- Grand Rapids Marine Center: Grand Rapids Marine is your boating headquarters for Northern Minnesota. (P) 218-326-0351 (Website) www.grandrapidsmarine.com
- Paddle Hoppers: Go Local, friendly, knowledgeable paddle shop, offering stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks, canoes, and paddling accessories to buy or rent. We also offer fun ½ day Mississippi river trips on Saturdays, and guided kayaking day trips to a couple of our favorite local lakes on Thursdays! We carry Northstar Canoes. Delta, Jackson, Wilderness Systems, and Perception Kayaks. Pau Hana, Boardworks, Tahoe, Grey Duck, and Glide Stand-up Paddle Boards (SUPs). As well as Malone trailers and many brands of Accessories. (P) 218-326-5853 (Email) holli@Paddlehoppers.com (Website) https://
paddlehoppers.com/
FISHING
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1,000+ LAKES PRIME FOR FISHING
The Grand Rapids, MN area is home to more than 1,000 lakes prime for fishing. A fishing mecca for anglers in search of walleye, bass, crappies, northerns, musky, trout, panfish, perch and more. The Itasca area lakes have proven themselves by hosting a variety of amateur and professional fishing tournaments throughout the years. Check out our list at the bottom of the page for which lakes have the best bass and walleye fishing, including DNR reports and public access information.
The mighty Mississippi River runs right through our city, as well as a number of smaller rivers and tributaries located in the area. If you want to casually fish overhead off of a bridge or go by boat, the river is the perfect place to target those walleye, bass, bluegill, crappie or muskie.
Fishing information
BOAT RENTAL
GUIDED FISHING
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FISHING TOURNAMENTS
TOURNEY 1
- Grand Rapids Marine Center: Grand Rapids Marine is your boating headquarters for Northern Minnesota. (P) 218-326-0351 (Website) www.grandrapidsmarine.com
- Paddle Hoppers: Go Local, friendly, knowledgeable paddle shop, offering stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks, canoes, and paddling accessories to buy or rent. We also offer fun ½ day Mississippi river trips on Saturdays, and guided kayaking day trips to a couple of our favorite local lakes on Thursdays! We carry Northstar Canoes. Delta, Jackson, Wilderness Systems, and Perception Kayaks. Pau Hana, Boardworks, Tahoe, Grey Duck, and Glide Stand-up Paddle Boards (SUPs). As well as Malone trailers and many brands of Accessories. (P) 218-326-5853 (Email) holli@Paddlehoppers.com (Website) https://
paddlehoppers.com/
TOURNEY 2
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Area lakes
BASS LAKE
Location: Cohasset, 5 miles west of Grand Rapids
Acres: 2,407
Max Depth: 76 feet
Clarity: 10.7 feetPredominant Fish Species: Northern Pike, Walleye, Sunfish, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass
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:
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 feetPredominant Fish Species: Black Crappie, Walleye, Bullhead, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch
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 sand bars and rock points that provide a 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
CARIBOU LAKE
Location: 26 miles north of Grand Rapids near Marcell
Acres: 240
Max Depth: 152 feet
Clarity: 28 feetPredominant Fish Species: Lake Trout, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass
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
CUTFOOT SIOUX LAKE
Location: nearest town is Squaw Lake
Acres: 2,768
Max Depth: 78 feet
Clarity: 12 feetPredominant Fish Species: Walleye, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Tullibee, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Bullhead
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.
DEER LAKE
Location: Deer River, northwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 4,097
Max Depth: 121 feet
Clarity: 11 feetPredominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and some Muskellunge
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.
JESSE LAKE
Location:
Talmoon, 32 miles northwest of Grand Rapids Acres: 1,753
Max Depth: 42 feet
Clarity: 8 feetPredominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike
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
Rising Eagle Resort
Loons Landing
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Mississippi River Information: 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.
MOOSE LAKE
Location: Deer River, northwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1274
Max Depth: 61 feet
Clarity: 7.5 feetPredominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, and some Muskellunge
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Interesting Fact or Legend about Moose Lake: If you know an interesting fact or legend about Moose Lake please send us an email and we will post it here!
Member Places to Stay on Moose Lake:
Moose Lake Resort
POKEGAMA LAKE
Location: Grand Rapids
Acres: 6,612
Max Depth: 112 feet
Clarity: 18.5 feetPredominant Fish Species: Bluegill, Northern Pike, Rockbass, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Crappie
Public Accesses: 7 (5 concrete, 2 earthen)
Unique Qualities: Pokegama Lake is a 6612 acre recreational lake that provides access by water to Jay Gould Lake and the Mississippi River. The natural topography of Pokegama Lake provides the varied natural structure which sustains good quality and quantities of all game fish species. The lake has hosted a number of fishing tournaments over the years including 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:
Pokegama lake Resort
Green Heron B&B
PRARIE 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 feetPredominant Fish Species: Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, and Walleye
Public Accesses: 2 concrete
Unique Qualities: Prairie Lake has a unique outcropping of rocks on its southern edge that forms the Prairie Lake Gorge. This scenic spot is a popular photography location that 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.
SPIDER LAKE
Location: 8 miles SW of Marcell, 32 miles north of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1,349
Max Depth: 36 feet
Clarity: 12.5 feetPredominant Fish Species: Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, Largemouth Bass
Public Accesses: 1 concrete
Unique Qualities: Spider Lake supports diverse fish species and is managed for walleye production.
SPLITHAND
Location: Grand Rapids
Acres: 1,420
Max Depth: 34 feet
Clarity: 8.5 feetPredominant Fish Species: Yellow Perch, Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Sunfish
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!
SUGAR LAKE
Location: 14 miles southwest of Grand Rapids
Acres: 1306
Max Depth: 105 feet
Clarity: 26 feetPredominant Fish Species: Yellow Perch, Walleye, Rock Bass, Northern Pike, and Bluegill.
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:
Sugar Lake Lodge
TURTLE LAKE
Location:
Marcell, 35 miles north of Grand Rapids Acres: 2,052
Max Depth: 137 feet
Clarity: 12 feetPredominant Fish Species: Bluegill, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Tullibee (cisco), Yellow Perch
DNR Stocking/Lake Report (link to: https://www.dnr.state.mn.
us/lakefind/showreport.html? downum=31072500) 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?
WASSON LAKE
Location: Near Bigfork, 35 miles northeast of Grand Rapids
Acres: 450
Max Depth: 67 feet
Clarity: 14 feetPredominant Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Northern Pike, Black Crappie
DNR Stocking/Lake Report (link to: https://www.dnr.state.mn.
us/lakefind/showreport.html? downum=31028100) 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
LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH
Location:
North of Deer River Acres: 58,544
Max Depth: 70 feet
Clarity: not recordedPredominant Fish Species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, and Tullibee (Cisco)
Public Accesses: 7 concreteDNR Stocking/Lake Report (link to: https://www.dnr.state.mn.
us/lakefind/showreport.html? downum=11014700) 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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