Bootleg

Beltrami County

Near Wilton (Beltrami)

DOW: 04021100

Yellow PerchExcellent · 81PumpkinseedExcellent · 75Black CrappieGood · 65

A 332-acre lake near Wilton (Beltrami) in Beltrami County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1989.

Fish Species (11)

Yellow Perch

Excellent · 81

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 27.3 per gill net · typical 3.7–28.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	4.43	-	0.35 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 27, 1989	27.33	-	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 30, 1983	5.83	-	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Excellent · 75

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 5.0 per trap net · typical 1.5–9.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	5.00	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	1.33	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 65

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.66 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.9–8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	2.00	-	0.66 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	0.17	-	1.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Bluegill

Good · 59

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.81 lbs

Catch rate: 1.6 per trap net · typical 5.9–43.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	1.57	-	0.81 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	1.00	-	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 57

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.82 lbs

Catch rate: 8.7 per gill net · typical 2.3–9.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	8.67	-	1.82 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 27, 1989	2.57	-	1.28 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	5.50	-	1.12 lbs	Standard gill nets

Rock Bass

Average · 29

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.20 lbs

Catch rate: 0.14 per trap net · typical 0.3–1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	0.14	-	0.20 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	0.17	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Average · 27

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.80 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net · typical 1.2–5.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 30, 1983	0.75	-	0.80 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 30, 1983	0.17	-	1.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (4)

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

Black Bullhead

Good · 73

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 273.6 per trap net · typical 1–29.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	76.00	-	0.17 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 27, 1989	273.57	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	37.67	-	0.23 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Good · 67

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.18 lbs

Catch rate: 21.9 per trap net · typical 0.6–5.2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	12.67	-	0.34 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 27, 1989	21.86	-	0.18 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	12.83	-	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

White Sucker

Good · 65

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.84 lbs

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

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	3.33	-	1.84 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 30, 1983	3.25	-	2.32 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 30, 1983	0.67	-	2.06 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Good · 56

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1989

Last surveyed 1989 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.17 lbs

Catch rate: 12.3 per trap net · typical 2.4–9.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 27, 1989	12.29	-	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 30, 1983	0.25	-	0.30 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 30, 1983	14.83	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best yellow perch 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).

Crappie

10 combined total

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

June 27, 1989HIGH BULLHEAD POPULATION THOUGH MOST FISH ARE TOO SMALL FOR COMMERCIAL HARVEST. NORTHERN PIKE POPULATION REMAINS HIGH. NICE BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE BUT N…

HIGH BULLHEAD POPULATION THOUGH MOST FISH ARE TOO SMALL FOR COMMERCIAL HARVEST. NORTHERN PIKE POPULATION REMAINS HIGH. NICE BLUEGILL AND CRAPPIE BUT NUMBERS ARE FAIRLY LOW. MOST PERCH ARE TOO SMALL AND

August 30, 1983NORTHERN PIKE CAPTURES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE LOCAL AVERAGES WHILE THE PERCH AND WALLEYE CATCH RATES WERE LOW. THREE SPECIES OF BULLHEADS DOMIN- ATE…

NORTHERN PIKE CAPTURES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE LOCAL AVERAGES WHILE THE PERCH AND WALLEYE CATCH RATES WERE LOW. THREE SPECIES OF BULLHEADS DOMIN- ATE THE FISHERY FAR ABOVE THE STATE AND LOCAL MEAN RATE IN NUMBERS AND WEIGHT. PANFISH AND BASS ARE PRESENT BUT CONTRIBUTE PRACTIALLY NOTHING TO ANGLING.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Bootleg?

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

Is there public access at Bootleg?

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

How deep is Bootleg?

Bootleg has a maximum depth of 30 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Bootleg last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bootleg is from 1989. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Bootleg have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Bootleg?

No — Bootleg has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide perch limit is: 20 daily and 40 in possession. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.