Carter

Beltrami County

Near Tenstrike

DOW: 04005600

PumpkinseedExcellent · 100BluegillExcellent · 99Northern PikeExcellent · 86

A 31-acre lake near Tenstrike in Beltrami County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (8)

Pumpkinseed

Excellent · 100

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.09 lbs

Catch rate: 12.3 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	1.00	-	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 25, 1987	12.25	-	0.09 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Excellent · 99

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 76.8 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	76.75	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 25, 1987	5.00	-	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets

Northern Pike

Excellent · 86

Above-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.12 lbs

Catch rate: 14.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	14.50	-	3.12 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 25, 1987	0.75	-	1.33 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 48

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.38 lbs

Catch rate: 3.0 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	5.00	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 25, 1987	3.00	-	0.38 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Average · 33

Below-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.75 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	1.00	-	2.75 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Insufficient

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	0.50	-	1.00 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.25 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	0.25	-	1.25 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 25, 1987	5.00	-	1.29 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (1)

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

Brown Bullhead

Excellent · 91

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.25 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 25, 1987	1.50	-	0.92 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 25, 1987	1.00	-	1.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best pumpkinseed lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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)

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

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

June 25, 1987FISH POPULATION IS DOMINATED BY NORTHERN PIKE, LARGEMOUTH BASS AND BLUEGILL. NORTHERN PIKE HAVE SOME QUALITY FISH (UP TO 34 INCHES TAKEN) BUT BLUEGILL…

FISH POPULATION IS DOMINATED BY NORTHERN PIKE, LARGEMOUTH BASS AND BLUEGILL. NORTHERN PIKE HAVE SOME QUALITY FISH (UP TO 34 INCHES TAKEN) BUT BLUEGILL ARE GENERALLY 6 INCHES WITH NO FISH OVER 7 INCHES TAKEN IN TRAPNET. GILLNET INDICES FOR YELLOW PERCH AND WALLEYE WERE WELL BELOW STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS. NATURAL REPRODUCTION OF MOST SPECIES APPEARED POOR IN 1987.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Carter?

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

Is there public access at Carter?

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

How deep is Carter?

Carter has a maximum depth of 69 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Carter last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Carter is from 1987. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Carter have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Carter?

No — Carter has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide sunfish limit is: 20 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.