Little Big Lake
Little Big Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 3597.95 acres.
- Clarity
- 9.3 ft
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 3,598 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 24
- Open water
- 217 days
Next lake in Beltrami County
Little Big Lake is a 3,598-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 35 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 17 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Little Big Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-10-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Big Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Big Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Average Depth | 14.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 3,598 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 16.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 59% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Big Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| MMS | 92.68 | — |
| Yellow Perch | 54.54 | 0.2 lb |
| BMS | 39.63 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 31.10 | — |
| Muskellunge | 24.43 | 10.42 lb |
| JND | 15.59 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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.
Yellow Perch
Muskellunge
From the 2025-06-10 survey
Big Lake is a 3,596 acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 feet located 13 miles east of Bemidji in Beltrami County. The Big Lake boat launch is located on the east shore and can be accessed from Mission Road. A total of 53 Walleye were captured in the 2025 survey, and they ranged in length from 10.5 inches to 22 inches…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little 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 (1734)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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.231 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.04 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (24 observations).
Estimated open water season: 217 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-17 (2024) | 2008-05-12 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2003-11-08 (2003) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-28
County Ranking
Ranked #22 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Little Big Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Big Lake?
- Little Big Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 9.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 3597.95 acres.
Is Little Big Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Big Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Big Lake?
- Little Big Lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet and an average depth of 14.1 feet. The lake covers 3597.95 acres.
What fish are in Little Big Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Big Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Big Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
When does Little Big Lake thaw?
- Little Big Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 24. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 217 days.
Explore Little Big Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Beltrami County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
72 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX72 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate