Big

Big Lake is a 526-acre lake located near Sawyer, Minnesota with 84% (440 acres) littoral area and a maximum depth of 25 feet. A DNR administered, concrete, back-in access is located off County Road #112. Largemouth Bass and Bluegill are the primary management species. Big was last surveyed in 2013. Big was surveyed during the summer of 2020 to update information about fish populations. Spring Largemouth Bass sampling was suspended during the 2020 due to the pandemic. Previous spring Largemouth Bass electrofishing assessments have shown a robust Largemouth Bass population in Big Lake. Largemouth Bass gillnet abundance of 1.4 per lift was above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. The proportion of adult Largemouth Bass captured in gillnets that exceeded preferred size (greater than 15 inches) was 38%. Bluegill abundance of 15.0 per trapnet lift was up from 2013 (6.8) and average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Bluegill average length was 4.5 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. One large specimen over nine inches long was captured in the gillnets. Northern Pike abundance of 12.4 per gillnet lift was up from 2013 (11.4) and above average compared to other similar Minnesota lakes. Average length was 20.0 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. The proportion of adult Northern Pike captured that exceeded preferred size (greater than 28 inches) was 9%, while the proportion that exceeded memorable size (greater than 34 inches) was 1%. Black Crappie abundance of 3.2 per trapnet lift was down from 2013 (5.6) and average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Black Crappie average length was 7.0 inches and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes.

A targeted survey of the nearshore fish community in Big Lake was conducted by Fisheries Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff starting July 9, 2020. Fourteen sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lakeshore and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 15-foot or 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all 14 sites with three sites sampled from the boat. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample ten sites and deep, soft sediments or dense woody habitat prevented the use of seines at four sampling sites. Nearshore sampling captured 14 native species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (Iowa Darter) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (Green Sunfish). Data from this targeted nearshore survey was combined with trap net and gill net data from a 2020 standard survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based Index of Biological Integrity (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. 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. The FIBI score for Big Lake from this survey is above an impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the St. Louis River Watershed assessment of surface waters process completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Big is a 507-acre lake with 440 (87%) acres of littoral area maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake is located one mile north of Sawyer, MN off County Road #112. A DNR administered, concrete, back-in access is located off County Road #112. Walleye fingerlings have been stocked in eleven years from 1989 through 2013. Big Lake is currently stocked only in years with surplus walleye production. Big Lake was sampled in 2013 to help evaluate walleye management and update information on the fish population. Walleye abundance of 0.0 per gillnet lift was below average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type and down from 2004 (0.9). Prior to this assessment, walleye gillnet catch rates from eight investigations since 1956 had ranged from 0.9 to 4.7 per lift. One mature individual measuring 23.4 inches was captured in the trapnets. The specimen was aged to the 2004 year-class, corresponding to a year when 31,904 fingerlings were stocked. Not enough individuals were sampled to evaluate stock density or growth. The high abundance of other top level predators (northern pike, largemouth bass) may be limiting the success of the walleye stocking program. Largemouth bass abundance of 104.0 per hour of electrofishing was considered above average compared to other Duluth Area lakes and was considerably higher than 2004 (18.1 per hour). Average size of 15.0 inches was large and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area populations. Twenty-five percent of the sample captured was greater than 16 inches in length. Age distribution revealed consistent recruitment and relatively strong 2004, 2006 and 2007 year-classes. Ten year-classes were represented from 2002 through 2011. Northern pike abundance of 11.4 per gillnet lift was above average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type but down from 2004 (16.3 per lift). Average size of 20.4 inches was small and growth was slow compared to other Duluth Area lakes. However, quality sized northern pike are available with several captured over 35 inches. Age analysis revealed a strong 2005 year-class and nine year-classes represented from 2004 through 2012. Bluegill abundance of 6.8 per trapnet lift was considered average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size of 4.7 inches was small and growth was slow compared to Duluth Area lakes. Age analysis revealed strong 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005 year-classes with eight year-classes represented from 2002 through 2010. Yellow perch abundance of 5.9 per gillnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type. Average size for yellow perch of 6.9 inches was small. Black crappie abundance of 2.3 per trapnet lift was average compared to other Minnesota lakes of similar type and average size was 7.4 inches. Black crappie abundance has been steadily decreasing over the last four investigations. Other fish species sampled during the assessment included black bullhead, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish and white sucker.

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

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

Big has a maximum depth of 25 feet and a mean depth of 8 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Big is from 2020.

No invasive species are on record for Big in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.