Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 27, 2022
Species recorded at Big Sugar Bush 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 Sugar Bush 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
1 public boat landing is recorded on Big Sugar Bush Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 27, 2022 caught 1.89 walleye per gill net at Big Sugar Bush Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sugar Bush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-06-27 (Standard Survey).
11 surveys on file · most recent 2022-06-27 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.73 | 3–9 in 2022-06-27 | 0.23 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 14.78 | 6–11 in 2022-06-27 | 0.55 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 13.91 | 7 in 2022-06-27 | 0.21 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.46 | 3–8 in 2022-06-27 | 0.23 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and 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
Yellow Bullhead
Green Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
From the 2022-06-27 survey
Big Sugar Bush is a 472-acre, scenic lake in north-central Becker County, within the boundary of the White Earth Indian Reservation. Water clarity is relatively high (average 17 feet), and a diverse fish community provides a variety of angling opportunities. A standard fisheries survey was completed in June 2022 to…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Sugar Bush Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big Sugar BushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Sugar Bush (1004)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big Sugar BushFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big Sugar BushPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Big Sugar Bush Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 27, 2022 caught 1.89 walleye per gill net at Big Sugar Bush Lake. 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 Sugar Bush Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Big Sugar Bush Lake is dated June 27, 2022. 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 Sugar Bush Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Big Sugar Bush 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.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how Big Sugar Bush Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sugar Bush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
Water-quality readings are 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 with clear, low-nutrient water can still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Big Sugar Bush Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Big Sugar Bush Lake
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