Lake whitefish across Minnesota
Limits, records and DNR survey waters for lake whitefish.
- 15 (over 7")limit
- 13 lb 9 ozrecord
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lake whitefish across Minnesota
Minnesota anglers meet Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), a member of the trout and salmon family. Under the DNR row for inland waters (statewide): 15 (over 7″), Continuous.
The Minnesota record weighed 13 lb 9 oz, from Lake of the Woods (2019). Look for it in 77 surveyed lakes; 105 are on this site. Gift Lake tops the gill net catch at 39.67 per net.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 What the DNR writes about lake whitefish
“With a snout that overhangs the lower jaw, this member of the trout and salmon family can grow larger than cisco.”
- With a snout that overhangs the lower jaw, this member of the trout and salmon family can grow larger than cisco.identification
- whitefishalso called
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
Bag and season for lake whitefish
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 15 (over 7") | Continuous |
| Inland waters | 15 | Nov. 15, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 except where prohibited |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
lake whitefish in the DNR record tables
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 13 lb 9 oz | Lake of the Woods | Lake of the Woods | 2019 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
lake whitefish per gill net, best lakes
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gift Lake | 39.67 | 0.8-30.9 | 0.73 | 1973 |
| Pine Lake, Cook County | 27.67 | 2.43 | 2023 | |
| Vernon Lake | 21 | 0.95 | 1998 | |
| Eddy Lake, Lake County | 17 | 1.6-15.5 | 0.74 | 1985 |
| Spoon Lake, Lake County | 16 | 0.71 | 2015 | |
| Jenny Lake | 15.75 | 1.6-15.5 | 1.1 | 1980 |
| Ester Lake | 14.4 | 1.99 | 2018 | |
| East Pike Lake | 14.38 | 1.6-15.5 | 1.07 | 2002 |
| Canton Pit | 13.67 | 9.5-43.0 | 0.24 | 2016 |
| Swan Lake, Cook County | 12.25 | 1.53 | 2014 | |
| Caribou Lake near Grand Marais, Cook County, 462 acres | 10.67 | 1.6-15.5 | 3.59 | 2000 |
| Sea Gull Lake | 9.92 | 1.12 | 2024 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
Waters for lake whitefish
Lake pages listing lake whitefish
- Lake of the Woods725,583 acres
- Rainy Lake, St. Louis County210,200 acres
- Red Lake (Upper Red)119,294 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Lac la Croix29,597 acres
- Basswood Lake25,953 acres
- Namakan Lake24,066 acres
- Kabetogama Lake24,034 acres
- Saganaga Lake18,767 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Crooked Lake near Winton, St. Louis County10,360 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
- Burntside Lake7,314 acres
- Ten Mile Lake, Cass County5,080 acres
- Knife Lake, Lake County4,919 acres
- Pike Bay, Cass County4,756 acres
- Deer Lake near Deer River, Itasca County4,093 acres
- Sea Gull Lake3,958 acres
- Crane Lake, St. Louis County2,921 acres
- Insula Lake2,840 acres
- Blackduck Lake2,711 acres
- Loon Lake near Orr, St. Louis County2,498 acres
River pages listing lake whitefish
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Relatives of lake whitefish
- Lake trouttrout and salmon family
- Brook trouttrout and salmon family
- Brown trouttrout and salmon family
- Rainbow trouttrout and salmon family
- Steelheadtrout and salmon family
- Splaketrout and salmon family
- Tiger trouttrout and salmon family
- Chinook salmontrout and salmon family
- Coho salmontrout and salmon family
- Pink salmontrout and salmon family
- Atlantic salmontrout and salmon family
- Kokanee salmontrout and salmon family
Water you can reach from Lake whitefish, pictured
Photo: Ronfar623 on en.wikipedia, CC BY 1.0
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
,_Cottage_Grove,_Minnesota_-_Hazen_P_Mooers_Park,_Grey_Cloud_Island_(40718111060).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Tyler Vigen, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Appraiser at English Wikipedia, Public domain
What Minnesota anglers ask about lake whitefish
Which size rule covers lake whitefish in Minnesota?
15 (over 7") (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
How heavy is the Minnesota record lake whitefish?
13 lb 9 oz from Lake of the Woods (2019).
Where do Minnesota anglers find lake whitefish?
Gift Lake leads the DNR gill net catch at 39.67 per net; 106 waters on this site list it.
Will the DNR stock lake whitefish this year?
No stocking row names it.
Which other names does the DNR use for lake whitefish?
With a snout that overhangs the lower jaw, this member of the trout and salmon family can grow larger than cisco.
Which months allow keeping lake whitefish in Minnesota?
Continuous
Which license do lake whitefish anglers carry in Minnesota?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which guides target lake whitefish?
No guide lists it.
Chase lake whitefish across Minnesota
Choose any Minnesota lake or stream listed above.