 45

Pumpkinseed

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 0.5 — 0.05 lb 2
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 16.8 (above normal) 1.3 – 6.3 0.08 lb 101
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 1.3 – 6.3 0.02 lb 1
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 1.3 – 6.3 0.05 lb 2

White Sucker

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 1.8 (normal) 0.5 – 2.9 1.26 lb 7
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.5 (normal) 0.3 – 0.7 1.50 lb 3
1976-08-23 Standard gill nets 1.0 (normal) 0.5 – 2.9 2.05 lb 2
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 2.7 (above normal) 0.3 – 0.7 2.08 lb 8
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (normal) 0.3 – 0.7 1.72 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 1.5 (above normal) 0.3 – 0.7 1.32 lb 9

Black Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard gill nets 0.5 (normal) 0.5 – 2.9 0.20 lb 2
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 7.5 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.3 0.29 lb 45
1976-08-23 Standard trap nets 16.0 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.3 0.21 lb 48
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 3.3 0.17 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard gill nets 0.5 (normal) 0.5 – 2.9 0.50 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 4.5 (above normal) 0.5 – 3.3 0.11 lb 27

Largemouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1983-08-24 Standard trap nets 0.8 (normal) 0.3 – 1.6 0.18 lb 5
2008-08-18 Standard electrofishing 91.1 — 1.50 lb 48
2008-08-18 Survey seining 1.3 — — 4
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.5 (normal) 0.3 – 1.6 0.13 lb 3

Logperch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.7 — 2

Channel Catfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2008-08-18 Standard gill nets 1.0 — 4.41 lb 2

BKF

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.7 — 2

Common Carp

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (normal) 0.2 – 1.0 3.91 lb 2
1989-08-23 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.2 – 1.0 7.60 lb 1

Johnny Darter

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.3 — 1

BNS

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Total Catch
2008-08-18 Survey seining 0.3 — 1

Bowfin

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2008-08-18 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.4 – 1.3 4.08 lb 2

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Fletcher's Bait Shop

Sauk Centre, MN

(320) 352-2155

★ 4.8

Sierra

St Cloud, MN

(320) 253-5194

★ 4.5

Albion Acres Bait

Annandale, MN

★ 5

Cenex

Buffalo, MN

(763) 682-6512

★ 4.5

Clear Waters Outfitting Company

Clearwater, MN

(320) 558-8123

★ 4.8

Da Fishin Hole

Little Falls, MN

(320) 631-0056

★ 4.8

Evergreen Outfitting

Royalton, MN

(320) 309-9319

★ 5

Fish-On Gear and Tackle

Big Lake, MN

★ 3

Nearby Marinas

BK's Dock's

Cold Spring, MN

(612) 597-3914

★ 5

Butler Park

St Cloud, MN

★ 4.2

Channel Marine & Sports Inc

Richmond, MN

(320) 597-5975

★ 4.3

Lake George Boat House

St Cloud, MN

(320) 257-5959

★ 5

Marina E. Bahmer, CNS

St Cloud, MN

(320) 252-5010

Miller Marine

St Cloud, MN

(320) 434-8389

★ 4.7

Resorts & Lodges Near Watab

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Watab.

Loch Nest Resort
Fishing Resort Kimball

320-271-6880
Maple Hill Resort
Fishing Resort South Haven

(612) 590-3630
Ruegemer's Island View Resort, Inc.
Fishing Resort Richmond

(320) 597-2000
Aunt Kay's Cabin
Fishing Resort Richmond

(320) 266-2802

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Black CrappieBluegillBowfin (Dogfish)Channel CatfishCommon CarpGreen SunfishLargemouth BassNorthern PikePumpkinseedRock BassSmallmouth BassWalleyeWhite SuckerYellow Bullhead

Fishing Guides Near Watab

Central MN Fishing Adventures
Fishing Guide

(320) 266-8238
J Rev Outdoors LLC
Fishing Guide

(320) 761-0685
predator guide service
Fishing Guide

(320) 253-7535
Slab Seeker Fishing Guide Service
Fishing Guide

(320) 428-5174

Other Lakes in Stearns County

Achman

46.91 acres

Beaver

111.91 acres

Becker

221.38 acres

Big Fish

557.31 acres

Big Spunk

415.27 acres

Big

457.67 acres

Plan Your Trip to Watab

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