Little Bemidji

Little Bemidji is a lightly developed, 293-acre lake in north central Becker County, within the Ottertail River Watershed. The surrounding watershed is primarily mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with light development. There is a resort on the northwest shore and a public access on the west central shore. Boat access is also available from Elbow Lake via the Otter Tail River. On 07/17/2023, a standard survey of the Little Bemidji fish community was conducted. The primary gamefish species sought by anglers in this lake include Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill. Walleye numbers have increased slightly since the previous assessment that was conducted in 2018. In 2023, Walleyes ranging in size from 11 inches to 30 inches long were captured, with the average length being nearly 20 inches. Northern Pike sampled ranged from 14 to 35 inches, with an average length of 24 inches. Catch rates were down in 2023 compared to record high numbers of Northern Pike sampled during the 2018 assessment. Bluegills in Little Bemidji Lake are relatively abundant, and generally small. Fish over eight inches were not captured in 2023. The vast majority of the population of Bluegill is between 3.5 and six inches. Only ten Largemouth Bass were sampled during this survey. Bass had an average length of 12 inches, but fish just over 17 inches were observed. The Yellow Perch population has been declining in Little Bemidji since 1983. Just under 20 perch were sampled during the 2023 survey, and those fish averaged seven inches in length. Though the statewide trend for Tullibee (Cisco) is declining, the population within Little Bemidji is doing well. Abundance in 2023 was the highest ever recorded. Cisco ranging from seven inches to nearly 17 inches were sampled during this assessment. Cisco are a high protein forage species and are likely sustaining the forage base in this lake in the absence of Yellow Perch. Other species sampled during this assessment included Black Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Aquatic habitat near the shoreline in Little Bemidji Lake includes many areas of dense Chara, a native aquatic plant. Some areas of emergent vegetation also exist. These plants provide nesting and rearing areas for fish, as well as help stabilize shorelines and protect water quality. Preservation of the integrity of these vegetation stands are crucial for the long-term health of the aquatic life assemblage in Little Bemidji Lake.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Little Bemidji Lake was conducted on June 29th, and July 5th, 2023, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. The survey consisted of 10 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, and nine were sampled with a 50-foot seine. One station was not sampled with a seine due to dense vegetation (Chara) which made it impossible to effectively use a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of native fish, which included seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Mimic Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Rock Bass) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish). The three most common species captured during the nearshore survey in order of abundance were: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Yellow Perch. The nearshore fish survey data was combined with the standard survey data from July 2023 to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead, Fathead Minnow, and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to a watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. Little Bemidji Lake is located in the Otter Tail River Watershed.

Little Bemidji is a lightly-developed, 293-acre lake in north central Becker County, within the Ottertail River Watershed. The surrounding watershed is primarily mixed hardwood and conifer forest, with light development. There is a resort on the northwest shore and a public access on the west central shore. Boat access is also available from Elbow Lake via the Otter Tail River. On 07/09/2018, the fish community of Little Bemidji Lake was sampled using six gill nets and nine trap nets. The primary gamefish species sought by anglers in this lake include Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and recently Muskies. Walleye numbers have decreased since the previous assessment that was conducted in 2014. In 2018, Walleyes ranging in size from 13.2 inches to 26.3 inches long were captured, with the average length being nearly 18 inches. Northern Pike sampled ranged from 13 to 33 inches, with an average length of 22 inches. Record high numbers of Northern Pike were sampled during this assessment. Muskies are present in Little Bemidji, as they have migrated upstream from Many Point Lake. No muksies were sampled in 2018, although anglers and lakeshore residents report catching them. The Yellow Perch population has been declining in Little Bemidji. Only one perch was sampled in the gill nets during this assessment. Though the statewide trend for Tullibee (Cisco) is declining, the population within Little Bemidji is doing well. Cisco ranging from seven inches to nearly 19 inches were sampled during this assessment. Cisco are a high protein forage species, and are likely sustaining the forage base in this lake in the absence of Yellow Perch. Bluegills in Little Bemidji Lake are relatively abundant, and generally small. Fish over eight inches are present, but the majority of the population is between five and seven inches. Only a small number of Largemouth Bass were sample during this survey. Bass had a mean length of 8.2 inches, but fish up to 17 inches were observed. Other species sampled during this assessment included Brown Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead. Aquatic habitat near the shoreline in Little Bemidji Lake includes many areas of dense chara, a native aquatic plant. Some areas of emergent vegetation also exist. These plants provide nesting and rearing areas for fish, as well as help stabilize shorelines and protect water quality. Preservation of the integrity of these vegetation stands are crucial for the long term health of the aquatic life assemblage in Little Bemidji Lake.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Sunfish, and Rock Bass in Little Bemidji. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Little Bemidji. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Little Bemidji has a maximum depth of 58 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Bemidji is from 2023.

No invasive species are on record for Little Bemidji in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.