Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 21, 2017
Species recorded at South Sugar Lake
8 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 South Sugar Lake
No stocking record for South Sugar Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is an absence in the published record, not a confirmation that the lake is unstocked — some waters are managed as naturally reproducing and never appear in a stocking list at all.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2017 caught 0.25 walleye per gill net at South Sugar Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Sugar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2017-08-21 (Standard Survey).
3 surveys on file · most recent 2017-08-21 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28.66 | 8–18 in 2017-08-21 | 1.05 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.67 | 3–7 in 2017-08-21 | 0.14 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 5.27 | 8–10 in 2006-08-28 | 0.64 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 3.26 | 3–7 in 2017-08-21 | 0.11 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.21 | 17–32 in 2017-08-21 | 3.23 lb |
| Black Crappie | 3.12 | 3–11 in 2017-08-21 | 0.28 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
From the 2017-08-21 survey
South Sugar is an 88 acre lake located six miles southwest of Grand Rapids in the Mississippi River headwaters watershed. The lake is connected to Sisseebakwet (Sugar) Lake through a shallow channel navigable by small boats. South Sugar is relatively lightly developed and has clear water. The lake supports a variety…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for South Sugar Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — South SugarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in South Sugar Lake?
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on August 21, 2017 caught 0.25 walleye per gill net at South Sugar Lake. Minnesota DNR lists 8 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 South Sugar Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for South Sugar Lake is dated August 21, 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 South Sugar Lake stocked?
No stocking record for South Sugar Lake appears in the Minnesota DNR material on file. That is not the same as a confirmed unstocked lake: it means no stocking document was published for it in the records this page draws on.
Do the water-quality readings tell me how South Sugar Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Sugar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
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 South Sugar Lake
Top-rated places to stay near South Sugar Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Planning a trip to South Sugar Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near South Sugar Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.