Portage

Crow Wing County

Near Deerwood (Crow Wing)

DOW: 18006900

Northern PikeGood · 68Rock BassGood · 65Largemouth BassGood · 50

A 130-acre lake near Deerwood (Crow Wing) in Crow Wing County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 1993.

Fish Species (12)

Northern Pike

Good · 68

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

22.7"

Avg Weight

3.49 lbs

Catch rate: 3.0 per gill net · typical 2.8–8.7 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike38% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 62%Largest sampled 32"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.17	22.7"	1.63 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	3.00	22.7"	3.49 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 2, 1973	1.33	-	1.88 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Good · 65

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.8"

Avg Weight

0.48 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.8 for a lake like this

Size of catchable rock bass50% keeper-size (8"+)

4–7" · 50%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.50	6.8"	0.48 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.25	6.8"	0.70 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.33	6.8"	-	Special trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.1"

Avg Weight

1.70 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.3–1.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable largemouth bass75% keeper-size (12"+)

8–11" · 25%Largest sampled 15"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.50	10.1"	1.70 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.83	10.1"	0.42 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Average · 49

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.1"

Avg Weight

0.25 lbs

Catch rate: 3.8 per trap net

Size of catchable hybrid sunfish0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	2.00	5.1"	-	Special trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	3.83	5.1"	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 2, 1973	1.00	-	0.53 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 36

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.5"

Avg Weight

0.15 lbs

Catch rate: 5.8 per trap net · typical 1.3–6.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	5.83	4.5"	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 2, 1973	5.75	-	0.18 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.8"

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 34.3 per trap net · typical 5.7–40.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	34.33	4.8"	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 2, 1973	5.75	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Average · 27

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

7.2"

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie0% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 100%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	1.33	7.2"	0.21 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	1.50	7.2"	0.28 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.33	7.2"	-	Special trap nets

Yellow Perch

Poor · 24

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.2"

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 3.8 per gill net · typical 1.5–23 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch0% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	3.75	5.2"	0.07 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.67	5.2"	-	Special trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.50	5.2"	0.09 lbs	Standard trap nets

Green Sunfish

Poor · 21

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.5"

Avg Weight

0.06 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 0.7–3.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.33	3.5"	0.06 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 2, 1973	1.00	-	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Black Bullhead

Good · 73

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1973

Last surveyed 1973 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.24 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 2, 1973	1.75	-	1.24 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 52

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.0"

Avg Weight

0.64 lbs

Catch rate: 1.8 per trap net · typical 1–8.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.25	9.0"	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 14, 1993	0.33	9.0"	-	Special trap nets
Jun 14, 1993	1.83	9.0"	0.64 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 34

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

0.57 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 14, 1993	0.33	10.0"	0.57 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 2, 1973	1.50	-	0.58 lbs	Standard trap nets

Biologist Notes

June 14, 1993Portage is a 120 acre lake located near Deerwood in eastern Crow Wing County. Development is fairly light, with about 12 homes/cabins present in 1993.…

Portage is a 120 acre lake located near Deerwood in eastern Crow Wing County. Development is fairly light, with about 12 homes/cabins present in 1993. There was a private access present on the east side of the lake. The aquatic plant community is fairly diverse. Bottom soils in shallow waters tend to be primarily muck and marl. Some firmer areas of sand and gravel are also present. They provide higher quality spawning habitat for bass, sunfishes, crappies and perch, especially when found in combination with bulrush beds. Northern pike have fair to good spawning conditions along the inlet when water levels in spring are adequate.The fish community is also fairly diverse for a small lake. Northern pike numbers were low compared to similar type lakes. Several age classes were found in 1993 and growth was good. Average weight was 3.5 lbs.. Largemouth bass were present in "average" numbers and several age classes were sampled. Panfish species were present in "average" numbers as well. Bluegills tended to be slow growing and of small average size. Black crappies appeared to have a better growth rate but the number of fish aged was small. Yellow perch and tullibees were present as forage species, in "average" numbers. Other species caught in 1993 included yellow and brown bullheads, bowfin (dogfish), pumpkinseeds, hybrid and green sunfishes and rock bass.

July 2, 1973(Bass-Panfish) Northern Pike.

(Bass-Panfish) Northern Pike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Portage?

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

Is there public access at Portage?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Portage. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Portage?

Portage has a maximum depth of 57 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Portage last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Portage is from 1993. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.