North Tamarack Lake
Becker County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 03024102
DNR records show 11 stocking entries at North Tamarack Lake since 2016, most recently bluegill sunfish adults in 2024 (120 fish).
- North Tamarack Lake has 11 DNR stocking records across 6 years (2016-2024): walleye (6), bluegill sunfish (3), black crappie (1), largemouth bass (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 7,640,030 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 17 ft; surface area 1,442 acres, 1,389 littoral acres, 12.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 5.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- 3 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Becker County, nearest town Rochert; DNR lake number (DOW) 03024102.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 120 | 30.0 |
| 2024 | Walleye | fry | 1,389,530 | 13.0 |
| 2023 | Black Crappie | adults | 9 | 5.0 |
| 2023 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 112 | 70.0 |
| 2023 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 1 | 1.0 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 1,389,000 | 11.4 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fry | 1,389,000 | 12.1 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 694,500 | 5.9 |
| 2018 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 348 | 58.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fry | 1,389,000 | 12.1 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 1,389,000 | 12.0 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | FWS | Northeast shore off Co. Rd. #29. - This is the primary access. Parking for about five rigs. |
| concrete ramp | FWS | North shore near section 12-13 line. Northernmost bay of lake. Access road off Becker Co 26. - Parking for about eight rigs. |
| concrete ramp | FWS | Southeast tip of north basin--off dike road. Generally used by waterfowl hunters. May be opened seasonally. - May only be opened seasonally. |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Special trap nets | 19.75 | 79 | 0.01 |
| BLH | Special trap nets | 8.75 | 35 | 0.00 |
| Northern pike | Special trap nets | 3.50 | 14 | 0.44 |
| Black crappie | Special trap nets | 3.00 | 12 | 0.43 |
| White sucker | Special trap nets | 2.25 | 9 | 1.45 |
| Brown bullhead | Special trap nets | 0.50 | 2 | 0.82 |
| Pumpkinseed | Special trap nets | 0.50 | 2 | 0.05 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
The north basin of Tamarack Lake is a 1,442-acre lake located approximately 12 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes. It lies entirely within the boundaries of the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and is considered the headwaters of the Buffalo River. It is subject to occasional winterkill. The last severe winterkill occurred in 1997. Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and bullheads survived the low dissolved oxygen levels that year. In the spring of 2023, dead fish were reported following ice out, which prompted a fisheries survey to be conducted in May 2023 to assess the severity of the winterkill. Dead fish of all species were observed while surveying. Trap nets captured Northern Pike, White Sucker, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, and Black Crappie. Yellow Perch were the most numerous. Northern Pike and Black Crappie were caught in good numbers with average lengths of 19 inches and nine inches, respectively. Unfortunately, North Tamarack Lake appears to have experienced a significant winterkill for Bluegill, Walleye, and Largemouth Bass during the 2022-2023 winter. As a result, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were stocked during 2023. While angling opportunities for Northern Pike and Black Crappie are still available, it will take a few years to have quality fishing for other species.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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