Little Jessie Lake
About Little Jessie Lake
Little Jessie Lake is a 628-acre lake near Deer River in Itasca County, Minnesota. It reaches 50 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 4.8 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 11 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.
Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 14 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2019.
There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the US Forest Service. Ice typically goes out around April 25, based on 12 years of DNR ice-out records.
Plan Your Visit to Little Jessie Lake
- 628 acres, up to 50 feet deep, near Deer River
- 1 public boat launch (concrete) — managed by the US Forest Service
- Game fish on the DNR survey: walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill
- Average water clarity around 11 feet
Access & Fees
- Public access
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- Launch fee
- Free at DNR accesses
- Managed by
- US Forest Service
Conditions
- Surface area
- 628 acres
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Shoreline
- 4.8 mi
- Water clarity
- 11 ft
- Shallows (under 15 ft)
- 206 acres
Rules & Regulations
- A Minnesota fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older
- Drain plugs must be out and all water drained before leaving any access; remove aquatic plants from boats and trailers
- Children under 10 must wear a life jacket on a boat that is underway
Facilities
- 1 public boat launch (concrete)
Best For
- Walleye fishing
- Ice fishing
- Ice is never completely safe — check thickness yourself before walking or driving on any lake
Angler's Report
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder- Species on survey
- 14
- Game fish
- 10
- Stocked
- Yes
- Last DNR survey
- 2019
- Special regulations
- No
- Fishing pier
- No
- Ice fishing
- Yes
- Boat launch
- Yes
Fishing data: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Regulations change — confirm with the current DNR fishing regulations.
Ice-Out History
- Median ice-out
- April 25
- Years of record
- 12
- Earliest
- April 8, 2024
- Latest
- May 9, 2008
- Most recent
- April 27, 2026
See every lake on the ice-out tracker. Ice-out data: Minnesota DNR State Climatology Office.
Activities
Amenities
Fish Species
Plan your trip to Little Jessie Lake
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Nearby Lakes
Jessie Lake
64 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Talmoon1,740 acres
2 miles away
Little Turtle Lake
56 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Talmoon492 acres
4.5 miles away
Bowstring Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Deer River9,528 acres
4.7 miles away
Little Spring Lake
26 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Talmoon136 acres
4.8 miles away
Peterson Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Talmoon163 acres
6 miles away
Little Bowstring Lake
55 out of 100 Lake ScoreItasca · Deer River326 acres
6.2 miles away
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Little Jessie Lake?
Little Jessie Lake is in Itasca County, Minnesota, near Deer River. It covers 628 acres and reaches 50 feet deep.
How big and how deep is Little Jessie Lake?
Little Jessie Lake covers 628 acres with about 4.8 miles of shoreline. Its maximum depth is 50 feet.
What fish can you catch at Little Jessie Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys list Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, and Tullibee (Cisco) and other species. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older.
Is there a public boat launch on Little Jessie Lake?
Yes. Little Jessie Lake has 1 public boat launch (concrete), managed by the US Forest Service. DNR public water accesses are free to use.
Can you swim at Little Jessie Lake?
There is no mapped public swim beach at Little Jessie Lake. Minnesota's public waters are open to swimming where you have legal access, but there are no lifeguards or water-quality monitoring away from designated beaches.
Is Little Jessie Lake stocked?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR has stocking records for Little Jessie Lake; species and numbers vary by year, so see the stocking report on DNR LakeFinder.
When does the ice go out on Little Jessie Lake?
The median ice-out date is April 25, from 12 years of Minnesota DNR records. The earliest on record is April 8, 2024 and the latest is May 9, 2008.