Detroit Lakes area fisheries

Detroit Lakes area fisheries staff perform management, habitat and oversight work for 151 fishing lakes and 1,500 miles of rivers and streams in Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk and Red Lake counties.

Popular area waters are Detroit Lake, the Cormorant lakes area, White Earth and portions of the Red River.

The Detroit Lakes fisheries work area

Where to find us

14583 County Highway 19
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
218-846-8290
[email protected]
News & notices

New video highlights sturgeon recovery

Sturgeon in the river

Learn how lake sturgeon recovery efforts led to the first documented natural sturgeon spawning in more than 100 years.

What can I catch?

Measuring a walleye's lengthWondering what fish you can catch and when you can catch them? Seasons vary for different fish so use our fishing season listing to find out.

Fishing opportunities

Outlooks

Area lakes by county

Learn to fish

Fishing piers & boat ramps by county

Resources
Lake management planning

Lakes scheduled for 2024

People who want to discuss the individual fisheries listed below must call or email this area fisheries office during February. Your observations and comments will be considered as updates begin on these fisheries lake management plans.

Comments from people interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries are a critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process. These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and guide the work fisheries biologists do each year.

Clicking lake links below take you to LakeFinder, where you can find various lake specific information, including past fisheries surveys. To submit input or learn more about each lake’s management plan, please contact this area office.

Lake (nearest city) County
Bad Medicine Becker
Little Cormorant Becker
Union Polk
Waboose Becker

How you can help

Comments about preferred experiences, observations or general concerns about the fishery – rather than suggestions on how DNR might accomplish a specific goal or objective – are the most helpful kinds of input.

Some questions to consider when formulating input could include:

  • What kind of fishing experience are you looking for?
  • Are there fish habitat concerns you’d like to share?
  • What species of fish are most important to you?
  • Do you like catching fewer big fish or a lot of smaller fish?
Individuals as well as representatives of lake associations, outdoors groups, conservations organizations and local units of government are encouraged to comment.

Talk with us

Detroit Lakes staff

Slide text left for phones & emails

Name
Position
Phone
Email
Nathan Olson Area supervisor 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Mike Habrat Fisheries specialist 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Jeff Buckingham Fisheries specialist 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Kaleb Smith Fisheries specialist 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Josh Wickstrom Fisheries technician 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Nick Kludt Red River fisheries specialist 218-846-8290 [email protected]
Janice Haverkamp Office administrative specialist 218-846-8290 [email protected]

Back to top