Voyageurs National Park guide · 2 min read
Walleye, Pike and Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Anglers in Voyageurs National Park often seek walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass first.
Sauger, yellow perch and black crappie turn up on the line, and the park's waters hold more than fifty species in total.
The park has 30 named lakes: four large ones and 26 smaller interior lakes. The large lakes hold walleye, northern pike, muskellunge and smallmouth bass. The interior lakes add largemouth bass, lake trout, bluegill and yellow perch, though no single lake has every one of these species. Cruiser Lake, north of Kettle Falls, is where most lake trout are found.
Anyone fishing in the park needs a State of Minnesota fishing license. On Kabetogama, Namakan, Sand Point and Rainy Lakes, which are classed as experimental waters, filleted fish may not be carried. Heads, tails, fins and skin must stay on so the fish can be measured. Campers bringing catch home can gut and gill their fish, or keep them alive in a live box and fillet them once they are off the water.
Ice fishing is a popular winter option on the frozen lakes. Any icehouse, portable or permanent, should stand at least fifty feet from the middle of snowmobile paths and the ice road. Icehouses also require registration. If you lack your own gear, local resorts and guide services can set up trips, and several commercial guides work the Kabetogama, Ash River and Namakan Lake area. Before heading onto the ice, read the newest ice conditions report.
Mercury can drift on the air from distant coal-burning power plants and fall to the ground, where microorganisms convert it into a form that builds up in fish. The Environmental Protection Agency, states and tribes issue advisories that suggest limiting or skipping certain species from particular waters. Eating fish is still part of a balanced diet, so review current advisories before you cook your catch.
