Rat

Cass County

Near Whipholt

DOW: 11028500

Northern PikeGood · 63Yellow PerchGood · 58BluegillGood · 54

A 87-acre lake near Whipholt in Cass County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 1990.

Fish Species (10)

Northern Pike

Good · 63

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.87 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per gill net · typical 2.8–8.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	3.25	-	2.87 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1990	1.00	-	1.86 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 58

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.28 lbs

Catch rate: 1.3 per gill net · typical 1.5–23 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.50	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1990	1.25	-	0.28 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Good · 54

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.13 lbs

Catch rate: 24.6 per trap net · typical 5.7–40.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	1.25	-	0.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1990	24.62	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 54

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 1.4 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.75	-	0.13 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1990	1.38	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 51

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per trap net · typical 1.3–6.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1990	2.50	-	0.14 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.6 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.25	-	3.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Average · 46

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.24 lbs

Catch rate: 0.88 per trap net · typical 0.5–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.50	-	0.15 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 20, 1990	0.88	-	0.24 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (3)

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

Black Bullhead

Average · 31

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.40 lbs

Catch rate: 0.12 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.12	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 20, 1990	1.00	-	0.45 lbs	Standard gill nets

Golden Shiner

Poor · 20

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.2–1.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.50	-	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Bullhead

Poor · 19

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1990

Last surveyed 1990 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.12 per trap net · typical 1–8.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 20, 1990	0.12	-	0.50 lbs	Standard trap nets

See the best northern pike lakes in Minnesota

Fishing Regulations

Statewide limits

Standard statewide Minnesota limits for the species in this lake.

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)

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

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

June 20, 1990The gillnet catch of northern cisco was fairly high (16.5/GN). Most of the fish sampled ranged in length from 12 to 15 inches. The northern pike gilln…

The gillnet catch of northern cisco was fairly high (16.5/GN). Most of the fish sampled ranged in length from 12 to 15 inches. The northern pike gillnet catch (3.3/GN) is not high when compared to most lakes in this area. Several fish over 30 inches long were sampled. The northern pike exhibit a good growth rate. The trapnet catch of bluegill (24.6/TN) is not high. The RSD-7 value is 22. The growth rate for bluegill is good compared to many area lakes. Few largemouth bass were sampled. Several year classes of black crappie were sampled, indicating good natural reproduction and recruitment. Yellow perch numbers appear to be low.Rusty crayfish were found to be present in Rat Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Rat?

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

Is there public access at Rat?

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

How deep is Rat?

Rat has a maximum depth of 35 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Rat last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Rat is from 1990. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Rat have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Rat?

No — Rat 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.