Overview
Chippewa Flowage Map
Fishing Regulations
Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.
Special Waterbody Regulations
- Bag limits are for fish caught in all lakes in the CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE including CRANE LAKE, CRYSTAL LAKE, JAMES LAKE, JAMES SLOUGH, MOONSHINE LAKE, SCOTT LAKE, TYNER LAKE Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.
Special Species Regulations
- Rock, Yellow, and White Bass: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Rough fish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Round goby: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Ruffe: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed. No fishing allowed.
- Trout and salmon: See Trout regulations layer.
- Bullheads: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited
- Catfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Cisco and whitefish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- White perch: Open all year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office
- Bluegill: See Panfish.
- Bowfin: See Rough Fish.
- Channel catfish: See Catfish.
- Hybrid, Striped, Yellow, and White Bass: See Rock, Yellow and White Bass.
- Urban waters gamefish: This waterbody is not considered an urban water, Urban Waters Gamefish regulations do not apply.
- Walleye: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
- Crappies: See Panfish.
- Lake sturgeon: September 6, 2025 to September 30, 2025: All sturgeon taken with hook and line must be tagged and registered. The minimum length is 60” and season limit is 1 fish
- Longnose gar: See Rough Fish.
- Sauger and hybrids: See Walleye, Sauger, and Hybrids.
- Shortnose gar: See Rough Fish.
- Flathead catfish: See Catfish.
- Panfish: Open all year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Walleye, Saugers, and Hybrids: May 3, 2025 to November 30, 2025: Walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 15” to 20” may be kept, except one fish may be over 24”. The daily bag limit is 3
- Muskellunge and hybrids: May 24, 2025 to December 31, 2025: The minimum length limit is 50” and the daily bag limit is 1
- Northern pike: May 3, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10
- Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: June 21, 2025 to March 1, 2026: No minimum length for largemouth bass. Minimum length for smallmouth bass is 14” and bag limit for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass is 5 in total
- Largemouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5
- Smallmouth bass: May 3, 2025 to June 20, 2025: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only)
- Paddlefish: Closed. No fishing allowed.
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Fish Species
Chippewa Flowage Bluegill abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Crappie abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Largemouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 21 |
Chippewa Flowage Muskellunge abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 48 |
| 2017 | 51 |
Chippewa Flowage Northern pike abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Perch abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Pumpkinseed abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Smallmouth bass abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2017 | 18 |
Chippewa Flowage Tiger muskellunge abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.Chippewa Flowage Walleye abundance
Average range for similar lakes
Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.| Survey Year | Largest Fish (in) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 29 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2016 | 28 |
