Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 7, 2017
Big Lake FishingCWater-quality grade C
Minnesota DNR surveys at Big Lake average 25.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 7, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. In Stearns County, Minnesota, Big Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of C. Water clarity averages 6.9 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
16 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 25.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 7, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Big Lake C 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: 2017-08-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 35.90 | 0.14 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 25.51 | 0.71 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.74 | 0.72 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 8.01 | — |
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
Yellow Bass
From the 2017-08-07 survey
Big Lake is a 458 acre lake located three miles southwest of the City of Richmond. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet with an average depth of 15 feet. Big Lake has good water quality and excellent water clarity with a 10 year average summer Secchi reading of 10 feet. The Big Lake watershed is 20,371 acres with land…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Lake. 4 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
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big (1997)Aquatic Plant Report · 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 25.51 largemouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated August 7, 2017. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 5–19 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 16 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 August 7, 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 C 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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