Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 10, 2025
Little Big Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Big Lake average 24.43 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 30–30 inches. In Beltrami County, Minnesota, Little Big Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 9.3 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 Little Big Lake
17 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 Little 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 Little Big Lake average 24.43 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 30–30 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Big Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 54.54 | 0.2 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 31.10 | — |
| Muskellunge | 24.43 | 10.42 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.
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
Common questions
What fish are in Little Big Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Big Lake average 24.43 muskellunge per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 17 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 30–30 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 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 Little Big Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Little Big Lake is dated June 10, 2025. 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 Little Big Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Little 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 Little Big Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Big Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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.
Where to stay near Little Big Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Little Big Lake
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