Lake Winnibigoshish Fishing
Cass County and Itasca County, 56,471 acres, 69.8 feet deep.
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Lake Winnibigoshish, the basics
Count on 56,471 acres of water at Lake Winnibigoshish, a lake in Cass County and Itasca County. The DNR depth record tops out at 69.8 feet, with an average of 15.1 feet. Roughly 37% of the water (20,918 acres) sits shallower than 15 feet. For supplies, Bena sits about 8 miles from the lake point. Management falls to the Grand Rapids area fisheries office. The DNR lists it as a muskie lake (native population).
DNR sampling has turned up walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. The DNR access layer lists 6 public water accesses. DNR crews completed a large lake survey on April 16, 2025. Walleye came in at 6.06 per gill net, within the normal range for similar lakes (3.3-14.8). Ice goes out around April 27 in a typical year (31 records).
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Figures are from the April 16, 2025 large lake survey, with the normal range for comparable lakes.
| Species | Gear | Caught | Per set | Normal range | Avg lb | Normal lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 194 | 6.06 | 3.3-14.8 | 1.72 | 0.9-1.5 |
| Walleye | Fall electrofishing | 50 | 16.67 | |||
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 84 | 2.62 | 0.9-4.3 | 2.47 | 2.4-4.3 |
| Northern pike | Special trap nets | 359 | 9.97 | 1.98 | ||
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 286 | 8.94 | 9.9-57.1 | 0.19 | 0.2-0.3 |
| Yellow perch | Fall electrofishing | 78 | 26 | |||
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 5 | 0.29 | 0.9 | ||
| Black crappie | Survey seining | 137 | 12.45 | |||
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 49 | 2.88 | 0.51 | ||
| Bluegill | Survey seining | 946 | 86 | |||
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 11 | 0.65 | 2.98 | ||
| Largemouth bass | Survey seining | 203 | 18.45 |
Gill net results from Lake Winnibigoshish
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lake survey data, survey report. Checked October 2026.
DNR biologists on Lake Winnibigoshish
“Lake Winnibigoshish, otherwise known as Winnie or Big Winnie, is a large reservoir located immediately north of the community of Bena, Minnesota.”
“Winnie was a natural lake that was impounded in the 1880's with a dam controlled by the U.S.”
“Today the USACE maintains water levels within a narrow band of elevation that gives the lake its current surface area of approximately 56,472 acres and a maximum depth of 69 feet.”
“The surrounding geology contains a high proportion of sandy soils, providing an abundance of sandy shoreline with gradual slopes.”
Quoted from the DNR status of the fishery for Lake Winnibigoshish (report). Checked October 2026.
Reaching Lake Winnibigoshish by boat
- Lake Winnibigoshish, Birches Access2 ramps, 24 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, U.S. Forest Service
- Lake Winnibigoshish, Plughat Point Access2 ramps, 30 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, U.S. Forest Service
- Lake Winnibigoshish, Richards Townsite Access2 ramps, 20 trailer stalls, 1 dock, toilet, U.S. Forest Service
- Lake Winnibigoshish (W) Access1 ramp, 11 trailer stalls, 1 dock, U.S. Forest Service
- Lake Winnibigoshish, Tamarack Point Access1 ramp, 20 trailer stalls, toilet, U.S. Forest Service
- Third River Flowage Access1 ramp, 29 trailer stalls, U.S. Forest Service
Landings around Lake Winnibigoshish on the map
- Pigeon Dam Lake AccessPigeon Dam, 5 miles north
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Deer Lake AccessCut Foot Sioux, 6 miles northeast
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, S. McAvity Bay AccessCut Foot Sioux, 6 miles east
- Mississippi River, Lake Winnibigoshish Rec Area AccessMississippi River, 7 miles east
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, #2 AccessCut Foot Sioux, 7 miles northeast
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Williams Narrows AccessCut Foot Sioux, 7 miles northeast
Minnesota DNR Public Water Access Sites and Public Fishing Sites layers and LakeFinder, checked October 2026.
Shallows and depth on Lake Winnibigoshish
The clarity record for Lake Winnibigoshish holds 135 Secchi readings going back to 2006.
The DNR record shows Lake Winnibigoshish opening as early as March 30, 2012 and as late as May 17, 2013.
DNR LakeFinder morphology and water clarity, DNR ice-out records (ice-out data), checked October 2026.
Lake Winnibigoshish level reading
US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District (CWMS), reading for Oct 16, 2026. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Not updated since Oct 16, 2026.
USACE St. Paul District series Lake Winnibigoshish Dam, Winnibigoshish Dam pool; datum NGVD-29. Reading on file 1,298.04 ft on 2026-10-19.
The DNR lake level record for Lake Winnibigoshish is a manual gauge series, so the latest entry carries its date rather than a live value.
DNR lake level record (datum NGVD 29).
Species the DNR has recorded in Lake Winnibigoshish
DNR survey crews recorded each fish on this Lake Winnibigoshish list.
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder species list and survey catch.
Fish you may keep from Lake Winnibigoshish
For the species listed here, Lake Winnibigoshish follows its own regulations instead of statewide limits.
| Species | Regulation | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sunfish | Daily limit five. | Including connected waters (Beltrami, Cass, Itasca counties): Mississippi River to Knutson Dam, Third River Flowage to L |
| Walleye | All from 18-23" must be immediately released. One over 23" allowed in possession. | Including connected waters (Beltrami, Cass, Itasca counties): Mississippi River to Knutson Dam, Third River Flowage to L |
| 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 |
The pike and bass rows shown are the North-central Zone rows, the zone Lake Winnibigoshish falls in.
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations and LakeFinder special regulations, checked October 2026. All Minnesota limits.
Permitted events held on Lake Winnibigoshish
DNR tournament permits and published results for Lake Winnibigoshish have their own page.
Lake Winnibigoshish next to nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Accesses | Walleye per gill net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Winnibigoshish | 56,471 | 69.8 | 6 | 6.06 | |
| Sugar Lake, Itasca County | 6 miles west | 1,509 | 22 | 0 | 2.5 |
| Cut Foot Sioux Lake | 6 miles northeast | 2,771 | 78 | 5 | 4.07 |
| Sunken Lake | 7 miles northeast | 45 | 35 | 0 | |
| Mosomo Lake | 8 miles north | 48 | 30 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Little Winnibigoshish Lake | 8 miles east | 1,002 | 28 | 1 | 12.5 |
DNR LakeFinder morphology, access layer and latest survey per lake.
Around Lake Winnibigoshish, up close
Lakes worth a look near Lake Winnibigoshish
- Sugar Lake, Itasca County6 miles west
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake6 miles northeast
- Sunken Lake7 miles northeast
- Mosomo Lake8 miles north
- Little Winnibigoshish Lake8 miles east
Tackle stops on the way to Lake Winnibigoshish
- Winnie Trading Postsporting goods store, Deer River, 8 miles
- Fred's Live Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Deer River, 20 miles
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Itasca, 20 miles
- The Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Deer River, 20 miles
- Bite Me Waxworms & Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Deer River, 20 miles
- New Era Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cass Lake, 22 miles
Overnight bases for Lake Winnibigoshish
- Bena8 miles
- Squaw Lake12 miles
- Ball Club14 miles
Counties surrounding Lake Winnibigoshish
- Cass Countyseat: Walker
- Itasca Countyseat: Grand Rapids
Piscifun reels to pack for Lake Winnibigoshish
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Reader questions on Lake Winnibigoshish
How far is Lake Winnibigoshish from a city?
It lies in Cass County and Itasca County, managed from the Grand Rapids fisheries office, about 8 miles from Bena.
How much surface water does LakeFinder give Lake Winnibigoshish?
56,471 acres, 69.8 feet at the deepest.
Can I trailer a boat onto Lake Winnibigoshish?
There are 6 public accesses; Lake Winnibigoshish, Richards Townsite Access is the largest.
Does Lake Winnibigoshish have walleye?
The DNR has recorded walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and muskellunge.
How recent is the Lake Winnibigoshish survey?
Most recently on April 16, 2025 (large lake survey). walleye ran 6.06 per gill net.
Does Lake Winnibigoshish have special regulations?
Sunfish: Daily limit five.; Walleye: All from 18-23" must be immediately released. One over 23" allowed in possession.
Is a trout stamp needed on Lake Winnibigoshish?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
What is the water clarity of Lake Winnibigoshish?
Median ice-out is April 27; the last recorded ice-out was April 27, 2026.
Is there a bait and tackle stop near Lake Winnibigoshish?
Winnie Trading Post is nearest at 8 miles.
Head for Lake Winnibigoshish
License fees and every statewide limit are on the license page.