Big Snow

Cook County

Near Sawbill Landing

DOW: 16064700

Northern PikeGood · 72Yellow PerchPoor · 23

A 49-acre lake near Sawbill Landing in Cook County — best known for pike and panfish. Last surveyed 2006.

Fish Species (4)

Northern Pike

Good · 72

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2006

Last surveyed 2006 — treat with caution

Avg Size

22.3"

Avg Weight

2.38 lbs

Catch rate: 7.0 per gill net · typical 3.9–9.4 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike33% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 67%Largest sampled 27"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 7, 2006	7.00	22.3"	2.38 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 16, 1986	9.00	-	3.63 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Poor · 23

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2006

Last surveyed 2006 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.1"

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per gill net · typical 2–23 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch0% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 7, 2006	3.33	6.1"	0.10 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 16, 1986	2.00	-	0.23 lbs	Standard gill nets

Other species in this lake (2)

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

White Sucker

Average · 33

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jun 2006

Last surveyed 2006 — treat with caution

Avg Size

16.0"

Avg Weight

2.31 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 2.6–17.5 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 7, 2006	0.33	16.0"	2.31 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jun 16, 1986	5.50	-	0.98 lbs	Standard gill nets

Johnny Darter

Insufficient

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jun 2006

Last surveyed 2006 — treat with caution

Catch rate: 0.25 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jun 7, 2006	0.25	-	-	Minnow traps

Biologist Notes

June 7, 2006Big Snow Lake is a remote lake in the Superior National Forest located 16 miles NNW of Tofte, MN. Access to the lake is difficult, 1.25 miles on a rou…

Big Snow Lake is a remote lake in the Superior National Forest located 16 miles NNW of Tofte, MN. Access to the lake is difficult, 1.25 miles on a rough logging road; then 0.25 mile on an unmarked trail over uneven ground. Travel on the logging road should be limited to high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. Travel in early spring when the ground is soft can be a problem. The northern pike catch in 2006 was in the low end of the normal range for the lake class, but was similar to the previous survey completed in 1986. The average weight of northern pike sampled was 2.4 pounds. Northern pike ranged from 18 to 27 inches in this assessment. Growth was average when compared to other northern pike lakes in the area; five-year old northern pike averaged 22.6 inches at last annulus formation. Yellow perch were sampled in average numbers for this lake class, but the size was small, averaging 0.1 pounds. Yellow perch ranged from 6 to 7.5 inches in the sample.

June 16, 1986Northern Pike catch in gillnets was about two times the local average. Average weight of Northern Pike was 3.6 pounds/fish. White Sucker catch in gill…

Northern Pike catch in gillnets was about two times the local average. Average weight of Northern Pike was 3.6 pounds/fish. White Sucker catch in gillnets was 0.39 times the area average. Yellow Perch catch in gillnets was 0.12 times the area average. Visual observations gave evidence of at least an adequate forage base.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Big Snow?

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

Is there public access at Big Snow?

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

How deep is Big Snow?

Big Snow has a maximum depth of 12 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Big Snow last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Big Snow is from 2006. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.