Kabekona Lake Fishing
Hubbard County, 2,433 acres, 133 feet deep.
Pick for walleyePiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Crow Wing River: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
The short version on Kabekona Lake
Kabekona Lake is a lake of 2,433 acres in Hubbard County. Depth bottoms out near 133 feet, with an average of 53 feet. 602 acres, about 25% of the total, are less than 15 feet deep. A drive of about 3 miles reaches Laporte, the nearest city. It falls under the Park Rapids area fisheries office.
Recent DNR surveys found walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. There are 1 public water access around the lake. The most recent standard survey dates to June 20, 2023. The walleye catch of 2.58 per gill net was below the DNR normal range of 4.0-9.6. Median ice-out since 1950 is April 23, from 67 records.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 DNR survey results for Kabekona Lake
From the standard survey completed June 20, 2023: 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 | 31 | 2.58 | 4.0-9.6 | 3.41 | 1.1-1.9 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 21 | 1.75 | 0.3-0.9 | 3.83 | 1.0-2.2 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 37 | 3.08 | 3.0-7.9 | 3.15 | 1.7-2.8 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 3 | 0.25 | 2.99 | ||
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 74 | 6.17 | 7.1-33.9 | 0.12 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 14 | 1.17 | 0.7-3.7 | 0.1 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 5 | 0.42 | 3.7-42.9 | 0.25 | 0.1-0.2 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 2 | 0.17 | 0.4-1.4 | 3.86 | 0.3-0.7 |
| Largemouth bass | fine mesh forage gill net | 11 | 3.67 | 0.02 | ||
| Smallmouth bass | Standard trap nets | 3 | 0.25 | 0.1-0.6 | 1.84 | 0.1-0.6 |
| Tullibee (cisco) | Standard gill nets | 106 | 8.83 | 0.5-5.2 | 0.56 | 0.4-1.0 |
| Lake whitefish | Standard gill nets | 24 | 2 | 0.1-0.9 | 1.31 | 1.0-3.0 |
Gill net catch on Kabekona Lake by species
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
Survey narrative for Kabekona Lake
“Kabekona Lake is located three miles south of Laporte in Hubbard County.”
“Kabekona has a surface area of 2,433 acres and a maximum depth of 133 feet.”
“A county-owned public access is located on the west shore of the lake off MN Highway 64.”
“Kabekona is known for its Walleye fishery, but also provides fishing opportunities for Yellow Perch and Northern Pike.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Kabekona Lake (report). Checked October 2026.
Public water accesses on Kabekona Lake
- Kabekona Lake Access1 ramp, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, Hubbard County
Public accesses close to Kabekona Lake
- Garfield Lake AccessGarfield, 4 miles north
- Bass Lake Access near LaporteBass, 4 miles west
- Twentyone Lake AccessTwenty-One, 4 miles west
- Nelson Lake Access near LaporteNelson, 4 miles west
- Benedict – Kabekona AccessBenedict, 4 miles southeast
- Little Gulch Lake Access1st Little Gulch, 5 miles west
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Structure of Kabekona Lake
7 clarity readings on Kabekona Lake date from 2008 onward.
Extremes in the Kabekona Lake ice-out record: March 24, 2012 early, May 18, 1909 late.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
How high Kabekona Lake is running
Readings in the DNR record for Kabekona Lake come from gauge readers, so each one is dated.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Fish swimming in Kabekona Lake
Survey catches from the DNR set this Kabekona Lake species list.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Kabekona Lake rules from the DNR booklet
The DNR posts these special limits on Kabekona Lake.
| Species | Regulation | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye | All from 20-26" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed in possession. Possession limit four. |
| 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 Kabekona Lake 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 Kabekona Lake stacks up nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kabekona Lake | 2,433 | 133 | 1 | 2.58 | |
| Lester Lake | 2 miles southwest | 72 | 40 | 0 | |
| Horseshoe Lake, Hubbard County | 3 miles east | 264 | 52 | 0 | 0.17 |
| Benedict Lake | 4 miles southeast | 464 | 91 | 1 | 3.33 |
| Twenty-One Lake, Hubbard County | 4 miles west | 36 | 51.5 | 1 | |
| Garfield Lake | 4 miles north | 972 | 32 | 1 | 7.17 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
What sits close to Kabekona Lake
Lakes one stop past Kabekona Lake
- Lester Lake2 miles southwest
- Horseshoe Lake, Hubbard County3 miles east
- Benedict Lake4 miles southeast
- Twenty-One Lake, Hubbard County4 miles west
- Garfield Lake4 miles north
Bait shops an easy drive from Kabekona Lake
- Dean's Baitbait and tackle shop, Cass, 8 miles
- Walker Marinemarina, Cass, 9 miles
- City Docksmarina, Cass, 9 miles
- Shriver's Bait Co.bait and tackle shop, Walker, 9 miles
- Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters, 522 Minnesota Avenue Westsporting goods store, Walker, 9 miles
- Action Fly Cofly shop, Walker, 10 miles
Towns to stay in near Kabekona Lake
- Laporte3 miles
- Walker10 miles
- Lake George10 miles
Kabekona Lake and its counties
- Hubbard Countyseat: Park Rapids
Reels and a weigh grip for Kabekona Lake
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Catches common at Kabekona Lake
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Kabekona Lake, asked by anglers
Which Minnesota county is Kabekona Lake in?
Look in Hubbard County, managed from the Park Rapids fisheries office, about 3 miles from Laporte.
How does Kabekona Lake rank by size?
LakeFinder lists 2,433 acres, 133 feet at the deepest.
Which access serves Kabekona Lake?
1 public access; Kabekona Lake Access is one.
Which fish can I hook in Kabekona Lake?
On file: walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
What did the last survey of Kabekona Lake find?
The newest is a standard survey from June 20, 2023. walleye ran 2.58 per gill net.
Are the statewide limits in force on Kabekona Lake?
Walleye: All from 20-26" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed in possession. Possession limit four.
Which Minnesota license do I need on Kabekona Lake?
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 Kabekona Lake?
Ice usually leaves near April 23; most recently April 26, 2025.
Who sells leeches near Kabekona Lake?
Dean's Bait, about 8 miles away.
Add Kabekona Lake to the summer list
Check the limits, then pick an access above.