Gunny Sack

Itasca County

Near Bigfork

DOW: 31026700

Rock BassGood · 69Northern PikeGood · 63Yellow PerchAverage · 42

A 86-acre lake near Bigfork in Itasca County — best known for panfish and pike. Last surveyed 2003.

Fish Species (13)

Rock Bass

Good · 69

Typical numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 1983

Last surveyed 1983 — treat with caution

Avg Weight

1.00 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net · typical 0.3–2.4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 13, 1983	0.50	-	1.00 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 63

Typical numbers · average-size fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

21.4"

Avg Weight

2.43 lbs

Catch rate: 8.7 per gill net · typical 2.8–10 for a lake like this

Size of catchable northern pike20% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 80%Largest sampled 25"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	8.67	21.4"	2.43 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 14, 2003	0.56	21.4"	2.65 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	18.33	-	1.85 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Perch

Average · 42

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.2"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 22.0 per gill net · typical 2.5–23.3 for a lake like this

Size of catchable yellow perch1% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 99%Largest sampled 9"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	2.22	5.2"	0.09 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 14, 2003	22.00	5.2"	0.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1983	2.50	-	0.22 lbs	Standard trap nets

Walleye

Average · 36

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

18.0"

Avg Weight

2.24 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net · typical 1–4 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	0.33	18.0"	2.24 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1983	0.33	-	2.50 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Crappie

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

6.3"

Avg Weight

0.14 lbs

Catch rate: 3.3 per gill net · typical 1.5–7.5 for a lake like this

Size of catchable black crappie3% keeper-size (10"+)

5–9" · 97%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	3.33	6.3"	0.14 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 14, 2003	3.11	6.3"	0.17 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	0.67	-	0.40 lbs	Standard gill nets

Bluegill

Average · 31

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.4"

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 13.8 per trap net · typical 3.1–24.9 for a lake like this

Size of catchable bluegill2% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 98%Largest sampled 8"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	13.78	4.4"	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	15.75	-	0.29 lbs	Standard trap nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 25

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.4"

Avg Weight

0.10 lbs

Catch rate: 2.6 per trap net · typical 0.8–7.2 for a lake like this

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 6"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	2.56	4.4"	0.10 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	2.75	-	0.13 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Poor · 14

Small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.07 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 0.3–1.9 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	0.11	5.0"	0.07 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (5)

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

White Sucker

Good · 56

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

16.8"

Avg Weight

2.44 lbs

Catch rate: 1.7 per gill net · typical 1–5.8 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	1.67	16.8"	2.44 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1983	0.67	-	1.75 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Bullhead

Average · 49

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.0"

Avg Weight

0.90 lbs

Catch rate: 0.44 per trap net · typical 0.6–5.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	0.33	11.0"	0.59 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 14, 2003	0.44	11.0"	0.90 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	3.00	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Golden Shiner

Average · 48

Typical numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.4"

Avg Weight

0.08 lbs

Catch rate: 3.0 per gill net · typical 0.5–5.1 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	3.00	5.4"	0.08 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 14, 2003	0.11	5.4"	0.08 lbs	Standard trap nets

Brown Bullhead

Average · 38

Below-normal numbers · large fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.7"

Avg Weight

0.65 lbs

Catch rate: 0.22 per trap net · typical 0.8–10.7 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	1.67	10.7"	0.86 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 14, 2003	0.22	10.7"	0.65 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	4.50	-	0.40 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Bullhead

Poor · 8

Below-normal numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Jul 2003

Last surveyed 2003 — treat with caution

Avg Size

5.0"

Avg Weight

0.04 lbs

Catch rate: 0.11 per trap net · typical 1.8–26.3 for a lake like this

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Jul 14, 2003	0.11	5.0"	0.04 lbs	Standard trap nets
Jul 13, 1983	0.33	-	0.20 lbs	Standard gill nets
Jul 13, 1983	3.75	-	0.23 lbs	Standard trap nets

Biologist Notes

July 14, 2003Gunny Sack Lake is a 78 acre lake located 15 miles southeast of Bigfork in central Itasca County. The lake is part of the Mississippi River Watershed,…

Gunny Sack Lake is a 78 acre lake located 15 miles southeast of Bigfork in central Itasca County. The lake is part of the Mississippi River Watershed, has a maximum depth of 13 feet with moderate water quality, and is in lake class 37. Gunny Sack Lake has one public access on the north shore and the entire shoreline is county owned Northern pike were the primary predator in Gunny Sack Lake. The catch rate of 8.7 per gillnet was within the expected range and is normal for this lake type. Although growth was similar to the statewide average, northern pike size structure was poor with no pike larger than 25 inches sampled. Pike reached a mean length of 22 inches at age 6, however, no pike were sampled that exceeded age six.Black crappie were of average abundance with relatively small size structure. However, the present size structure may be due to irregular recruitment since most crappie sampled were age-2, 3, or 4, and only 2 crappie exceeded age-5. Growth was relatively slow for age-2, 3, and 4 crappie, and similar to statewide average for age 1, 5, and 6. As the present population matures the size structure should improve.The trap-net catch rate of 13.8 bluegill per net was similar to the median catch rate for lake class 37 of 10.3 per net. Although bluegill grew at relatively fast rates the size structure was poor and the majority of bluegill were smaller than 6.0 inches total length.Yellow perch were abundant and small with a maximum length of 6.6 inches. Perch provide an important prey base for northern pike

July 13, 1983Many small northerns were caught. Most were below average size. Both the bluegill and crappie populations are above average. Many of them are good siz…

Many small northerns were caught. Most were below average size. Both the bluegill and crappie populations are above average. Many of them are good sized (0.5-1.0 lb.). There are a lot of bullheads.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Gunny Sack?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Black Crappie in Gunny Sack. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Gunny Sack?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Gunny Sack. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Gunny Sack?

Gunny Sack has a maximum depth of 13 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Gunny Sack last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Gunny Sack is from 2003. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.