Whiteface Reservoir
St. Louis County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 69037500
Whiteface Reservoir has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Whiteface Reservoir shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 35 ft; surface area 4,567 acres, 1,116 littoral acres, 93.0 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 4 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- St. Louis County, nearest town Markham; DNR lake number (DOW) 69037500.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 1/1/1997 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| gravel ramp | USF | - East side of major north peninsula separating middle and west basin located off Reservoir Rd. (CR 618) - Whiteface Reservoir Campground. |
| concrete ramp | PRI | - Public access owned by MN Power on east side of major south peninsula located off of Blais Road. |
| earthen ramp | county | - Undeveloped back-in access northeast of USFS Campground off of North Whiteface Road. |
| earthen ramp | UKN | - Abandoned access on west side of major peninsula on south side off of Cabin Circle Drive |
DNR fish survey, 2022
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 9.67 | 145 | 0.61 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 5.80 | 87 | 1.78 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 2.33 | 35 | 1.57 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 1.53 | 23 | 0.45 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.80 | 12 | 0.40 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 0.60 | 9 | 0.35 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 5 | 0.50 |
| Channel catfish | Standard gill nets | 0.07 | 1 | 22.11 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 3.26 | 62 | 0.51 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 2.74 | 52 | 0.92 |
| White sucker | Standard trap nets | 2.42 | 46 | 2.19 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 1.68 | 32 | 0.48 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 1.37 | 26 | 0.54 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 1.16 | 22 | 1.62 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 0.47 | 9 | 0.39 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.05 | 1 | 0.22 |
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.
Whiteface Reservoir was established in 1923 as a hydropower water storage reservoir when earthen dams were constructed on the Whiteface River and Skunk Creek. Much of the reservoir basin is flooded forest. At summertime highs, the reservoir occupies 4,567 acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet. The reservoir is located one mile east of Markham, MN. There is a back-in concrete boat ramp located on the south end near the outlet dam off of the Blais Road. Another public access with a boat ramp exists on the north end of the lake near the US Forest Service campground that is also open to public use. Special angling regulations designed to protect and improve Whiteface Reservoir's high quality sunfish and Black Crappie populations were implemented in 2021. The regulations are a daily limit of five sunfish, possession limit of 20 and a daily limit of five Black Crappie, possession limit 10. Walleye have not been stocked into Whiteface since 1970 because sufficient natural reproduction has been documented to sustain the Walleye fishery. Whiteface was last surveyed by DNR Fisheries in 2017. Whiteface was surveyed during the summer of 2022 to update information about fish populations. Walleye abundance of 9.6 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Walleye mean length was 12.5 inches and growth was slow when compared to other Duluth Area lakes. However, growth has historically been slow for Walleye in Whiteface and is likely a function of the low relative productivity of the reservoir compared to other Duluth Area lakes. Several strong year-classes of young Walleye were evident in the sample suggesting angling for Walleye should remain strong for the next few years as these year-classes mature. Bluegill abundance of 3.3 per trapnet lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was large at 7.9 inches with fish over 10 inches sampled. The proportion of adult Bluegill that exceeded quality size (greater than 6 inches) was 82%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 8 inches) was 69%. Recruitment was consistent with all year-classes from 2013 to 2020 represented. Black Crappie abundance of 1.4 per trapnet lift was average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was 9.6 inches. The proportion of adult Black Crappie that exceeded quality size (greater than 8 inches) was 84%, while the proportion that exceeded preferred size (greater than 10 inches) was 52%. Recruitment was consistent with all year-classes from 2015 to 2021 represented. Northern Pike…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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