Sand

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sand Lake was conducted on July 7- 9, 2025, by Lake Biological Monitoring and Assessment Program (LBMA) staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 14 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 12 stations and a 15-foot seine was used at one station. One station was not seined due to dense vegetation and difficulty walking through the sampling area. Nearshore sampling captured 12 species of fish including three species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass). A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by LBMA staff. Nine trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eight species of fish, including one species that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Black Bullhead). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and by biomass. The nearshore and trap net data were combined with gill net data from an August 2024 survey to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (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. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Common Carp). 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. For additional information on the FIBI search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Sand Lake is near the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Sand Lake has inconclusive data for assessment on aquatic life use. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Kettle River watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with the MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Sand Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Sand Lake is a 501-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake and is within the Kettle River watershed. It has a maximum depth of 47 feet, an average depth of 18 feet, and is 43% littoral (depths less than 15 feet, 215 acres). There is one inlet from Island Lake in the southwest corner and one outlet to Coffee Lake on the northwest shoreline. Water clarity is high and is typically 8 to 12 feet. Due to high water clarity and 43% of the lake being less than 15 feet, aquatic vegetation is plentiful and has been sampled in depths to 14 feet. Recent plant surveys indicate there is a very diverse plant community. However, Eurasian watermilfoil, a non-native species, was present at over 30% of the points surveyed in the most recent survey. Substrates are favorable for Bluegill and crappie spawning with abundant sand and gravel. The lake is highly developed and has over 250 homes. A paved public access is located on the western end with nine double spaces and one handicapped space. Past standard lake surveys on Sand Lake have occurred in July and have indicated the lake has a moderate to high density Bluegill population with average size structure. Recent interest in quality sized Bluegill have led to efforts to obtain additional information on the size structure of spawners in this population. In 2025, a targeted survey for Bluegill was conducted from June 9 - 12, when water temperatures ranged from 62 to 65 degrees. This survey was completed using 12 trap nets set for three consecutive days (36 net nights) prior to Bluegill spawning. This survey was the first survey to target spawning adult Bluegill on Sand Lake. This survey indicated that the Bluegill population in Sand Lake is high with a smaller size structure. A total of 1,369 Bluegill were sampled in 2025 for a catch rate of 38/net. Lengths ranged from 2.1 to 9.1 inches with an average length of 6.7 inches. Only 8 percent of the Bluegill sampled measured 8 inches or longer. Other species measured were Black Crappie and pumpkinseed. A total of 113 Black Crappie were sampled for a catch rate of 3.2/net. Black Crappie lengths ranged from 6.2 to 12.8 inches with an average length of 9.5 inches. Twenty percent of crappies sampled were 10 inches or longer. A total of 106 pumpkinseed were sampled for a catch rate of 2.9/net. Pumpkinseed lengths ranged from 3.8 to 8.7 inches with an average length of 6.8 inches. Nine percent of pumpkinseeds sampled were 8 inches or longer.

Sand Lake is a 501-acre lake in northern Pine County located three miles south of Moose Lake, MN, and is within the Kettle River watershed. It has a maximum depth of 47 feet, an average depth of 18 feet, and is 43% littoral (depths less than 15 feet, 215 acres). There is one inlet from Island Lake in the southwest corner and one outlet to Coffee Lake on the northwest shoreline. Water clarity is high and is typically 8 to 12 feet. Due to high water clarity and 43% of the lake being less than 15 feet, aquatic vegetation is plentiful and has been sampled in depths to 14 feet. Recent plant surveys indicate there is a very diverse plant community. However, Eurasian watermilfoil, a non-native species, was present at over 30% of the points surveyed in the most recent survey. Substrates are sand and gravel. The lake is highly developed and has over 250 homes. A paved public access is located on the western end with nine double spaces and one handicapped space. Anglers visiting Sand Lake can experience angling success for numerous species. Largemouth Bass anglers should catch high numbers of bass less than 12 inches, with a chance at a bass over 18 inches. Northern Pike anglers should catch high numbers of pike less than 21 inches, with a chance at a pike over 28 inches. Black Crappie anglers should have catch rates similar to other area lakes, with higher catch rates of crappies over eight and ten inches. Walleye anglers should have average catch rates, with walleyes over 20 inches consistently present. Bluegill anglers should experience average catch rates, with some fish over 8 inches. Including the initial survey in 1957, twelve fish surveys have been completed to monitor for changes in species composition, number, and length distribution. More recent surveys have occurred in 2002, 2007, 2012, 2016, and 2024. Survey frequency is approximately every 8 years. Gamefish species that are best suited for the lake include Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Walleye, and Bluegill. No special regulations are present. Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike are listed as the primary management species, while Black Crappie, Walleye, and Bluegill are secondary management species. Nighttime electrofishing for Largemouth Bass was conducted in May of 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2016, and 2024. In 2024, bass were sampled at a rate of 128/hour, compared to the average of 87/hour. The 2024 catch rate was the second highest. This catch rate is higher than most Pine County lakes. Bass average length was 11.9 inches in 2024, compared to 11.0 inches in 2016. The largest bass sampled in 2024 was 19.4 inches. Anglers can expect to catch high numbers of bass less than 12 inches, with a chance at a bass over 18 inches. Overall, this bass population has average proportions of bass over 12 and 15 inches. A high number of Northern Pike were sampled with gill nets during the 2024 survey. Pike catch rates were 11.9/net in 2024, which compares to the lake average of 8.1/net. Research indicates pike catch rates over 7.5/net are undesirable, as they are usually associated with higher density populations having poor size structure and slow growth. Higher pike densities can also have detrimental effects on perch abundance and the survival of stocked walleye. Perch are a primary prey species for most gamefish. The 106 pike sampled ranged from 10.4 to 29.1 inches and had an 18.4-inch average. The average length of pike sampled by gill nets in 2016 was 19.5 inches. Despite the low average length, a 28-inch pike has been sampled in all surveys. The largest pike ever sampled was a 34.6 inch pike in 2002. Overall, this population has a below average proportion of pike over 21 inches. The Black Crappie gillnet and trap net catches were slightly higher in 2024 when compared with 2016 catches and the long-term averages. The gill net catch was 1.6/net in 2024 and compares to the average of 1.4/net, while the trap net catch was 3.6/net in 2024 and compares to the average of 3.3. These catch rates are similar to other area lakes. Crappie ranged in length from 3.7 to 14.2 inches and had an average length of around 9 inches for both gears. Crappies over ten inches have been sampled in all but one survey, while crappies over 12 inches were sampled in 2024 for the first time. Survey results indicate this population has an above average proportion of crappies over eight and ten inches. Walleyes have been stocked in fifteen of the past twenty years, which included fry, fingerlings, yearlings, and adults. Walleye gill net catches were 2.2/net in 2024, which compares to the average of 1.9/net. Walleye ranged in length from 11.2 to 25.6 inches and had an average length of 20.2 inches. Walleyes over twenty inches have been sampled in 7 of the past 8 surveys, while walleyes over 25 inches were sampled in the past two surveys. The 2024 length distribution of Walleye in gill nets indicated this population has an above average proportion of fish over 15 inches. The 2024 Bluegill trap net catch rate of 15/net compares to the average of 26/net. Bluegill ranged from 1.8 to 10.1 inches with a 5.8 inch average. Bluegills over 8 inches were sampled in each of the past three surveys (2024, 2016, 2012), while Bluegill over 8 inches were not observed before 2012. The length distribution of Bluegills in trap nets indicated the population has average proportions of fish over 6 inches, but below average proportions of fish over 8 inches. Yellow Perch catch rates have remained consistently low throughout all 12 surveys, which started in the 1950s. Gill net catch rates have never exceeded 4/net. Perch gill net catch rates were 0.1/net in 2024, which compares with the average of 1.1/net. Only three perch were sampled in 2024 with all gears and ranged from 5.5 to 6.7 inches. No perch over 8 inches have ever been sampled in gill nets. Perch numbers are too low to offer angler opportunities. Other species sampled included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Muskellunge, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Pumpkinseed in Sand. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sand has a maximum depth of 47 feet and a mean depth of 18 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sand is from 2025.

Yes — Sand has confirmed Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.