Windigo

Beltrami County

Near Cass Lake

DOW: 04004800

PumpkinseedExcellent · 91Northern PikeGood · 70BluegillGood · 64

A 195-acre lake near Cass Lake in Beltrami County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1984.

Fish Species (11)

Pumpkinseed

Excellent · 91

Above-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.23 lbs

Catch rate: 64.0 per trap net · typical 2.8–10.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	6.00	-	0.26 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 30, 1984	64.00	-	0.23 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 70

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.91 lbs

Catch rate: 6.0 per gill net · typical 4.8–12.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	6.00	-	2.91 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 30, 1984	0.50	-	3.15 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 64

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 77.3 per trap net · typical 8.3–50.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	77.25	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 30, 1984	1.50	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Good · 63

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

4.95 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	1.00	-	4.95 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 55

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 6.5 per gill net · typical 2–21.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 30, 1984	6.50	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Average · 47

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	1.00	-	0.28 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Average · 32

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net · typical 0.8–4.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	1.00	-	0.62 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 30, 1984	1.50	-	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 31

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.23 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	1.00	-	0.23 lbs	Standard trap nets

Smallmouth Bass

Average · 30

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	0.25	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (2)

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

Brown Bullhead

Good · 71

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.31 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	3.00	-	1.42 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 30, 1984	2.00	-	1.31 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1984

Last surveyed 1984 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

5.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.3–0.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 30, 1984	0.25	-	5.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best pumpkinseed lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Special regulations on this lake

DNR special regulations override the statewide limits.

Sunfish
Cass Chain and connected waters Wolf, Ose, Andrusia, unnamed stream (Big Lake Creek), Mississippi River, Cass, Fox Creek, Windigo, Buck, Big Rice, Little Rice, Kitchi, Turtle River, and Pug Hole Lake
Daily limit five.

Statewide limits

Statewide limits — apply unless a special regulation above overrides them.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Smallmouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Smallmouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Smallmouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Sep 13, 2026

Smallmouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth

Smallmouth Bass

Season: Sep 14, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Smallmouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Crappie

10 combined total

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Rock Bass

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

July 30, 1984BLUEGILL, PUMPKINSEED, LARGEMOUTH BASS, SMALLMOUTH BASS, ROCK BASS, NORTHERN PIKE AND BROWN BULLHEAD ARE ABOVE STATE & LOCAL MEDIANS FOR NET CATCHES.…

BLUEGILL, PUMPKINSEED, LARGEMOUTH BASS, SMALLMOUTH BASS, ROCK BASS, NORTHERN PIKE AND BROWN BULLHEAD ARE ABOVE STATE & LOCAL MEDIANS FOR NET CATCHES. YELLOW PERCH, WALLEYE AND BLACK CRAPPIE ARE BELOW LOCAL MEDIANS. PANFISH APPEAR TO BE STUNTED.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Windigo?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Pumpkinseed, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Walleye, and Yellow Perch in Windigo. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Windigo?

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

How deep is Windigo?

Windigo has a maximum depth of 25 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Windigo last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Windigo is from 1984. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Windigo have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Windigo?

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 1 special rule for Windigo, covering sunfish. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.