Barwise

Itasca County

Near Marcell

DOW: 31027800

BluegillExcellent · 76Black CrappieGood · 70Rock BassGood · 67

A 92-acre lake near Marcell in Itasca County — best known for panfish and bass. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (9)

Bluegill

Excellent · 76

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 87.5 per trap net · typical 7.9–37.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	87.50	-	0.16 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 1987	0.75	-	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	78.50	-	0.27 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Good · 70

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1979

Last surveyed 1979 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.20 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 0.5–4.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 18, 1979	0.50	-	1.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	0.50	-	0.50 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Good · 67

Above-normal numbers · average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 2.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–1.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	3.75	-	0.31 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 6, 1987	2.00	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 18, 1979	11.50	-	0.41 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 55

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

5.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net · typical 1.1–4.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.25	-	5.00 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 18, 1979	2.75	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 53

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.16 lbs

Catch rate: 4.5 per gill net · typical 1.5–18.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 1987	4.50	-	0.16 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	0.25	-	0.25 lbs	Standard trap nets

Hybrid Sunfish

Average · 44

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.50	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 40

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.30 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–2 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	1.00	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 6, 1987	3.50	-	0.81 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	11.50	-	0.57 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Poor · 23

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.25 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net · typical 2–8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.50	-	1.25 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	1.50	-	7.17 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.

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 6, 1987	0.25	-	2.40 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 18, 1979	1.00	-	3.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

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

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

no limit

Biologist Notes

July 6, 1987A GILLNET CATCH OF 15 TULLIBEE/LIFT WAS OBSERVED DURING THE 1979 SURVEY. NO TULLIBEE WERE SAMPLED DURING THIS ASSESSMENT. BLUEGILL NUMBERS ARE CONSIDE…

A GILLNET CATCH OF 15 TULLIBEE/LIFT WAS OBSERVED DURING THE 1979 SURVEY. NO TULLIBEE WERE SAMPLED DURING THIS ASSESSMENT. BLUEGILL NUMBERS ARE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN STATE AND LOCAL MEDIANS BUT ARE SIMILAR TO THE LAST SURVEY. ALL OTHER SPECIES ARE CONSIDERED WITHIN THE NORMAL LIMITS FOR THIS TYPE OF LAKE.

June 18, 1979Cisco, LM Bass, Bluegill and Rock Bass populations are at fairly high levels. All other fish pop. are within normal limits for this type of lake.

Cisco, LM Bass, Bluegill and Rock Bass populations are at fairly high levels. All other fish pop. are within normal limits for this type of lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Barwise?

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

Is there public access at Barwise?

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

How deep is Barwise?

Barwise has a maximum depth of 50 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Barwise last surveyed?

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

Does Barwise have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Barwise?

No — Barwise 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.