Big Pine

Big Pine Lake is a moderately clear water lake located in southwestern Aitkin County and is part of the Mille Lacs/Rum River watershed. There is a state-owned public access located on the south side of the lake. Big Pine Lake has a variety of habitats available to the angler from open, wind-swept gravel and rock to areas of heavy vegetation. Shorelines vary from areas with gentle slopes and shallow depths to areas with sharp drop-offs and deep water. Mid-water areas consist primarily of deep water, but there are several gravel bars with steep sides that rise to within a few feet of the surface. With the relatively recent observation of Zebra Mussels in Big Pine (2018), there is also uncertainty in changes to the ecology of the system as they become more abundant and so we encourage boaters and lake shore owners to follow good practices to prevent movement of Zebra Mussels out of the system. This targeted survey, employing only gill nets, was conducted to help evaluate the current Walleye stocking strategy. Gamefish species available to anglers include Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill and Largemouth Bass. Though there are some favorable spawning areas for Walleye, and minimal natural reproduction has been observed, historically the better year classes have been those supplemented by stocking. Walleye have been stocked with varying success in Big Pine Lake since the early 1900's and is currently managed with annual fingerling stocking. Prior to the 2024 survey, Walleye gill net catch rates were stable, averaging between 3.4 and 5.3 Walleye per gill net since 2011. The Walleye catch rate decreased substantially in 2024, dropping to a rate of only 1.1 per gill net. This rate was well below the management goal of 5 per gill net and near the bottom of the interquartile range for lakes of this class. The mean length of Walleye captured was 17.4 inches, with fish ranging from 12.6 to 21.3 inches. Captured Walleye ranged from 2 to 8 years old, with five year classes present. This met the management goal of at least three year classes present in the sample. Growth rates of Walleye improved slightly from the two most recent surveys, reaching lengths of just under 15 inches by age 4, which was similar to county and statewide averages. The gillnet catch rate for Northern Pike was 2.3 per net, which was slightly below the long-term average of 3.4 per net, spanning 14 surveys back to 1956. This is normal for this lake type and meets the current management goal of 2 to 6 per net. A more compressed size structure was observed in 2024, compared to previous surveys, with Pike ranging in length from 16.0 to 29.7 inches, and averaging 22.4 inches. An average length of 22.4 inches did not meet the management goal (mean length = 24.0 inches), and only 22% of Pike attained lengths of 26.0 inches or larger. Growth rates of Pike were comparable to previous surveys and above state and county averages. Low abundances and good growth rates make Big Pine Lake a great candidate for catch and release of large Northern Pike, as recycling these fish will allow for greater angler opportunity at capturing quality-sized fish in the future. Anglers can expect to find a stable population of Largemouth Bass at Big Pine Lake, as gill net catches were relatively unchanged from pervious surveys (2.5 per net). Previous electrofishing catch rates indicate sizeable Bass abundances, with fish sampled up to 15.6 inches. Some Smallmouth Bass have also been observed in Big Pine Lake; however, a targetable population does not exist at this point and none were sampled in 2024. While gill nets are not the preferred sampling gear for assessment of Bluegill populations, catch rates in 2024 were above levels observed in the previous 5 surveys (3.3 per net). Captured Bluegill averaged 4.7 inches, and no Bluegill were captured greater than 8.0 inches. Comparatively, Hybrid Sunfish were captured at a lower overall rate than Bluegill (1.9 per net) but with more fish over 8 inches, accounting for 9% of Hybrid Sunfish sample. Nice sized Black Crappies are also present in the fishery, but traditionally their abundance is low. In 2024, the gill net catch of Black Crappie decreased to 0.4 per gill net, down from 2.1 per net in the 2021 survey. Captured Crappie averaged 8.9 inches in length and ranged from 4.7 to 11.5 inches. A notable 2018 year class that was observed in the 2021 survey was not present in the 2024 survey. The oldest Crappie captured was 5 years old (2019 year class). Growth rates of Crappie in 2024, were similar to the 2021 survey and reached 9.3 inches in four years.

Big Pine Lake is a moderately clear water lake located in southwestern Aitkin County and is part of the Mille Lacs/Rum River watershed. There is a state-owned public access located on the south side of the lake. Big Pine Lake has a variety of habitats available to the angler from open, wind-swept gravel and rock to areas of heavy vegetation. Shorelines vary from areas with gentle slopes and shallow depths to areas with sharp drop-offs and deep water. Mid-water areas consist primarily of deep water, but there are several gravel bars with steep sides that rise to within a few feet of the surface. Gamefish species available to anglers include Walleye, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill and both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. Though there are some favorable spawning areas for Walleye, and minimal natural reproduction does occur, historically the better year classes have been those supplemented by stocking. Walleye have been stocked with varying success in Big Pine Lake since the early 1900's. Due to poor returns from stocked fry in the late 1990's and early 2000's, fingerling stocking resumed and were stocked annually from 2004-2007. Big Pine Lake then became part of a statewide research project to evaluate to effectiveness of stocking Walleye frylings, which are an intermediate size between fry and fingerlings, and were stocked in 2008 and 2010. Test nets in 2011 and 2103 suggested fryling stocking at Big Pine Lake were less successful than fingerlings. Current management has reverted to annual fingerling stocking. Overall, the Walleye gill net catch rate has been stable and has averaged about 4/net the last four surveys. Although slightly below the average in 2021 (3.4/net) and is slightly below the management goal of 5 per net, it is still about normal for this type of lake. The mean length was 16.3 inches, and fish up to 27.1 inches were sampled. Nine-year classes were present indicating good survival of stocked fish and meeting current management objectives. Additionally, a higher than usual amount of Walleye were observed in the trap nets (1.25/net) and they averaged almost 20 inches. Walleye fingerling survival will continue to be evaluated in future surveys. The gillnet catch rate for Northern Pike has not varied much in survey history but did increase to 4.3/net in 2021, which is slightly above the long-term average of 3.4/net spanning 13 surveys back to 1956. This is normal for this lake type and meets the current management goal of 2 - 6/net. A wide range of sizes and ages were found with 7 of 51 (13%) fish being longer than 26 inches. The size structure is typically favorable and was again with an average length of 21.9 inches and fish up to 38.7 inches being sampled. The management goal of achieving an average size of 24 inches was not met but the size structure was still decent. The best way to maximize the benefits of this quality pike fishery is for anglers to recycle these fish. That way, more than one individual can experience the catching of a quality pike. The Largemouth Bass catch rate was 2.5/net in 2021 and has been stable at about that level for the last 20 years. The mean length of Largemouth Bass was 11.6 inches with individuals up to 15.1 inches. Electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was also completed in 2021 and yielded a catch rate of 66/hour, which indicates good abundance. The size structure matched what was observed in the gill nets. A previous electrofishing survey in 2002 had similar results (68/hour) further indicating a stable population. Smallmouth Bass are known to be present in small numbers in Big Pine Lake, however few have been observed in traditional sampling gear, and only one was observed from a trap net in 2021. Several juvenile Smallmouth Bass were also observed in the nearshore assessment (see the 7/06/2021 Targeted Assessment). The Bluegill trap net catch rate was low again at 3.2/net, when compared to the long-term average of 26/net and was a decrease from the previous survey in 2016 (10.9/net). Catch rates for Hybrid Sunfish were double that of Bluegill in 2021. Hybrids have a slight edge on the Bluegills in terms of size structure with a mean size of 6.6 inches, with individuals measuring out to 8.8 inches. They typically account for the majority of the sunfish over 8 inches in the Big Pine Lake fish community. Although spawning habitat and escape cover is not limited, Bluegills appear to be increasing the frequency with which they spawn with other species, which might partly explain the decrease in abundance. The decline appears to be independent to the Walleye stocking regime since the decline continued during the period of fry stocking when Walleye survival (and potential predation) was very low. Bluegill growth rates appear to be improving and are starting to approach average growth rates for the area and so we may start to see greater contributions of Bluegills to the quality sizes over 8 inches. Nice sized Black Crappies are also present in the fishery, but traditionally their abundance is low. Black Crappie did show an increase in abundance in the gill nets, from less than 0.5/net in 2016 to 2.1/net in 2021. The increase is primarily from a good year class of 3-year-old fish from the 2018 year class that are currently in the system, and which made up about fifty percent of the sample. They are growing well averaging 8.1 inches by age 3.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Pine Lake was conducted on July 7-8, 2021, by Aitkin Area Fisheries Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all fourteen sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eleven stations and site conditions prevented the use of seines at three stations. Nearshore sampling captured 21 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Iowa Darter, Mimic Shiner, and Smallmouth Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from an August 2021 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Iowa Darter and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Black Bullhead). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey indicates the fish community of Big Pine Lake is in good health as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Rum River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, Northern Pike, and Black Crappie in Big Pine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Big Pine. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Big Pine has a maximum depth of 78 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Big Pine is from 2024.

Yes — Big Pine has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.