Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 14, 1995
Big Deep Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Deep Lake average 7.57 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 1995. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–31 inches. In Cass County, Minnesota, Big Deep Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 19.4 feet of visibility. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Big Deep Lake
13 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Big Deep Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Deep Lake average 7.57 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 1995. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–31 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Deep Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1995-08-14 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 7.57 | 1.11 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.04 | 0.18 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 5.00 | 0.57 lb |
| Rock Bass | 3.47 | 0.31 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 2.94 | 0.48 lb |
| Walleye | 1.72 | 2.46 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Northern Pike
Bluegill
Yellow Bass
Rock Bass
From the 1995-08-14 survey
Big Deep Lake is a 484 acre lake with a maximum depth of 107 feet. It is located six miles east of Hackensack in northern Cass County. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types, based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Big Deep Lake is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Deep Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big DeepFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Deep (1663)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big DeepFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Big Deep Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Deep Lake average 7.57 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 3 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 14, 1995. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–31 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 13 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Big Deep Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Big Deep Lake is dated August 14, 1995. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Big Deep Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Big Deep Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Big Deep Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Deep Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
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Top-rated places to stay near Big Deep Lake
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