Ranier

Itasca County

Near Marcell

DOW: 31066400

Black CrappieGood · 69Northern PikeGood · 56Largemouth BassAverage · 42

A 90-acre lake near Marcell in Itasca County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 1987.

Fish Species (8)

Black Crappie

Good · 69

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1979

Last surveyed 1979 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.00 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per gill net · typical 1–4.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	0.25	-	0.30 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 25, 1979	1.00	-	1.00 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 25, 1979	8.50	-	0.41 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 56

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.91 lbs

Catch rate: 8.3 per gill net · typical 4.8–12.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	8.25	-	1.91 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1987	1.00	-	0.42 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 25, 1979	9.00	-	3.14 lbs	Standard gill nets

Largemouth Bass

Average · 42

Average-size fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1979

Last surveyed 1979 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.33 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 25, 1979	0.75	-	0.33 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 25, 1979	1.50	-	0.83 lbs	Standard gill nets

Walleye

Average · 32

Below-normal numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

2.30 lbs

Catch rate: 0.25 per gill net · typical 0.5–3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	0.25	-	2.30 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Average · 29

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

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

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	8.25	-	0.05 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1987	13.00	-	0.04 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 25, 1979	10.75	-	0.12 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 29

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per gill net · typical 2–21.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	2.25	-	0.09 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1987	1.50	-	0.07 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 25, 1979	1.50	-	0.27 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Poor · 21

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 2.8–10.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	0.50	-	0.05 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1987	1.00	-	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 25, 1979	10.50	-	0.24 lbs	Standard trap 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.

White Sucker

Good · 64

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 1987

Last surveyed 1987 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

3.70 lbs

Catch rate: 0.75 per gill net · typical 0.5–2.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1987	0.75	-	3.70 lbs	Standard gill nets

See the best black crappie 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)

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").

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

no limit

Biologist Notes

July 13, 1987NORTHERN PIKE AND BLUEGILL ARE MOST ABUNDANT IN THE LAKE. THE NORTHERN PIKE AVERAGED ABOUT 2 LBS. AND ARE WELL ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL GILLNET MEDIANS.…

NORTHERN PIKE AND BLUEGILL ARE MOST ABUNDANT IN THE LAKE. THE NORTHERN PIKE AVERAGED ABOUT 2 LBS. AND ARE WELL ABOVE STATE AND LOCAL GILLNET MEDIANS. THE BLUEGILLS ARE TOO SMALL FOR ANGLER ACCEPTANCE AND MAY HAVE A STUNTED GROWTH RATE. THE YELLOW PERCH GILLNET INDICE IS LOW AND AN OCCASIONAL WALLEYE APPEARS TO BE PRESENT IN THE LAKE. LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE PRESENT AS 4 WERE SAMPLED DURING SHORELINE SEINING.

July 25, 1979N Pike, Pumpkinseed and Blk Crappie populations are above state and local medians. All other fish populations are within normal limits for this type o…

N Pike, Pumpkinseed and Blk Crappie populations are above state and local medians. All other fish populations are within normal limits for this type of lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Ranier?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Bluegill in Ranier. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Ranier?

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

How deep is Ranier?

Ranier has a maximum depth of 45 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Ranier last surveyed?

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

Does Ranier have any invasive species?

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

Are there special fishing regulations on Ranier?

No — Ranier has no lake-specific regulations in the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations, so statewide Minnesota limits apply. The statewide crappie limit is: 10 combined total. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.