Ball Club Lake, Itasca County Fishing
Itasca County, 4,335 acres, 85 feet deep.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Pokegama Lake: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
The short version on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
Ball Club Lake, Itasca County is a lake of 4,335 acres in Itasca County. Depth bottoms out near 85 feet, with an average of 38.9 feet. 1,091 acres, about 25% of the total, are less than 15 feet deep. A drive of about 7 miles reaches Deer River, the nearest city. It falls under the Grand Rapids area fisheries office.
Recent DNR surveys found walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. There are 2 public water accesses around the lake. The most recent population assessment dates to August 4, 2014. The walleye catch of 2.47 per gill net was below the DNR normal range of 4.0-9.6.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 DNR survey results for Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
From the population assessment completed August 4, 2014: catch, catch per set and average weight against the DNR normal ranges.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 37 | 2.47 | 4.0-9.6 | 1.04 | 1.1-1.9 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 99 | 6.6 | 3.0-7.9 | 2.15 | 1.7-2.8 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 3 | 0.21 | 1.73 | ||
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 93 | 6.2 | 7.1-33.9 | 0.15 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 63 | 4.5 | 0.7-3.7 | 0.11 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 23 | 1.64 | 0.3-1.7 | 0.47 | 0.3-0.6 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 5 | 0.36 | 3.7-42.9 | 0.56 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 5 | 0.33 | 0.5-5.2 | 0.52 | 0.4-1.0 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Special gill nets | 64 | 64 | 0.38 | ||
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 1 | 0.07 | 1.0-6.6 | 0.73 | 0.3-0.5 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 5 | 0.36 | 0.7-3.3 | 0.23 | 0.2-0.5 |
Gill net catch on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County by species
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
Survey narrative for Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
“Ball Club Lake is a large, mesotrophic lake near Ball Club, Minnesota.”
“The lake is in ecological lake class 22 and is in the Mississippi River watershed.”
“Ball Club Lake has a surface area of 3,936 acres, a littoral area of 984 acres, a maximum depth of 85 feet and a Secchi transparency of 11.5 feet (average from 2008 MN PCA data).”
“There are four inlets to Ball Club Lake and its outlet is the Ball Club River, which flows to the Mississippi River.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Ball Club Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Public water accesses on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
- Ball Club Lake (S) Access1 ramp, 4 trailer stalls, DNR Division of Parks and Trails
- Ball Club Lake (W) Access1 ramp, 2 trailer stalls, Itasca County
Public accesses close to Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
- Mississippi River, #2 AccessMississippi River, 4 miles southeast
- Mississippi River, Co Rd 3 AccessMississippi River, 5 miles southeast
- Little Ball Club Lake AccessLittle Ball Club, 5 miles northwest
- Mud Lake (NE) AccessMud, 6 miles south
- Little Winnie Lake AccessLittle Winnibigoshish, 6 miles northwest
- Mud Lake (E) AccessMud, 7 miles south
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Structure of Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
8 clarity readings on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County date from 2007 onward.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
How high Ball Club Lake, Itasca County is running
Readings in the DNR record for Ball Club Lake, Itasca County come from gauge readers, so each one is dated.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Fish swimming in Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
Survey catches from the DNR set this Ball Club Lake, Itasca County species list.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Ball Club Lake, Itasca County rules from the DNR booklet
Statewide inland limits cover Ball Club Lake, Itasca County; the DNR lists no special rule for it.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (not more than 2 over 26", all from 22-26" must be immediately released) | May 9, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Northern pike (North-central Zone) | 10 (either 2 northern pike over 26" and none from 22 to 26" or 1 from 22 to 26" and 1 over 26") | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
| Largemouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Largemouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass (when smallmouth season is open) | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | March 1 – May 22, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | May 23 – Sept. 13, 2026 |
| Smallmouth bass | Catch-and-release only | Sept. 14, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Crappie | 10 combined total | Continuous |
| Sunfish | 20 combined total | Continuous |
| Yellow perch | 20 daily, 40 in possession | Continuous |
| Muskellunge | 1 (minimum size 54") | June 6 – Nov. 30, 2026 |
| Channel catfish | 5 (only 1 over 24") | Continuous |
| Rock bass | 30 | Continuous |
| Cisco (tullibee) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Burbot (eelpout) | 4 | Continuous |
By location Ball Club Lake, Itasca County belongs to the North-central Zone; check posted boundaries near the lines.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
How Ball Club Lake, Itasca County stacks up nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Club Lake, Itasca County | 4,335 | 85 | 2 | 2.47 | |
| Little Ball Club Lake | 5 miles northwest | 185 | 30 | 1 | 0.67 |
| Little Winnibigoshish Lake | 6 miles northwest | 1,002 | 28 | 1 | 12.5 |
| Chase Lake, Itasca County | 10 miles east | 211 | 95 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Six Mile Lake, Cass County | 10 miles west | 1,323 | 68 | 1 | 8.75 |
| Mud Lake, Itasca County | 10 miles east | 92 | 31 | 0 | 2 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
What sits close to Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
Lakes one stop past Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
- Little Ball Club Lake5 miles northwest
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake6 miles northwest
- Chase Lake, Itasca County10 miles east
- Six Mile Lake, Cass County10 miles west
- Mud Lake, Itasca County10 miles east
Bait shops an easy drive from Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
- Winnie Trading Postsporting goods store, Deer River, 6 miles
- Fred's Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Deer River, 7 miles
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Itasca, 7 miles
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Deer River, 7 miles
- Bite Me Waxworms & Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Deer River, 8 miles
- River Rat Baitbait and tackle shop, Cohasset, 13 miles
Towns to stay in near Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
- Ball Club2 miles
- Deer River7 miles
- Zemple8 miles
Ball Club Lake, Itasca County and its counties
- Itasca Countyseat: Grand Rapids
Reels and a weigh grip for Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Catches common at Ball Club Lake, Itasca County
Photo: Georg Mittenecker, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Rob Foster, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
_(12658760953).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Ball Club Lake, Itasca County, asked by anglers
Which Minnesota county is Ball Club Lake, Itasca County in?
Look in Itasca County, managed from the Grand Rapids fisheries office, about 7 miles from Deer River.
How does Ball Club Lake, Itasca County rank by size?
LakeFinder lists 4,335 acres, 85 feet at the deepest.
Which access serves Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
2 public accesses; Ball Club Lake (W) Access is one.
Which fish can I hook in Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
On file: walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and cisco.
What did the last survey of Ball Club Lake, Itasca County find?
The newest is a population assessment from August 4, 2014. walleye ran 2.47 per gill net.
Are the statewide limits in force on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
The statewide table covers it (North-central Zone).
Which Minnesota license do I need on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Is there a level gauge on Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
Clarity averages 12.9 feet on the Secchi disk.
Who sells leeches near Ball Club Lake, Itasca County?
Winnie Trading Post, about 6 miles away.
Add Ball Club Lake, Itasca County to the summer list
Check the limits, then pick an access above.