at Minnetrista
Hennepin County, Minnesota · 44.9367° N, 93.7243° W
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Updated 15 Oct 2026, 4:54 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Whaletail Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Whaletail Lake was in July 2021: 6 gill nets and 9 trap nets caught 12 species.
Northern pike per gill net, standard surveys: 1999 1.7 · 2005 3.2 · 2011 2.0 · 2016 7.3 · 2021 9.0
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1999 29 · 2005 18 · 2011 16 · 2016 17 · 2021 39
Northern pike: 66 measured, 19 to 34 in, half 23 in or longer; average 3.4 lb, above normal (normal 1.7–3.1 lb).
Largemouth bass: 21 measured, 5 to 19 in, half 16 in or longer; average 2 lb, above normal (normal 0.5–1.5 lb).
Black crappie: 156 measured, 4 to 9 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.11 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Bluegill: 408 measured, 3 to 8 in, half 4 in or longer; average 0.06 lb, below normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Yellow perch: 80 measured, 5 to 7 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.1 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, brown bullhead, common carp, golden shiner, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 26 Jul 2021, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 3 ft: the Secchi depth across 5 readings, 2011–2021.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Whaletail Lake is 22 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 510 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Whaletail Lake Public Water Access Site.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2021 standard survey caught 12 species, most often bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch and northern pike.
About 17% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.