Webster Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 04002200
DNR records show 9 stocking entries at Webster Lake since 2019, most recently black crappie adults in 2024 (200 fish).
- Webster Lake has 9 DNR stocking records across 3 years (2019-2024): black crappie (3), bluegill sunfish (3), largemouth bass (3).
- The most-stocked species by count is bluegill sunfish: 3,236 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 15 ft; surface area 47 acres, 47 littoral acres, 1.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (targeted survey).
- Beltrami County, nearest town Blackduck; DNR lake number (DOW) 04002200.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Black Crappie | adults | 200 | 50.0 |
| 2024 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 263 | 75.0 |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 31 | 31.0 |
| 2021 | Black Crappie | adults | 168 | 42.0 |
| 2021 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 2,872 | 704.0 |
| 2021 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 59 | 59.0 |
| 2019 | Black Crappie | adults | 62 | 41.3 |
| 2019 | Bluegill Sunfish | adults | 101 | 21.0 |
| 2019 | Largemouth Bass | adults | 37 | 49.3 |
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | USF | Northeast side of lake; 5 unit parking |
DNR fish survey, 2023
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brassy minnow | Standard electrofishing | 43.30 | 28 | 0.00 |
| Yellow perch | Standard electrofishing | 29.38 | 19 | 0.08 |
| Fathead minnow | Standard electrofishing | 21.65 | 14 | 0.00 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard electrofishing | 17.01 | 11 | 0.03 |
| Black bullhead | Standard electrofishing | 10.82 | 7 | 0.28 |
| Bluegill | Standard electrofishing | 10.82 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Central mudminnow | Standard electrofishing | 6.19 | 4 | 0.00 |
| Northern pike | Standard electrofishing | 3.09 | 2 | 0.00 |
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.
Webster Lake is located next to a U.S. Forest Service campground in the Chippewa National Forest. There is a boat launch on the east side and an area for fishing next to the campground. Webster was a popular destination fishery after the 2010 assessment recorded Bluegills over 10 inches as well as Largemouth Bass over 20 inches in length; however, a severe winterkill in the winter of 2011-12 greatly impacted the gamefish population. Since then, adult Bluegill, Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass have been re-introduced back into Webster Lake in 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2021. Unfortunately, these efforts were negated by additional winterkill events that have continued with several more occurring since 2012, most recently in 2023. In 2023, multiple reports were received by the DNR Fisheries Office in Bemidji that Webster Lake may have winterkilled due to the absence of panfish and bass which are normally very abundant. Electrofishing was conducted late that summer to assess the remaining fish community and found very low abundance of Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. No Black Crappie or Largemouth Bass were captured. Supplemental stocking of Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass is planned for the spring of 2024. It will likely be some time before Webster Lake returns to the quality fishery that it once was.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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