Bigsby

Cook County

Near Lutsen

DOW: 16034400

WalleyeGood · 69PumpkinseedGood · 67Yellow PerchGood · 67

A 95-acre lake near Lutsen in Cook County — best known for walleye and panfish. Last surveyed 1998.

Fish Species (8)

Walleye

Good · 69

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Avg Size

17.3"

Avg Weight

2.08 lbs

Catch rate: 2.3 per gill net · typical 1.3–5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable walleye100% keeper-size (15"+)

All keeper-sizeLargest sampled 23"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	2.33	17.3"	2.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 29, 1998	0.17	17.3"	1.39 lbs	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 29, 1998	1.67	17.3"	2.06 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Good · 67

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1986

Last surveyed 1986 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

0.44 lbs

Catch rate: 1.0 per trap net · typical 0.5–3.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 19, 1986	1.00	-	0.44 lbs	Standard trap nets

Yellow Perch

Good · 67

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.9"

Avg Weight

0.26 lbs

Catch rate: 11.3 per gill net · typical 2–16 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch28% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 72%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	11.33	3.9"	0.26 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 29, 1998	10.17	3.9"	-	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 29, 1998	0.33	3.9"	0.37 lbs	Standard trap nets

Smallmouth Bass

Good · 50

Large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Avg Size

14.5"

Avg Weight

2.50 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 0.8–2.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	0.33	14.5"	2.50 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 29, 1998	0.17	14.5"	1.32 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 19, 1986	0.25	-	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Average · 32

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Avg Size

14.3"

Avg Weight

1.19 lbs

Catch rate: 15.0 per gill net · typical 2.8–8.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike0% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 100%Largest sampled 22"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	3.50	14.3"	0.28 lbs	1/4-in trap nets
Jun 29, 1998	2.67	14.3"	1.19 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jun 29, 1998	15.00	14.3"	1.19 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (3)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Fathead Minnow

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	0.17	-	-	1/4-in trap nets

White Sucker

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Avg Size

3.0"

Avg Weight

0.05 lbs

Catch rate: 1.2 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	1.17	3.0"	0.05 lbs	1/4-in trap nets

Shiner species

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 1998

Last surveyed 1998 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 5.2 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 29, 1998	5.17	-	-	1/4-in trap nets

Biologist Notes

June 29, 1998The 1998 walleye catch in Bigsby Lake was within the normal range for lakes of this class, and was similar to past catches in this lake. Despite the l…

The 1998 walleye catch in Bigsby Lake was within the normal range for lakes of this class, and was similar to past catches in this lake. Despite the lake's shallow waters and muck bottom, it appears to support a naturally reproducing walleye population. Growth of young walleye collected in 1998 had been relatively fast, probably due to the presence of an excellent yellow perch forage base.Northern pike were abundant, but small, as they have been in past assessments. Few northern pike survived beyond four years of age. Northern pike growth had been somewhat faster than average for the area. Four-year-old fish collected in late June averaged 20.6 inches in length.Smallmouth bass were present. Although only two fish were collected in 1998, both were over 12 inches in length. Yellow perch were abundant, but generally small, with few fish larger than nine inches.

August 19, 1986FOR A LAKE OF THIS TYPE, THE WALLEYE POPULATION APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. FISH ARE SMALL, AND GROWTH IS SLOW. THE PERCH POPULATION LOOKS GOOD, AND…

FOR A LAKE OF THIS TYPE, THE WALLEYE POPULATION APPEARS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. FISH ARE SMALL, AND GROWTH IS SLOW. THE PERCH POPULATION LOOKS GOOD, AND SHOULD PROVIDE SOME ANGLING OPPORTUNITIES. FISH POPULATIONS IN GENERAL IN THIS LAKE (ESPECI- ALLY WALLEYE AND SMALLMOUTH) ARE PROBABLY STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY POPULATIONS IN CARIBOU LAKE.

July 1, 1977Bigsby Lake has good populations of Walleyes and Northerns with a fair range of sizes. Perch abundance is about average.

Bigsby Lake has good populations of Walleyes and Northerns with a fair range of sizes. Perch abundance is about average.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Bigsby?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike in Bigsby. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Bigsby?

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

How deep is Bigsby?

Bigsby has a maximum depth of 4 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Bigsby last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Bigsby is from 1998. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.