White Earth

On September 23, 2025, DNR Fisheries used night electrofishing to sample young-of-year Walleyes in White Earth Lake. This sampling has been done annually for the past 15 years and is used to help determine the success of natural reproduction within White Earth Lake. During the 2025 assessment, 18 young-of-year Walleyes were sampled, indicating a small naturally produced year class. These young Walleyes had an average length of 6.8 inches. DNR Fisheries will continue to monitor White Earth's Walleye production with annual electrofishing and other survey methods.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected in the deepest basins in White Earth Lake, which is located wholly within the White Earth Indian Reservation, on August 7, 2025. This work was completed to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Cisco, also known as Tullibee, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake. During the summer, Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperatures were adequate around 30 feet, and the dissolved oxygen concentration never decreased to 3.0 mg/L. TDO3 values cooler than 70.2 degrees Fahrenheit (21.2 degrees C) generally indicate that oxythermal conditions are suitable for Cisco.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in White Earth Lake was conducted August 9th - 11th, 2023, by Detroit Lakes Fisheries Staff. Data was collected from 18 sampling stations evenly spaced around the lake. All stations were sampled with a backpack electrofishing unit, and 16 were sampled with a 50-foot seine. Two stations were not sampled with a seine because of dense vegetation, water being too deep or muck being too thick to effectively use a seine. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of native fish, which included eight species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, Mimic Shiner, Logperch, Iowa Darter, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth 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: Yellow Perch, Bluntnose Minnow, and Green Sunfish. 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. White Earth Lake is located in the Wild Rice River Watershed.

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

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

White Earth has a maximum depth of 120 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — White Earth has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.