Little Cut Foot Sioux

Black Crappie were collected as part of a broad research project investigating populations across Minnesota. Spring trap net surveys collected a total of 151 fish. Individuals averaged 10.4 inches with the largest individual being 13.4 inches. Growth was rapid and total length averaged 8.3 and 11.5 inches at age 3 and 6, respectively. Maximum age was 11 years.

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake is a 619 acre lake located 15 miles northwest of Deer River, Minnesota. The lake is connected to Cut Foot Sioux and is part of the larger Winnibigoshish system in the upper end of the Mississippi River drainage. Much of the lake is shallow and vegetated, as the maximum depth is 20 feet. Little Cut Foot Sioux is the site of an annual Walleye spawn take, where staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources collect eggs to hatch for stocking in Little Cut Foot Sioux, Cut Foot Sioux, Winnibigoshish, and other upper Mississippi drainage lakes. A standard fish survey is completed here approximately every ten years. Little Cut Foot Sioux has been identified as a lake with a high-quality Bluegill population and is currently protected with a 5 fish bag limit. During the 2023 survey, Bluegill in trap nets averaged over 7 inches in length and the largest Bluegill sampled during the survey was just over 10 inches. Black Crappie are another popular panfish species, and the abundance of these was within the expected range for this type of lake. Crappies averaged 8 to 9 inches and the largest were approaching 13 inches. Northern Pike are abundant in Little Cut Foot Sioux, as is typical with shallow lakes in north-central Minnesota. The maximum size potential is typically small with high density populations, and this is generally the case for this lake. During the 2023 survey the average Northern Pike length was 20 inches. The majority of the population was less than 4 years old, but a few fish that reached older ages were approaching 33 inches. While there is a large spawning run of Walleye into Little Cut Foot Sioux in the spring, the abundance of Walleye in the lake is fairly low outside of that period of time. Abundance of Walleye in survey nets was below the expected range for the lake. Walleye fry from the spawn take operation are stocked back into the lake each year. The Walleye sampled in 2023 ranged from 11 to 22 inches and were 2 to 7 years old. Yellow Perch abundance was down from the historic average for the lake, but still well within the expected range for the lake. Perch are a major prey item for predators such as Northern Pike and Walleye, but they do reach sizes that are of interest to anglers here. The average length during this survey was just under 7 inches, and the maximum size was over 10 inches. Tullibee (Cisco) have been present in high abundance in Little Cut Foot Sioux in the past. Cisco populations in the Winnibigoshish system, as well as many other lakes in Minnesota, have been trending downward the past few decades. This was the first survey where sampling nets failed to catch any Cisco in the lake. Cisco are an important prey item for predators such as Northern Pike, Walleye, and Muskellunge. The lack of Cisco will put more pressure on other prey species, such as Yellow Perch. Largemouth Bass are another gamefish species present in Little Cut Foot Sioux. The nets traditionally used in standard surveys are not effective for sampling Largemouth Bass, so none were caught during this survey. Other species sampled in this survey include Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Little Cutfoot Sioux is in ecological lake class 35 and is part of the Lake Winnibigoshish system north of Deer River. Bluegill are one of the primary management species with a management goal to provide a high quality fishery with the opportunity to catch fish of preferred size (over 8 inches). The 2017 targeted survey was one of three spring surveys targeting Bluegill since 2007. Spring trap netting sampled Bluegill at a rate of 3.5/net, similar to the previous assessments (6.1/net and 2.9/net). Standard summer survey catches are typically low, while the lake has historically contained a quality population. Size structure was favorable and consistent with management goals (PSD=92, RSD-8=71, RSD-10=5, n=157) and similar to what was observed in 2012 (PSD=99, RSD-8=55, RSD-10=3, n=233) and 2007 (PSD=87, RSD-8=43, RSD-10=1, n=160) targeted surveys. The fish ranged from 3.4 to 10.4 inches with a mean length of 8.4 inches in 2017. Sex and maturity determination identified 43% of the sample was male of which 3 were immature, while 82 were mature females and 8 immature. Immature females had a mean length of 4.6 inches and a median age of 2, similar to immature males which had a mean length of 4.7 inches and a median age of 2. Scale analysis identified ages 2 to 9 were present in the sample. Ages 3 to 6 were well represented and evenly distributed in an expanded age frequency, comprising 80% of the sample. Back-calculated length-at-age for males (n=55) and females (n=52) were similar to Ecological Lake Class 35 for all ages. Males averaged 8.1 inches while females averaged 7.9 inches by age 4. Black Crappie were the most numerous species sampled in spring trap nets, at a rate of 3.5/net. The 2017 catch was similar to the 2012 (3.2/net) and 2007 (2.8/net) catches. Summer trap net catches have typically been within the lake class inter-quartile ranges. A desirable size structure was observed (PSD=76, RSD-10=46, RSD-12=7, n=157), similar to previous spring assessments. Lengths ranged from 4.7 to 12.6 inches with a mean length of 9.4 inches. Scale analysis identified ages 2 to 8 inches with ages 3 to 6 well represented, comprising 85% of the age distribution. Growth was similar to the statewide averages for all ages. Black Crappie averaged 10.5 inches by age 5.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Black Crappie, Pumpkinseed, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, and Bluegill in Little Cut Foot Sioux. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Little Cut Foot Sioux. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Little Cut Foot Sioux has a maximum depth of 20 feet and a mean depth of 9 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Cut Foot Sioux is from 2023.

Yes — Little Cut Foot Sioux has confirmed faucet snail and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.