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MN Fish Finder

Baby

Cass County
Near Hackensack
DOW: 11028300
Smallmouth BassExcellent · 96WalleyeExcellent · 82MuskellungeExcellent · 76

A 737-acre lake near Hackensack in Cass County — best known for bass and walleye. Last surveyed 2024.

Fish Species (20)

Smallmouth Bass

Excellent · 96

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed May 2019

Avg Size
13.6"
Avg Weight
1.54 lbs

Catch rate: 20.5 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable smallmouth bass67% keeper-size (12"+)
7–11" · 33%Largest sampled 16"

Size from the Jul 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.5012.7"1.33 lbs
Jul 19, 201915.80--
Jul 19, 20190.40--

Walleye

Stocked 2024
Excellent · 82

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
15.1"
Avg Weight
1.45 lbs

Catch rate: 3.8 per gill net · typical 1–5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable walleye59% keeper-size (15"+)
10–14" · 41%Largest sampled 26"
Stocked with fingerlings every other year · 35,506 fish total
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.1715.1"0.92 lbs
Jul 22, 20243.7515.1"1.45 lbs
May 29, 20194.9216.0"1.48 lbs
Stocking Details
YearSizeNumberPounds
2024fingerlings3,962249.0
2022fingerlings7,936248.0
2021fingerlings2,674226.5
2018fingerlings4,230248.0
2016fingerlings16,704495.8

Muskellunge

Excellent · 76

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
32.0"
Avg Weight
7.12 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net · typical 0.2–0.5 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.0832.0"7.12 lbs
May 29, 20191.0029.6"8.21 lbs
May 29, 20190.2529.6"5.09 lbs

Black Crappie

Good · 73

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
7.8"
Avg Weight
0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie27% keeper-size (10"+)
5–9" · 73%Largest sampled 12"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20241.757.8"0.40 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.677.8"0.29 lbs
May 29, 20191.0011.8"1.04 lbs

Northern Pike

Good · 73

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
23.3"
Avg Weight
3.15 lbs

Catch rate: 3.4 per gill net · typical 2.2–8.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike45% keeper-size (24"+)
14–23" · 55%Largest sampled 34"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20243.4223.3"3.15 lbs
May 29, 20190.2523.7"2.88 lbs
May 29, 20193.4223.7"3.34 lbs

Largemouth Bass

Good · 67

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Electrofishing survey · surveyed May 2019

Avg Size
11.2"
Avg Weight
1.30 lbs

Catch rate: 17.5 · Electrofishing survey

Size of catchable largemouth bass78% keeper-size (12"+)
8–11" · 22%Largest sampled 15"

Size from the Jul 2024 survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20242.0010.2"1.30 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.8310.2"0.07 lbs
Jul 19, 201937.53--

Rock Bass

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
5.8"
Avg Weight
0.21 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per trap net · typical 0.8–3.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass19% keeper-size (8"+)
4–7" · 81%Largest sampled 9"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20241.335.8"0.21 lbs
Jul 22, 20244.755.8"0.22 lbs
Jul 19, 20191.32--

Yellow Perch

Good · 50

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
6.6"
Avg Weight
0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 4.7 per gill net · typical 1.5–13.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch16% keeper-size (9"+)
5–8" · 84%Largest sampled 11"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20244.676.6"0.17 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.756.6"0.18 lbs
Jul 19, 20195.93--

Pumpkinseed

Average · 29

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
4.2"
Avg Weight
0.11 lbs

Catch rate: 3.1 per trap net · typical 1.4–5.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed1% keeper-size (8"+)
3–7" · 99%Largest sampled 8"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20245.424.2"0.11 lbs
Jul 22, 20243.084.2"0.11 lbs
Jul 19, 20194.61--

Bluegill

Poor · 22

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
3.7"
Avg Weight
0.06 lbs

Catch rate: 16.8 per trap net · typical 7.7–43.4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill0% keeper-size (8"+)
3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20245.923.7"0.05 lbs
Jul 22, 202416.833.7"0.06 lbs
Jul 19, 20197.90--

Hybrid Sunfish

Poor · 16

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
4.4"
Avg Weight
0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net

Size of catchable hybrid sunfish0% keeper-size (8"+)
3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"
Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.334.4"0.07 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.084.4"0.34 lbs
May 29, 20190.254.6"0.22 lbs
Other species in this lake (9)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Brown Bullhead

Average · 31

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1995

Last surveyed 1995 — treat with caution

Avg Size
9.3"
Avg Weight
0.47 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.3–1 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 17, 19950.259.3"0.47 lbs
Aug 1, 19900.25-0.15 lbs
Jul 23, 19860.08-0.30 lbs

White Sucker

Poor · 23

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
14.0"
Avg Weight
1.52 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per gill net · typical 0.5–2 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.1714.0"1.52 lbs
Apr 6, 20120.0816.0"1.92 lbs
Jul 17, 20000.0811.0"0.59 lbs

Yellow Bullhead

Poor · 20

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
9.7"
Avg Weight
0.55 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per trap net · typical 1–5.3 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.089.7"0.55 lbs
Jul 22, 20240.179.7"0.59 lbs
May 29, 20190.0810.3"0.49 lbs

Golden Shiner

Poor · 19

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2024

Avg Size
6.0"
Avg Weight
0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per gill net · typical 0.3–0.8 for a lake like this

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 22, 20240.086.0"0.08 lbs
May 29, 20190.086.0"0.08 lbs
Jul 13, 20060.115.0"0.07 lbs

Black Bullhead

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2006

Last surveyed 2006 — treat with caution

Avg Size
7.0"
Avg Weight
0.22 lbs

Catch rate: 0.06 per trap net

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 13, 20060.067.0"0.22 lbs
Jul 17, 20000.0811.0"0.86 lbs

Shiner species

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1995

Last surveyed 1995 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 17, 19950.33--

Bluntnose Minnow

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2019

Catch rate: 0.3 · Seining survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 19, 201910.54--
Jul 19, 20190.30--
Apr 6, 201218.25--

Johnny Darter

Insufficient

Electrofishing survey · surveyed Jul 2019

Catch rate: 3.3 · Electrofishing survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 19, 20193.29--
Apr 6, 20120.50--

Iowa Darter

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Jul 2019

Catch rate: 0.6 · Seining survey

Survey History
DateCatch RateAvg LengthAvg Weight
Jul 19, 20193.50--
Jul 19, 201913.83--
Jul 19, 20190.60--

Biologist Notes

July 31, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, 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. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 20.1 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.1 feet, indicating that limited oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 21.1 degrees C (70.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco; however, the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of this survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

July 31, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, 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. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 20.1 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.1 feet, indicating that limited oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 21.1 degrees C (70.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco; however, the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of this survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

July 31, 2024Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, to evaluate the quantity and quality of…

Temperature and dissolved oxygen profiles were collected in the deepest basins in Baby Lake on July 31, 2024, 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. Cisco require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on the profile from the deepest basin, the water temperature decreased to below 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) at 20.0 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 20.1 feet at the time of sampling. The thickness of this layer of water in the water column was 0.1 feet, indicating that limited oxythermal habitat was present for Cisco. Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 21.1 degrees C (70.0 degrees F). TDO3 values near 21.2 degrees C (70.2 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were marginal for Cisco; however, the layer was confined to less than 3 feet of suitable habitat at the time of this survey. Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2022 and 2023 during the late summer thermal stress period indicate suitable oxythermal habitat, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2022. When inadequate oxythermal habitat is available, Cisco are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Baby?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Black Crappie, and Northern Pike in Baby. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Baby?

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

How deep is Baby?

Baby has a maximum depth of 69 feet and a mean depth of 31 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Baby last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Baby is from 2024.

Does Baby have any invasive species?

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

More lakes in Cass County

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Lake Details

Surface Area
737.32 acres
Max Depth
69 ft
Mean Depth
31 ft
Shoreline
11.73 mi
Public Access
Yes
View on DNR LakeFinder

Location

46.9635°N, 94.3640°W

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