Often referred to as ‘Lake Winnie’, Lake Winnibigoshish is the fifth largest lake in Minnesota, with a maximum depth of 78 ft. It is surrounded by Chippewa National Forest, an area of gently rolling hills covered with pines and hardwood forest. The lake itself was originally a lot smaller, created by receding glaciers, but the construction of the Lake Winnie dam in 1884 made it much larger.
With a walleye fish hatchery, Lake Winnibigoshish provides a varied habitat and is an excellent location for gamefish, with an abundance of wildlife on shore too, such as deer, fox, grouse, and bear. The cool, clean water and rocky areas encourage fish such as walleye, perch, and smallmouth bass, whereas areas with softer substrate and vegetation are suitable for largemouth bass and sunfish. The lake has plenty of visitors who travel to the area to enjoy activities such as hiking, photography, and fishing.
Fish Species in Lake Winnibigoshish
1) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
Lake Winnibigoshish is a hotspot for walleye, with a wealth of habitat suitable for spawning. Walleyes are large, benthopelagic fish, with a maximum length of 107 cm (3.5 ft), and tend to feed nocturnally on insects and other fish such as yellow perch – although when these are in short supply they will consume crayfish, frogs, and even small mammals.
Walleye in Lake Winnibigoshish are well protected, with a slot limit for individuals between 18 and 23 inches long. One fish over 23 inches may be taken per day. In spring, the best places to fish for walleye include along the shore from Pigeon River to Third River, and around Mallard and Ravens Points.
Lake Winnibigoshish is also home to a walleye hatchery: eggs are harvested at the Cutfoot Sioux Egg Harvest Station and then taken to the Grand Rapids Hatchery. The fish raised here are then used to stock other lakes, often those that can support walleye but do not have suitable spawning habitats, or lakes that have been rehabilitated.
2) Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)
Muskellunge are very large, demersal fish, reaching lengths of up to 183 cm (6 ft). They are highly predatory and are built for this purpose, with elongated, streamlined bodies, and a long snout equipped with strong teeth. This species is solitary and lurks in wait for its prey: fish, ducklings, muskrats, and snakes.
These fish spawn in the spring, traveling to shallow bays with sunken debris. They do not build nests or provide any form of parental care: eggs are laid amongst vegetation and fry are left to fend for themselves. The fry feed on zooplankton and are susceptible to predation by fish, dragonfly nymphs, and diving beetle larvae.
Muskellunge are sought after as a gamefish, and Lake Winnibigoshish is an ideal location in which to seek them – the muskellunge fishery is reported to improve with every year, and the lake has previously held state records for the largest individual caught.
3) Northern pike (Esox lucius)
The northern pike is another large member of the genus Esox, with a maximum recorded length of 150 cm (5 ft). Females are usually larger than males, and individuals can live for up to thirty years. These fish prefer clear waters with plenty of vegetation, thus Lake Winnibigoshish provides the ideal habitat.
Like the muskellunge, this species is solitary and a ferocious predator, consuming frogs, crayfish, and fishes such as perch, shiners, burbot, and white suckers. They are also occasionally cannibalistic. Mature northern pike do not have any natural predators in Lake Winnibigoshish, but they are popular gamefish so are frequently taken by humans.
4) Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Another popular gamefish that draws anglers to Lake Winnibigoshish, lake whitefish can reach lengths of up to 100 cm (3 ft 3 in), although are more commonly found at around 54 cm long (1 ft 8 in). They prefer cool water, where they are reported to be quite sedentary, although they move between deep and shallow water depending on the season and temperature.
Lake whitefish feed on a varied diet; a study examining the stomach contents of these fish found that they utilized different food sources depending on their age and size. Smaller individuals feed on zooplankton, medium-sized individuals consume soft-bodied invertebrates, and large individuals eat mollusks and crustaceans.
5) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are medium-sized fish, with a maximum length of 41 cm (1 ft 3 in), although they are more commonly caught at lengths of around 19 cm (7.5 in). These fish are easily identifiable by their dark blue or black opercular flap, and a distinctive dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. They prefer areas with plenty of aquatic plants in which they hide, hence shallow, vegetated areas are good spots to fish for this species.
Predominantly active at dawn and dusk, bluegills feed on snails, minnows, worms, and crayfish, although research has shown that they may display great intraspecific variation in their feeding ecology, even within the same lake. Older, more experienced individuals have also been shown to forage more efficiently than their younger counterparts.
6) Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
Pumpkinseeds are very similar in appearance to the bluegill but can be discriminated from them by the presence of a bright orange spot on the opercular flap, and they also lack the dark spot on the dorsal fin that is present in bluegills. They attain similar lengths, with the maximum being approximately 40 cm (1 ft 3 in).
The best time to catch pumpkinseeds is during the day, with larger individuals being found further from shore. Preferred habitats include steep shore banks, coves, underneath overhanging trees, and near sunken debris, where they feed on fish and fish eggs. The best baits to use for pumpkinseed are red worms, maggots, and semolina balls.
7) Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
Aptly named, rock bass prefer rocky areas in shallow, warm waters, ideally with plenty of vegetation. The maximum recorded length for this species is 43 cm (1 ft 4 in), and while they are not huge fish, they are a popular game species that can be fished for directly from the shore.
This species feeds on crustaceans, insects, and fishes, especially pumpkinseeds and darters, showing variability in its hunting behavior depending on the depth of the water and the amount of cover available. During breeding season, males create nests in sandy or gravelly substrate, guarding and fanning the area for up to fourteen days after spawning has taken place.
8) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Despite being very popular gamefish elsewhere, largemouth bass are a secondary species on Lake Winnibigoshish, with many anglers reportedly not even realizing they are there. For those visitors who do choose to pursue this species, shallow, well-vegetated areas (in which largemouth bass hide from both their predators and prey) are the best places to search for them.
A large species with a maximum length of 97 cm (3 ft 2 in), it feeds on crayfish, frogs, and fish, occasionally engaging in cannibalism. While adult largemouth bass are considered apex predators, smaller individuals are frequently predated on by wading birds such as herons, and northern pike.
9) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Black crappie are so widespread across the United States that their native range is difficult to determine. These benthopelagic, nocturnal fish can attain lengths of up to 49 cm (1 ft 6 in) and are typically located in clear-watered, vegetated areas over a muddy or sandy substrate. The diet of smaller individuals consists of planktonic crustaceans and dipterous larvae, while larger individuals are piscivorous.
This species spawns between April and June, usually in sheltered locations such as coves where the water is more still. Eggs are laid among vegetation, to which they adhere, and are guarded by the male, hatching after 2 – 5 days. Females may spawn with several males throughout the breeding season.
10) White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
Very similar in appearance to the black crappie, white crappie can reach lengths of 53 cm (1 ft 7 in) and are pale in color, with darker bars running vertically down the sides of the body. They tend to inhabit areas with muddy or sandy substrate and turbid water, where they consume forage fish. Juvenile white crappie feed on microcrustaceans and small insects.
White crappie can hybridize with black crappie, which can further complicate the matter of identifying individuals. In some cases, these hybrids have been found to constitute up to 22% of populations, although the number of hybrids in Lake Winnibigoshish remains unknown.
11) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)
The yellow perch has distinctive coloration: bright green to golden brown over the head and back, which extend into six stripes down the yellow sides, then fade into a white underside. With a maximum length of 50 cm (1 ft 6 in), they are popular gamefish and Lake Winnibigoshish is a popular location to fish for them. In fact, more yellow perch are harvested on the lake than any other species throughout the summer and winter.
This species occupies clear water with plenty of vegetation, thus Lake Winnibigoshish provides the perfect habitat. Adults feed diurnally on immature insects, fishes, and fish eggs, and in turn are preyed upon by larger fishes and birds, such as osprey and bald eagles.
12) Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus)
A small member of the catfish family, the brown bullhead has a maximum length of 55 cm (1 ft 8 in) and has a yellow-brown body with darker mottling, and a pale belly. As with all catfish, the snout is adorned with barbels, which aid the fish in their nocturnal feeding along the bottom of the lake. Their diet consists of algae, insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.
These fish prefer water temperatures around 64 – 70°F (18 – 21°C), and if they are subjected to environmental conditions that are less favorable, they may bury themselves in muddy substrate to avoid them. It is possible that over winter, they spend a lot of time sleeping under the mud.
13) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
Black bullheads have a number of features that enable them to be distinguished from other catfish species: the shape of the tail in bullheads is square (in contrast to the usual forked shape seen in Ictaluridae). They also have a large head in comparison to their small body and lack the underbite that is present in many catfish. This species has a maximum length of 66 cm (2 ft 2 in), although they are more commonly found to be around 27 cm (11 in).
Lake Winnibigoshish is a great location to fish for black bullheads. They often school, and may be found around steep shore banks and sunken objects such as trees or boulders. Being nocturnal, black bullheads are difficult to catch during the day – the best time to fish for them is in the evenings.
14) Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
Considered to be a minor gamefish, yellow bullheads have a maximum length of 60 cm (2 ft) and are often yellow in color, although may also be varying shades of olive or brown, usually having a paler ventral region. A demersal fish, it makes use of the barbels on its snout, which are equipped with taste buds, to locate bottom-dwelling insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Yellow bullheads possess venom glands located in the spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins – these serve an antipredator function, and studies have shown that certain predators actively avoid these fish.
15) Burbot (Lota lota)
The burbot is a member of Lotidae, a family of cod-like fishes – it is the only member of this family that lives in freshwater. Burbots have yellow-brown sides with black mottling, allowing them to be camouflaged amongst the vegetation and tree roots in which they hide. A demersal species, individuals have a prominent barbel on the chin, similar to those seen on catfish.
Reaching lengths of up to 152 cm (5 ft), the burbot has only recently been designated as a game species in Minnesota. It is piscivorous, consuming yellow perch and walleyes, but will also feed on fish eggs, clams, crayfish, and aquatic insects. Young burbots are predated on by larger fish such as muskellunge.
16) Cisco (Coregonus artedi)
The cisco (also known as the tullibee) has a maximum length of 57 cm (1 ft 9 in), although individuals are more commonly found to be around 29 cm (11.4 in). It prefers cold, open waters, moving to deeper waters to remain cool during the summer, and feeds on plankton and large crustaceans.
This species is often confused with the lake whitefish: the easiest way to discriminate the two is to examine the jaw. The cisco has a significant underbite, whereas in the lake whitefish, the snout overhangs the lower jaw.
17) Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
Banded killifish are very small, with a maximum length of just 13 cm (5 inches). They have a very streamlined shape and are typically blue-gray in color with dark vertical bands down the sides. During spawning, the males develop a yellowish tinge to their lower fins. The preferred habitat for these fish includes clear water with an abundance of vegetation, and muddy or sandy substrate – these features are especially important during spawning.
This species schools as an antipredator strategy, believed to function to confuse predators, although it also serves to provide safety in numbers – the risk of mortality significantly increases when individuals stray from the group. Adult groups are usually made up of 3 – 6 fish, whereas juveniles collect in groups of 8 – 12 individuals.
18) Blackchin shiner (Notropis heterodon)
Blackchin shiners are small forage fish, reaching just 7 cm (2.76 in) in length. Golden in color, they have a black stripe along the lateral line and possess cycloid scales, a feature that is indicative of their primitive nature. These fish prefer cool, clear water with a sandy substrate, where they seek shelter amongst dense vegetation.
Their diet typically consists of Cladocera and midges, although they are omnivorous and will also consume plant matter. Notropis heterodon can play a role in indicating water quality: it has an aversion to turbid water and silty substrate and will move away from areas that are not suitable.
19) Blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis)
Slightly larger than the blackchin shiner, blacknose shiners have a maximum length of 9.8 cm (3.9 in) and can be identified by the black stripe along their lateral line. They tend to reside in well-vegetated areas with sandy substrate and clear waters, although they are highly tolerant of anoxic conditions during winter.
The diet of Notropis heterolepis includes cladocerans, ostracods, copepods, and dipterans, although the proportion of the dietary intake these make up varies greatly depending on the time of year and available resources. Despite having declined in some southern regions of the United States, the blacknose shiner is thriving in Lake Winnibigoshish.
20) Common shiner (Luxilus cornutus)
The common shiner has a deep body and fairly large eyes, and individuals may grow up to 18 cm (7 in) long. It prefers rocky habitat with clear, cool water, and is omnivorous, with one study finding that it consumed almost equal parts plant and animal matter. This species is susceptible to parasitism, hosting organisms including myxosporidian, tapeworm, and nematodes.
Common shiners secrete an alarm pheromone from their skin, known as ‘Schreckstoff’ – detection of this triggers hiding or schooling behavior in these fish. Interestingly, schooling has been observed to be a response to aquatic predators, whereas hiding is typically the response to aerial predators.
21) Emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides)
The emerald shiner can be found in large, open waters, usually with a sandy or gravelly substrate. Individuals can grow up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long, and are silver with a greenish sheen across the back and an emerald-green lateral stripe. This species feeds on microcrustaceans, algae, and midge larvae, and in turn, provides a vital food source for many larger fishes and birds in Lake Winnibigoshish.
Emerald shiners tend to occupy mid-water regions, however, in spring they begin to make vertical migrations to the surface at night, retreating to deeper water during the day. When abundant enough, they will form huge schools, presumably as an antipredator strategy.
22) Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
Golden shiners can attain lengths of up to 32 cm (1 ft), and can be easily identified due to the scaleless keel along the belly, a feature not seen in any other North American minnows. Adults are deep-bodied, have bright gold scales, and have reddish pelvic fins, while juveniles are silvery in color and have a much more streamlined body shape.
These fish prefer well-vegetated areas, but aside from this are fairly tolerant of adverse environmental conditions, such as high turbidity, elevated temperature, and anoxia. Their diet includes plankton, insects, and mollusks, although they have been found to have a particular preference for cladocerans.
23) Mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus)
Mimic shiners are silver in color, fading to white on their underside. With a maximum length of 7.6 cm (3 in), they are often confused with spottail shiners but can be identified by their larger eyes and terminal mouth. The best habitat for this species is well-vegetated with clear water, where individuals feed on microcrustaceans and midge larvae.
A study examining daily patterns of movement in mimic shiners found that these fish moved closer to shore at night, moving away again by sunrise. This is suggested to be an antipredator strategy.
24) Sand shiner (Notropis stramineus)
The sand shiner has a maximum length of 8.2 cm (3.2 in) and has silver sides with a yellow back. Distinctive features of this fish that may help with identification include a dark stripe down the back that broadens to a wedge in front of the dorsal fin, as well as a series of spots outlining the lateral line.
This species has been experimentally shown to prefer slower-moving water and sandy substrate, although this was using an artificial set-up, so may not truly reflect the preferences of individuals in the wild. It feeds on detritus and small invertebrates.
25) Spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera)
The spotfin shiner is deep-bodied and vertically compressed in shape, and reaches lengths of up to 12 cm (4.7 in). The scales are diamond-shaped and silver-blue with darker outlines, and there is a distinctive black spot on the dorsal fin, although in breeding males the entire dorsal fin becomes dark, and the other fins yellow.
This species spawns between June and August, with the eggs being deposited amongst sunken debris such as logs or rocks. Breeding individuals produce sounds during courtship, which are thought to function in species recognition.
26) Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius)
With a maximum length of 15 cm (5.9 in), spottail shiners earned their name due to the presence of a dark spot on the tail, which can range from being very prominent to quite subtle. These fish are silvery in color with a dark lateral line and tend to occupy areas with a sandy or rocky substrate, where they feed on insects, crustaceans, plants, and algae. As with many of the small forage fishes found in Lake Winnibigoshish, spottail shiners are a vital part of the ecosystem, providing walleyes with an abundant food source.
27) Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Fathead minnows are deep-bodied and chunky, with flattened heads and blunt snouts. With a maximum length of 10.1 cm (4 in), it is one of the most widely distributed species of fish in North America (considered invasive in some areas), and thus its native range is quite difficult to determine. The fathead minnow was introduced to Minnesota.
Part of the reason this species is so abundant is due to its high tolerance to varying environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high turbidity, high salinity, and low oxygen levels. It consumes algae, protozoans, and zooplankton.
28) Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus)
The bluntnose minnow is a small forage fish, reaching around 11 cm (4.3 in). Its body shape is long and thin, with silver scales, and a dark stripe along the lateral line, and can be found in schools over rocky areas with clear water. This species feeds on algae, detritus, and immature insects; research has shown that individuals decrease their rate of feeding in response to potential predators – unless they are in large shoals, which demonstrates the importance of schooling to these fish.
29) Brassy minnow (Hybognathus hankinsoni)
The brassy minnow has a maximum length of 9.7 cm (3.8 in) and has large, greenish-brass-colored scales. Interestingly, this species prefers slightly more acidic waters with a silty substrate, where it consumes phytoplankton and zooplankton. Regularly picked off by larger fish, studies have demonstrated that Hybognathus hankinsoni tend to select ‘structurally complex’ habitats which provide plenty of hiding places from predators. Brassy minnows are also commonly used as bait by anglers.
30) Finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus)
Finescale dace might be small, with a maximum length of just 11 cm (4.3 in), but they are striking in appearance, with a dark back, golden scales, and a black stripe running laterally from head to tail. Males also display a bright red patch along the lower portion of their side.
As with many of the small forage fish species, finescale dace reside in well-vegetated areas that offer plenty of chance to hide from predators such as northern pike, which are abundant in Lake Winnibigoshish. Individuals consume a diet of crustaceans, insects, and plankton.
31) Northern redbelly dace (Chrosomus eos)
The northern redbelly dace reaches lengths of around 8 cm (3.1 in) and is characterized by a striking red stripe running laterally across the belly, with bright yellow across the ventral region. Often confused with the finescale dace, the northern redbelly dace can be distinguished by the presence of two black lateral bands, whereas the former species has just one.
This species prefers areas with a silty substrate and plenty of vegetation, where it feeds predominantly on algae – although individuals may also consume zooplankton and aquatic insects. It is considered a keystone species.
32) Iowa darter (Etheostoma exile)
The Iowa darter has a maximum length of 7.2 cm (2.8 in) and is green-brown in color, with darker bands across the back, and spots on the side. In breeding males, these spots turn blue, as does the first dorsal fin, and the belly turns orange.
This species tends to be found in clear waters, with a rocky substrate and plenty of vegetation, although during breeding they move to muddy banks or spawn among organic debris. The diet of the Iowa darter consists of small crustaceans and insect larvae – specifically cladocerans and copepods.
33) Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum)
With a maximum length of 7.2 cm (2.8 in), the johnny darter is straw-colored, with dark X-shaped markings along the lateral line. Breeding males display much darker coloration, and their first dorsal fin turns black. Found over sandy substrate, this species is diurnal and consumes a diet of midge larvae and small crustaceans.
During spawning, males become highly territorial, initially performing aggressive displays. This behavior alters once the eggs are laid: the males respond less to the presence of females, and focus more on guarding the eggs and providing parental care.
34) Logperch (Percina caprodes)
The logperch has a maximum length of 18 cm (7 in) and tends to occur over sandy or gravelly substrate, although it is fairly adaptable and can be found in a great variety of habitats. This species also shows great flexibility in its diet, known to consume midges, mayflies, caddisflies, limpets, and fish eggs. It uses its snout to overturn rocks and locate prey.
During spawning, the male clasps the female with his pelvic fins, and both fish work their tails into the substrate. This results in the eggs being buried, a vital strategy to avoid other logperch eating them.
35) Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii)
The mottled sculpin reaches approximately 15 cm (5.9 in) in length and has a broad, flattened head with a large mouth. The sides are brown with dark vertical bars, the underside fades to white, and the fins are pale with faint brown lines. Breeding males are overall much darker in coloration.
These fish lack a swim bladder: their flattened shape and large pectoral fins serve to maintain their position in the water. They are demersal, and their large mouths mean that they are capable of swallowing prey items (typically aquatic invertebrates and small fish) almost the same size as themselves!
36) Shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum)
Able to grow to lengths of 75 cm (2 ft 5 in), the shorthead redhorse is easy to catch and thus not generally considered to be a gamefish. It is slender in shape, and has olive-brown sides with a golden sheen, fading to yellow and then to white on the ventral region.
The shorthead redhorse is highly adaptable in terms of habitat, and is demersal, feeding on insect larvae that it uncovers in the rock substrate, using its upper lip to maneuver rocks and prey. Juveniles feed on midge larvae and microcrustaceans.
37) Silver redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum)
Aptly named, the silver redhorse has silver sides, transitioning to dark grey across the back and dorsal fins, while the pectoral fins are pinkish brown. These fish typically reach around 32.5 cm (1 ft 1 in) long, although can grow to up to 74 cm (2 ft 4 in).
This species prefers muddy or rocky substrate and deep water, where it forages for aquatic insects along the lake bottom. Silver redhorses are apparently underappreciated as gamefish: they can be challenging to catch and will fight fiercely once hooked. Anglers are advised to look for clear waters with lots of insects, as silver redhorses tend to accumulate around these areas.
38) Tadpole madtom (Noturus gyrinus)
Tadpole madtoms are a small species of catfish, reaching a maximum length of 13 cm (5.1 in). They are demersal, preferring to forage over muddy substrate with plenty of detritus – their diet consists of insect larvae, specifically that of midges, caddisflies, and mayflies.
This species is highly secretive and is rarely seen. Spines in their pectoral and dorsal fins produce a mild venom, which aids in deterring predators – these spines can be locked into place when the tadpole madtom is threatened, and research has suggested that this process may also produce sounds that allow intraspecific communication about potential threats.
39) Trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus)
The trout-perch has a maximum length of 20 cm (7.9 in), and earned its name due to sharing physical features with both the trout and the perch: the adipose fin and head are like those of the salmonids, whereas the ctenoid scales, fin spines, and mouth shape are like those seen in the percids.
This species prefers clear water with sandy or gravelly substrate – they will avoid shallow areas with soft substrate, although travel to shallower areas at night to feed on insect larvae and crustaceans. They provide an incredibly important food source for walleyes and northern pike in Lake Winnibigoshish.
