Bay View Lodge
Crosslake
From $1,200–$3,940 / week · 2026
The Whitefish Chain links 14 lakes, about 14,000 acres in all, behind the Corps of Engineers dam at Crosslake on the Pine River. Whitefish Lake is the largest at about 7,700 acres and 138 feet deep; Cross, Rush, Lower Hay, Clamshell, Island-Loon, Bertha and Pig lakes are joined to it by channels.
It is a cabin-resort chain: most places rent by the week in summer, with their own boats. Walleye, bass, pike and panfish draw anglers, and the chain has lower crappie and sunfish limits than most lakes.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Most resorts here rent cabins by the week in summer, with boats. Pick Crosslake to be near town and the dam, or the east chain for quieter bays.
5 places to stay
Crosslake: Cross & Rush lakes
Resorts around the town of Crosslake on Cross and Rush lakes, the Corps dam and campground, and the guides based here.
Beacon Shores Resort
Crosslake
Call for current rates
Boyd Lodge
Crosslake
From $240–$1,185 / night · 2027
Cross Lake Recreation Area (US Army Corps of Engineers)
Crosslake
From $24–$40 / night · 2025
Sundance Ridge Resort (Woods to Water Vacation Homes)
Crosslake
Call for current rates
2 places to stay
Whitefish Lake
The chain's biggest and deepest lake, between Crosslake and Pequot Lakes.
Heath's Resort
Pine River
Call for current rates
Pinedale Resort on Whitefish
Pequot Lakes
Call for current rates
3 places to stay
The east chain
Clamshell, Lower Hay, Island-Loon, Bertha and Pig lakes, joined to Whitefish by channels.
Black Pine Beach Resort
Pequot Lakes
Call for current rates
Clamshell Beach Resort
Pequot Lakes
Call for current rates
Towering Pines Resort
Pequot Lakes
Call for current rates
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $880 | $880 | $480 | $480 | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd Guide ServiceCrosslake | $880 | $480 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie |
| MN Walleye Guide (Todd Andrist)Crosslake | Call | – | walleye, northern pike | |
| TheFishGuyd Guide ServiceCrosslake | Call | – | walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, muskie (separate guide page; trips not specified) |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Day houses are rented by the person, sleepers by the night.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheFishGuyd Guide ServiceCrosslake | – | $350 per day (22-hour window, 12pm-10am); rate year not stated; no bedding; multi-house deals on request | houses placed on the lake by the guide; not detailed |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- June 6 – November 30Muskie season.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 1, 2027Every fish house must be off the ice by midnight.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations.
V. Field notes
The chain by numbers
- The chain counts 14 lakes and about 14,272 acres by Wikipedia's figures; other sources say 13 lakes and about 13,660 acres.
- Whitefish Lake alone is about 7,714 acres and 138 feet deep.
- The Corps of Engineers dam at Crosslake on the Pine River holds the chain's level; the Corps runs the Cross Lake Recreation Area campground beside it.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Covers the Whitefish Chain with Cross Lake Reservoir, Lower Hay, Arrowhead, Bertha, Clamshell, Big Trout, Pig, Island-Loon, Rush-Hen, Daggett and Little Pine lakes.
- Crappie 5 a day and sunfish 5 a day (Whitefish Chain special limits).
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches.
- Northern pike (North-central Zone): 10 in possession, not more than 2 over 26 inches; release every pike from 22 through 26 inches.
- Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only from March 1 to May 22, then 6 combined bass from May 23, 2026. Smallmouth go back to catch-and-release from September 14.
- Muskie: June 6 – November 30, 1 fish, 54-inch minimum.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 1, 2027.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons, North-central pike zone, and the Whitefish Chain special regulation). Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost on the Whitefish Chain?
A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $880–$880 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway - Cross Lake Dam - NARA - 7720974, Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway (National Archives), Public domain; Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway - Crosslake Historic Log Village - NARA - 7720980, Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway (National Archives), Public domain; Pequot depot, Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia, Public domain.
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