Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 31, 2017
Big Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Lake average 13.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–18 inches. In Sherburne County, Minnesota, Big Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 13.6 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Lake
14 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 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.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Lake average 13.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–18 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-07-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 42.28 | — |
| Bluegill | 18.59 | 0.13 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.51 | 0.65 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 11.19 | 0.07 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 9.17 | 0.77 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.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Green Sunfish
Black Bullhead
From the 2017-07-31 survey
Big Lake is a 251 acre lake located in Sherburne County within the city limits of Big Lake. It is connected to Mitchell Lake via a navigable channel. Big Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet and a small watershed primarily composed of development, open water, and row crops. A city owned public access is located at the…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BigFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BigFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BigPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Big Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Lake average 13.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 31, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 4–18 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 14 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 Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Big Lake is dated July 31, 2017. 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 Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Big 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 Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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.
Where to stay near Big Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Big Lake
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