Lake Winnibigoshish

Lake Winnibigoshish

Size
55,764ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Lake Winnibigoshish
Bluegill
Bluegill
Walleye
Walleye
Perch
Perch
Northern pike
Northern pike
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Crappie
Crappie
Rock bass
Rock bass
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass

Overview

Lake Winnibigoshish 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.

Location: Including connected waters (Beltrami, Cass, Itasca counties): Mississippi River to Knutson Dam, Third River Flowage to Little Dixon Lake, Pigeon River to Pigeon Lake Dam, First River, Egg Lake through Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Raven Flowage to Raven Lake, and Sugar Lake.

  • Sunfish: Daily limit five.
  • Walleye: All from 18-23” must be immediately released. One over 23” allowed in possession.

Features

Lake Winnibigoshish is part of a chain of lakes that includes Ravens Flowage, Sugar Lake, Big Cut Foot Sioux, Little Cut Foot Sioux and First River Lake. The Mississippi River inlet is navigable upstream to the Knutson Dam below Cass lake. Big Winnie, as it is often called, is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and Chippewa National Forest.Ice fishing for jumbo perch is a popular winter activity that attracts anglers from throughout the Midwest. Many resorts offer fish house rentals and provide plowed roads on the lake for thousands of anglers each winter.A voluntary catch-and-release program aimed at improving the walleye fishery is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Lake Winnie Resort Association.

Forage

Winnibigoshish is noted for its abundant perch and cisco forage base. Darters, spottail shiner, logperch and fathead minnows are common. Historically, periodic summerkill incidents have caused fluctuations in cisco numbers.

Seasonal Movements

There is significant movement of walleye from Lake Winnibigoshish into Big Cut Foot Sioux, Little Cut Foot Sioux, First River and Egg lakes. This typically begins in late summer when walleye begin to stage along the north shore of Lake Winnibigoshish. By late fall, many of these fish have moved from Winnie into Big Cut Foot Sioux. In spring, walleye move farther upstream into Little Cut Foot Sioux and First River, where the majority of spawning takes place. Many walleye also spawn along the rock/gravel shorelines in Lake Winnibigoshish. Spawning walleye also move up the Mississippi River and Third River Flowage. Northern pike move to Sugar Lake, Third River Flowage, Ravens Flowage and Williams Bay for spring spawning.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2024
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20249
Crappie
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0313
0Statewide Range12.6668

Lake Winnibigoshish Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2018
Sep
2024
May
Largemouth bass
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0313
0Statewide Range3.6668

Lake Winnibigoshish Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2018
Sep
2024
May
Muskellunge
fish
45-46 in
Length Range
46 in
Length Range
2021
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2021
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0313
0Statewide Range0.5001

Lake Winnibigoshish Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2000
Jun
2011
Jun
2021
Sep
Northern pike
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
2.4063
0Statewide Range19.75

Lake Winnibigoshish Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
May
Perch
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
16.1563
0Statewide Range43.5833

Lake Winnibigoshish Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
May
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized perch based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202412
202312
201812
201712
201612
Pumpkinseed
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.0313
0Statewide Range6.1668

Lake Winnibigoshish Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
May
Rock bass
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.125
0Statewide Range6.5668

Lake Winnibigoshish Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
May
Smallmouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2024
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2024
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
3.7813
0Statewide Range16.9168

Lake Winnibigoshish Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

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.
Species Lengths
2023
Sep
2024
May