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Popular Minnesota Lakes in the Grand
Rapids Itasca County Area |
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| The Minnesota lakes of the Grand Rapids/Itasca
County area are special places that we hope
you enjoy, and that you also serve as good
stewards of our precious water resources.
You may begin to notice changes in how
landowners are managing their shorelines as
more and more landowners restore natural
vegetation to their shores, reduce the
amount of mowing they do to the waters' edge,
and work to stabilize shorelines to prevent
erosion. All of these measures improve our
natural water quality and fish and wildlife
habitat. Enjoy your stay in the Grand Rapids,
Minnesota
area and know that the lakes will be here
for you and future generations to enjoy. |
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Pokegama · Bass Lake ·
Bowstring
· Caribou ·
Wasson
· Prairie ·
Sugar ·
Winnie
Spider ·
Turtle · Cutfoot ·
Deer ·
Splithand ·
Mississippi |
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Minnesota Lakes - listing unique lake qualities,
fish species and places to stay while visiting the
Grand Rapids Area on your next fishing vacation or
family getaway. |
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Pokegama Lake |
Location: Grand
Rapids
Acres: 6,612
Max Depth: 112 feet
Clarity: 18.5 feet
Predominant Fish
Species: Bluegill, Northern Pike, Rockbass,
Walleye, Yellow Perch,
Largemouth Bass
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 7 (5 concrete, 2 earthen)
Unique qualities: Pokegama Lake is a highly
developed recreational lake that provides access
by water to Jay Gould Lake and the Mississippi
River. The natural topography of Pokegama Lake
can make it more difficult to fish but provides
the natural structure enjoyed by most fish
species. The lake has hosted a number of fishing
tournaments over the years including large mouth
bass, perch, and walleye tournaments.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Pokegama Lake:
The name Pokegama is a Native American word
meaning many fingers or many bays.
Member Places to Stay on Pokegama Lake:
Birch Cove Resort
Southwood Resort
Seagren's Pokegama Lodge B&B
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Bass Lake |
Location: Cohasset,
5 miles west of Grand Rapids
Acres: 2,407
Max Depth: 76 feet
Clarity: 10.7 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Northern Pike,
Walleye, Sunfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock
Bass
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 2 concrete, 1 earthen
Unique qualities: Bass Lake has two different
basins connected by a two-mile long channel of
marsh. The lake is stocked with walleye and has
been a good producer of walleyes and bluegills for anglers.
Member Place to Stay on Bass Lake:
Hidden Haven Resort
Wildwood Resort
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Bowstring Lake |
Location: 17 miles
north of Deer River (29 miles west and north of
Grand Rapids)
Acres: 9,220
Max Depth: 32 feet
Clarity: 6 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Black Crappie,
Walleye, Bullhead, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 4 (3 concrete, 1 earthen)
Unique qualities: Excellent natural fish
reproduction, especially for walleye and
crappie. Bowstring Lake is a good all-around
fishing lake with the sand bars and rock points
that provide good structure for fish. Bowstring
Lake connects with Sand Lake, another popular
fishing lake.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Bowstring Lake:
Relatively shallow lakes, like Bowstring, heat
and cool quickly so they are at the forefront of
fishing peaks in the spring and fall.
Member Place to stay on Bowstring Lake:
Bowstring Shores Resort
Rocky Shores Resort
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Caribou Lake |
Location: 26 miles
north of Grand Rapids near Marcell
Acres: 240
Max Depth: 152 feet
Clarity: 28 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Lake Trout, Bluegill,
Yellow Perch, Rock Bass
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 gravel
Unique qualities: Dramatic shoreline elevations
and excellent water clarity compliment the fishing
experience. Caribou Lake is the clearest natural
lake in Minnesota with a 28 foot water clarity.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Caribou Lake:
The largest Kokanee Salmon ever caught in
Minnesota was taken from Caribou Lake in 1971. It
weighed 2 pounds, 15 ounces and measured 20 inches
long.
Caribou Lake has been featured in National
Geographic Magazine. Local legend claims there is a house in the
bottom of Caribou Lake which broke through the ice
during a winter house move across the lake.
Member Place to Stay on Caribou Lake:
Buckhorn Resort on Caribou
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Jessie Lake |
Location: Talmoon, 32
miles northwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1,753
Max Depth: 42 feet
Clarity: 8 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch,
Northern Pike
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Jessie Lake is actively managed
for walleyes and was aggressively stocked in 2002
and 2003. The relatively shallow depth of Jessie
Lake allows for heating and cooling of the lake
water slightly ahead of traditional lake trends in
northern Minnesota.
Member Place to Stay on Jessie Lake:
Jessie View Resort
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Wasson Lake |
Location: Near
Bigfork, 35 miles northeast of Grand Rapids
Acres: 450
Max Depth: 67 feet
Clarity: 14 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Largemouth Bass,
Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Sunfish,
Northern Pike, Black Crappie
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: none
Unique qualities: Wasson Lake is a 450 acre,
spring fed lake similar in appearance to a
Canadian lakescape. With only one family
resort, no public access and the lack of
development around the lake, the lake provides a
quiet experience ideal for fishing, canoeing,
kayaking and wildlife viewing. The
provides excellent fishing for large and
smallmouth bass, northern pike, crappies and
bluegills.
Member Place to Stay on Wasson Lake:
Loon Point Resort
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Prairie Lake |
Location: 5 miles
north of Grand Rapids off Highway 38 - The Edge of
the Wilderness National Scenic Byway.
Acres: 1064
Max Depth: 31 feet
Clarity: 6.5 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Black crappie, Bluegill,
Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, and Walleye
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 2 concrete
Unique qualities: Prairie Lake has a unique
outcropping of rocks on its southern edge that
form the Prairie Lake Gorge. This scenic spot is a
popular photography location which can also be
accessed via a short hike from Gunn Park along the
Itasca Bike Trail. The location is not
signed so listen for clues along the bike trail
to know where to find the lake and its' gorge.
Member Place to Stay on Prairie Lake:
Pine Acres Resort
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Sugar Lake (Siseebakwet
Lake) |
Location: 14 miles
southwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1306
Max Depth: 105 feet
Clarity: 9 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Yellow Perch, Walleye,
Rock Bass, Northern Pike, and Bluegill.
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Sugar Lake is managed for
walleye and northern pike production. Locals
recommend fishing the lake in the evening or on
cloudy days because of the crystal clear water.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Sugar Lake: A
unique sand composition in the bottom of Sugar
Lake along with exceptionally clear water creates
an aquamarine color reflection. Sugar Lake Lodge
was the host location of the 1999 Governor's
Fishing Opener with Jessie Ventura.
Member place to stay on Sugar Lake:
Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge
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Other Favorite
Minnesota Lakes:
Here are some of our other favorite lakes around
Grand Rapids that we like to recommend. You can
fish a different lake each day and return to your
home base each night in Grand Rapids. You'll be
close to all the amenities you need and most Grand
Rapids area hotels and resorts will provide cold
storage for your day's catch. |
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Lake Winnibigoshish
(Lake Winnie) |
Location: North of
Deer River
Acres: 58,544
Max Depth: 70 feet
Clarity: not recorded
Predominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch,
Crappie, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, and Tullibee
(Cisco)
Public Accesses: 7 concrete
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Unique qualities: Lake Winnie is a large lake that
is popular with walleye anglers during open
water season, and perch anglers during the
ice fishing season. The lake is widely regarded as
one of the top walleye fisheries in Minnesota.
Much of the land around Lake Winnie is federal
forestland and part of the Chippewa National
Forest. Lake Winnibigoshish is actively managed
for walleye production.
Interesting Fact about Lake Winnie: The state
record Musky (muskellunge) was caught in Lake
Winnie in 1957. It weighed 54 pounds and measured
56 inches long. |
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Spider Lake |
Location: 8 miles SW
of Marcell, 32 miles north of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1,349
Max Depth: 36 feet
Clarity: 12.5 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Bluegill, Yellow Perch,
Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, Largemouth
Bass
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Spider Lake supports diverse
fish species and is managed for walleye
production.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Spider Lake:
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Turtle Lake |
Location: Marcell, 35
miles north of Grand Rapids
Acres: 2,052
Max Depth: 137 feet
Clarity: 12 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Bluegill, Northern Pike,
Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Tullibee (cisco),
Yellow Perch
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Turtle Lake is an aesthetically
beautiful lake with clear, deep water. Its
reputation for large smallmouth bass and a diverse
fish species make it a popular fishing destination
for recreational anglers. If you are lodging in
Grand Rapids and plan to fish on Turtle Lake,
Frontier Sports in Marcell is a good place to stop
for fishing bait and last-minute supplies.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Turtle Lake: Do
you know of a legend or fact about Turtle Lake?
Please send us an email?
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Cutfoot Sioux Lake |
Location: nearest town
is Squaw Lake
Acres: 2,768
Max Depth: 78 feet
Clarity: 12 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Walleye, Black Crappie,
Northern Pike, Bluegill, Tullibee, Yellow Perch,
Rock Bass, Bullhead
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 3 concrete, 1 earthen
Unique qualities: Cutfoot Sioux Lake is a very
popular walleye fishing lake and can be crowded
during the fishing opener. Cutfoot is connected to
Lake Winnie and provides anglers with the choice
of staying on Cutfoot or venturing out onto Big
Winnie. The lake is stocked with walleye on a
regular basis.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Cutfoot Sioux
Lake: Send us an interesting fact about Cutfoot
Sioux Lake and we will post it here.
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Deer Lake |
Location: Deer River,
northwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 4,097
Max Depth: 121 feet
Clarity: 11 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch,
Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Rock Bass,
Smallmouth Bass, and some Muskellunge
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Deer Lake is moderately
developed with family homes, cabins, and some
smaller family resorts. The lake supports diverse
fish species and is actively managed for walleye,
musky and smallmouth bass.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Deer Lake: Deer
Lake is sometimes referred to as the Lake of
Changing Colors.
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Splithand Lake |
Location: Grand Rapids
Acres: 1,420
Max Depth: 34 feet
Clarity: 8.5 feet
Predominant Fish Species: Yellow Perch, Walleye,
Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Sunfish
DNR Stocking/Lake Report
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique qualities: Splithand Lake is a residential
lake with no commercial resort properties
remaining on the lake. Its relatively shallow
depth allow for heating and cooling water
temperatures ahead of normal trends.
Interesting Fact or Legend about Splithand Lake:
If you know an interesting fact or legend about
Splithand Lake please send us an email and we will
post it here!
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Mississippi River |
Location: dissects the
community of Grand Rapids
Predominant Fish Species:
Public Accesses:
Unique qualities: Be aware of the locations of
dams along the Mississippi River and how they will
impact your ability to navigate upstream or
downstream. Fishing between the Blandin Paper Mill
Dam and the Pokegama Dam is popular during the
summer months. The river has bays which hold bass
and panfish, and has several bridges that provide
opportunities to fish underneath from shore.
Interesting Fact or Legend about the Mississippi
River: The Mississippi River landing in Grand
Rapids was the furthermost stopping point for the
early steamships on the river. At Grand Rapids the
river became too shallow for the ships to continue
northward and thus Grand Rapids became the
entertainment, trading, and merchant shopping hub
to the northern region. |
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