White Bear

White Bear Lake is a mesotrophic, class 22 lake located in Ramsey and Washington Counties. The Lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet and is 2,427 acres in surface area, with 1,314 littoral acres (54.4%). The primary management species are Walleye and Muskellunge, and the secondary management species are Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. Since 2017 Walleye fingerlings have been stocked at variable rates of 1.0 pound per littoral acre (1,314 pounds) or 0.65 pounds per littoral acre (854 pounds) to assess the effect of stocking rate on Walleye year class strength. Muskellunge are stocked at rate of 1.0 fish per littoral acre (1,314 fish), when available. Supplemental stocking of Muskellunge has occurred under permit by local sportsman clubs. All Muskellunge stocked in White Bear Lake since 1990 have been the Leech Lake strain. Muskellunge population estimates are produced using 2-year mark and recapture surveys that occur every 8 years using Spring trap netting. The next mark and recapture survey for Muskellunge is scheduled to occur in 2028 and 2029. Gill net surveys to monitor Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch occur every two years, and this report details the most recent gill net survey conducted in July of 2024. The previous gill net survey occurred in 2022. Walleyes were sampled using gill nets at a rate of 1.5 fish per net. This catch rate is low, but not unusual for White Bear Lake. The mid-range management goal is to maintain a catch rate of 4 Walleyes per net. Within the last 25 years, this goal has only been met in 1999 and 2012. Although slightly lower than the previous gill net survey, average size was relatively large at 18.4 inches in length. Walleye lengths ranged from 5.4 to 21.6 inches, and most fish were 4-6 years old. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 11.6 fish per gill net. This catch rate is the highest catch rate since 1999. Size was above average for the lake class with a mean length of 22.5 inches in. This is the largest average length for White Bear Lake in recent history. Northern Pike ranged from 15.6 to 32.4 inches in length, and about 3% of fish were 30 inches or longer. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 1.2 fish per gill net. This catch rate is relatively low, but not uncommon for surveys in the last decade on White Bear Lake. Even in years of higher catch rates, White Bear Lake has never exceeded the average Yellow Perch catch rate for the lake class. Average size was just 6.5 inches in length. Fish ranged from 6 to 7.1 inches in length. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were also sampled in gill nets; however, summer gill nets typically do not produce reliable data to evaluate these populations. Of the 11 Largemouth Bass sampled, none were of notable size. Other fish species were sampled including Rock Bass, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, and Hybrid Sunfish. Although Smallmouth Bass have previously been sampled in low numbers, none were sampled in this gill net survey.

White Bear Lake is a mesotrophic, class 22 lake located in Ramsey and Washington Counties. Surface acreage is 2,427 with 1,314 acres being littoral (54.4%) and the lake has a maximum depth of 83 feet. The primary management species in White Bear Lake are Walleye and Muskellunge. The current Walleye stocking rate varies between 0.65 and 1.0 lbs./littoral-acre annually (854 pounds and 1,314 pounds respectively) in an effort to evaluate the effects of fingerling stocking density on year class strength. The Muskellunge stocking rate is 1.0 fish/littoral-acre annually, when available. Supplemental stocking of Muskellunge has occurred under permit by local sportsman clubs. All Muskellunge stocked in White Bear Lake from 1990 to present have been the Leech Lake strain. This lake has become a popular Muskellunge fishery due to the water clarity and the quality size of fish present in the population. Muskellunge are sampled by a separate two year survey that is conducted on its own schedule. A gillnet survey was conducted in July with electrofishing for Bass occurring in early June. The previous survey took place in 2020. Walleye were sampled by gill nets at a rate of 0.7 fish per net. This is well below the 25th percentile for the lake class and the lowest rate ever sampled however, catch rates have long been low, only once exceeding the 25th percentile for the lake class after the 1999 survey. Four fish per net is the mid-range management goat and correlates to 25th percentile for the lake class. It is far from being met but, again, has only been exceeded once in the previous 10 surveys. Mean size exceeded the 75th percentile for the lake class and was the largest recent history with an average length of 19.7 inches. Sizes ranged from 15.2 to 24.5 inches. Ages of these fish were relatively evenly distributed from 3 to 8 years old. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 10.2 fish per gill net. This exceeds the 75th percentile for the lake class and is high but not untypical relative to historical catches. Mean size exceeded the lake class mean and was the largest in modern history with an average length of 21.6 inches. Lengths ranged from 13.7 to 31.3 inches with 5% of fish over 30 inches. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 1.7 fish per gill net. This is well below the 25th percentile for the lake class but typical relative to recent surveys. Yellow Perch catch rates have always been below the lake class mean. Mean size was also small, equal to the 25th percentile for the lake class, with and average length of 6.4 inches. Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing at a rate of 26 fish per hour. This is equal to the previous survey and typical relative to the lakes history. Fish sizes were relatively evenly distributed from 4 to 18.5 inches with a mean length of 11.7 inches. Largemouth Bass were also well represented with a similar size distribution in the gill net catch. Smallmouth Bass have been consistently sampled in low numbers in previous surveys and this one was no different. Three Smallmouth Bass were sampled between electrofishing and gill nets from 12 to 15 inches. While other game fish species were sampled, summer gill netting does not produce data that is reliable for making inferences as to their abundance or size structure. Other species sampled were: Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, and Yellow Bullhead.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in White Bear Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff starting August 10, 2020. Twenty-four sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 24 sites with one sites sampled from the boat. A 50-foot seine was used to sample 17 sites, a 15-foot seine at 4 sites, and site conditions prevented seining at three sites. Nearshore sampling captured 21 native species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Rock Bass, and Smallmouth Bass) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish). A summer trap net survey was conducted in conjunction with the targeted survey of the nearshore fish community. Bluegill (75%) and Pumpkinseed (15%) were the most dominant species by numbers in the trap nets, but they only comprise 38% and 12% of the biomass, respectively. The biomass proportions are influenced by the presence of one large top carnivore, Muskellunge, accounting for 22% of all trap net biomass. Of the 320 Bluegills sampled, 39% were between 5 and 7 inches, 8% were over 7 inches and none of the Bluegills sampled were over 8 inches. The targeted survey of the nearshore fish community data were combined with the concurrently sampled summer trap net survey and gill net data from a July 2018 standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biological 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. 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. The FIBI score for White Bear Lake from this survey is well above an impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. 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 the Mississippi River - Twin Cities Watershed assessment of surface waters process completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge, and Hybrid Sunfish in White Bear. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

White Bear has a maximum depth of 83 feet and a mean depth of 20 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

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