Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 29, 2005
Little Wabana Lake FishingBWater-quality grade B
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Wabana Lake average 2.39 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 29, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–40 inches. In Itasca County, Minnesota, Little Wabana Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of B. Water clarity averages 24.0 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Little Wabana Lake
6 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Little Wabana Lake
No stocking record for Little Wabana Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Wabana Lake average 2.39 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 29, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–40 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Wabana Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2005-08-29 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 24.72 | 0.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.41 | 0.18 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 10.41 | 1.04 lb |
| Rock Bass | 2.94 | 0.38 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.77 | 0.22 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.39 | 5.07 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Yellow Perch
Tullibee (Cisco)
Rock Bass
From the 2005-08-29 survey
Little Wabana Lake is a 104 acre lake located 11 miles north of Grand Rapids, MN in the Mississippi River watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 57 feet and clear water (18 ft Secchi transparency). There is a privately owned boat access on the north end of the lake off County Road #49. As in the two previous…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Wabana Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little WabanaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Little Wabana Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Wabana Lake average 2.39 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 29, 2005. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–40 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 6 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Little Wabana Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Little Wabana Lake is dated August 29, 2005. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Little Wabana Lake stocked?
No stocking record for Little Wabana Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Little Wabana Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Wabana Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Little Wabana Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Little Wabana Lake
Planning a trip to Little Wabana Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Little Wabana Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.