Whitefish

Polk County, Minnesota — DOW #60001500

84 Surveys

242.75

Acres

18 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

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

Brown Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	2.0 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.28 lb	4
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	6.0 (above normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.29 lb	24
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.70 lb	4
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	9.6 (above normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.31 lb	77
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	5.2 (above normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.72 lb	47
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	3.3 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.72 lb	13
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.60 lb	18
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.60 lb	2
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	3.3 (normal)	0.8 – 7.0	0.53 lb	20
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	3.7 (normal)	0.4 – 5.1	0.13 lb	33

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	3.5 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	0.93 lb	7
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	0.5	—	6.00 lb	2
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	6.3 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.98 lb	25
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	0.3 (below normal)	2.0 – 10.8	3.36 lb	1
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	2.46 lb	2
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	8.7 (normal)	2.0 – 10.8	2.35 lb	52
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.9	—	2.14 lb	8
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	19.5 (above normal)	2.0 – 10.8	1.56 lb	117
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.7	—	1.16 lb	6

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	1.20 lb	1
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	1.0 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.75 lb	4
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.40 lb	2
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	5.5 (normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.43 lb	44
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.7 – 17.5	0.14 lb	2
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	1.8 (below normal)	2.1 – 24.1	0.40 lb	16

Black Bullhead

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	241.5 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.32 lb	483
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	49.3 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.18 lb	197
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	136.5 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.29 lb	546
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	1004.0 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.02 lb	8032
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	224.7 (above normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.22 lb	2022
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	79.0 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.33 lb	316
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.36 lb	1
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	155.8 (above normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.12 lb	935
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	43.7 (normal)	7.7 – 104.7	0.07 lb	262
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	4.1 (normal)	1.5 – 58.0	0.05 lb	37

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	3.0 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	1.29 lb	6
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	1.8 (above normal)	0.2 – 1.2	2.03 lb	7
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	4.3 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.53 lb	17
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 1.2	4.00 lb	1
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	13.8 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.31 lb	55
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	2.2 (above normal)	0.2 – 1.2	3.22 lb	20
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	7.2 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	2.08 lb	43
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 1.2	3.80 lb	1
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	7.0 (above normal)	0.5 – 2.3	0.55 lb	42
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 1.2	0.17 lb	1

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	2.3 (below normal)	3.5 – 57.1	0.64 lb	9

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	5.0 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.54 lb	20
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	87.0 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.62 lb	174
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	1.0 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.28 lb	8
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	18.3 (normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.39 lb	73
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	8.7 (above normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.19 lb	78
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	76.3 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.06 lb	305
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	1.0 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.13 lb	9
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	54.2 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.11 lb	325
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.4 – 2.8	0.08 lb	6
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	27.3 (above normal)	2.0 – 22.3	0.31 lb	164

Rock Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.50 lb	1
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.50 lb	2
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.12 lb	1
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.21 lb	1

Common Carp

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard gill nets	1.0 (normal)	0.8 – 4.3	5.00 lb	2
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	0.4 – 2.4	2.75 lb	8
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	0.8 – 4.3	2.33 lb	2
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	1.6 (normal)	0.4 – 2.4	9.92 lb	14
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.4	18.19 lb	1
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.8 – 4.3	0.09 lb	1
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.4 – 2.4	0.09 lb	1

Pumpkinseed

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1976-08-13	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.30 lb	1
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.5 (below normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.05 lb	4
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	2.0 (normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.12 lb	18
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.03 lb	1
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	1.9 (normal)	0.7 – 6.5	0.04 lb	17

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1989-06-19	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	4.00 lb	1
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.8	0.05 lb	1

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1989-06-19	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	3.17 lb	6
1995-08-07	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.58 lb	6
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	4.0 (above normal)	0.8 – 3.8	2.59 lb	24
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.7 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	2.11 lb	6
2005-08-15	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.8 – 3.8	0.39 lb	5
2005-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 0.8	0.27 lb	7

Tadpole Madtom

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1995-08-07	Standard trap nets	1.2	—	0.07 lb	11
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.03 lb	1
2015-08-15	Standard gill nets	0.2	—	0.01 lb	1

Hybrid Sunfish

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2015-08-15	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	0.35 lb	2

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 13 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Nearby Marinas

Harlan's Boats

Mentor, MN

(218) 637-2050

★ 5

Lafave Park

East Grand Forks, MN

★ 4.5

Red River State Recreation Area

East Grand Forks, MN

(218) 773-4950

★ 4.5

Stor-All

Crookston, MN

(218) 281-4593

★ 4.5

Ziegler Rental Crookston

Crookston, MN

(800) 422-5784

Itasca Sports, Inc.

Lake Itasca, MN

(218) 266-2150

★ 4.6

Resorts & Lodges Near Whitefish

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Whitefish.

Summer Sands Lake Club

Fishing Resort Erskine

2Annes Lakeside RV Park

Fishing Resort Erskine

(218) 521-0688

Lake Cameron RV Park and Campground

Fishing Resort Erskine

(218) 521-0688

Crookston Inn & Convention Center

Fishing Resort Crookston

(218) 470-1000

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

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

Black Bullhead Black Crappie Bluegill Brown Bullhead Common Carp Hybrid Sunfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Pumpkinseed Rock Bass Walleye White Sucker Yellow Bullhead Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Whitefish

(763) 229-7957

(218) 773-0282

Spittin' Carnage Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(612) 227-4664

Other Lakes in Polk County

Plan Your Trip to Whitefish

Weather forecast for Whitefish — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.5858°N, 95.6532°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.

Whitefish

DNR Fish Surveys

Brown Bullhead

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Black Bullhead

White Sucker

Bluegill

Yellow Perch

Rock Bass

Common Carp

Pumpkinseed

Largemouth Bass

Walleye

Tadpole Madtom

Hybrid Sunfish

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Ampride

Best Buy Liquors

Ceason's Bait & Tackle

Crookston Floral

Erickson Embroidery

I C Muggs

Local Ace Crookston

Nearby Marinas

Harlan's Boats

Lafave Park

Red River State Recreation Area

Stor-All

Ziegler Rental Crookston

Itasca Sports, Inc.

Resorts & Lodges Near Whitefish

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Whitefish

Other Lakes in Polk County

Badger

Cable

Cameron

Cross

Crystal

Hill River

Plan Your Trip to Whitefish