Big Watab

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Watab Lake was conducted on June 23 - 25, 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 10 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample six stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured 14 species of fish including seven species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). 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 seven species of fish including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number and biomass. The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a July 2023 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 web site. Results from this survey provide evidence that the fish community in Big Watab Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to the FIBI from 2023. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River Sartell watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Big Watab Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Big Watab Lake was conducted on September 5th, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program 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. Backpack electrofishing was completed at ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample nine stations, and a 15-foot seine was used to sample one station. Nearshore sampling captured seventeen species of fish including six species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, and Pugnose Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2023 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., Black Bullhead 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 indicate that the fish community in Big Watab Lake is healthy, as indicated by an FIBI score that exceeds the exceptional use threshold determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings, which indicated that Big Watab Lake fully supported aquatic life use based on the FIBI. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - Sartell Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.

Big Watab lake is a small (217 acres) lake located three miles south of Avon in Stearns County. There is a state-owned public access on the northeast side of the lake with enough parking for 12 vehicle/trailer combinations as well as a dock and a portable toilet. On summer weekends, anglers may want to note that the public access fills quickly in the morning and anyone coming later may need alternative plans. A standard survey was conducted in 2023 to monitor the changes in the fishery from the last survey completed in 2016. Big Watab Lake has a maximum depth of 123 feet and has excellent water clarity with a 10-year average summer water clarity of 16 feet. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were suitable to sustain sport fish to depths of 45 feet during the third week of July. The lake has a diverse aquatic plant community, with twenty-five species being identified during the 2008 survey and found growing to a depth of 28 feet. Chara was the only aquatic plant that was abundant and widespread. While northern milfoil and several other beneficial pondweeds (bushy, clasping-leaf, floating-leaf, Illinois, and sago) were widely distributed, but rare in abundance. Emergent and floating leaf vegetation was mapped and covered approximately 16% of the shoreline with bulrush and yellow waterlily being the most common. Native vegetation helps stabilize shoreline soils and acts as a buffer for runoff, reducing the amount of pollution that enters a lake. It is important that all lake shore owners follow County shoreline rules and only mow a small area down to the lake to allow access without altering an unnecessary length of shoreline. Rainbow and Brown Trout are the primary managed species in Big Watab Lake. Rainbow Trout have been stocked annually since 1989 (10,000 yearlings) and Brown Trout annually since 1994 (2,000 yearlings). Trout management has been very successful as anglers harvest a high percentage of stocked fish, but some growth has been realized as well. Catch rates are highest in spring after stocking, then decline as the summer temperatures force trout into the thermocline. Walleye fingerlings were stocked biennially for almost 50 years, but was discontinued after 2016 because of diminished returns over the last 40 years. No Walleye were sampled in the 2023. The Northern Pike catch was similar to the 2016 survey and remains within the range of expected values for similar lakes. While the catch rates have been similar over the last three surveys the average size has decreased from earlier surveys (pre-2000). From 1982 - 1999 the average length and weigh of Northern Pike sampled was 22.3 inches and 3.4 pounds compared 16.7 inches and 1.6 pounds from 2000 - 2023. Only 32%of Northern Pike sampled in 2023 were longer than 21 inches, meaning that most of the pike present are small in size. Anglers are encouraged to harvest these small pike (under 22 inches) and release larger ones to help achieve a more balanced fish community and improve growth rates. Lower pike numbers may also allow Yellow Perch numbers to increase, which would benefit other species as Yellow Perch are an important prey species. The catch rate of Largemouth Bass in 2023 was about a third of the catch rate observed in 2016, but still higher than the average daytime catch rate for the Sauk Rapids Management Area. Largemouth Bass had an average length of 9.9 inches with only 23% being longer than 12 inches. Anglers can expect good fishing for smaller Largemouth Bass. The Bluegill catch in 2023 was lower than the 2016 survey and was the lowest on record. Lengths ranged from 3 to 10 inches with an average length of 6.8 inches, but 78% percent of Bluegills sampled were larger than six inches. The Black Crappie catch for 2023 was similar to the previous survey and remains below the range of expected values. Black Crappie abundance has historically been low in Big Watab Lake. Other species sampled in low numbers included: Black, Brown, and Yellow Bullhead, Brown Trout, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, and Rock Bass.

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

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

Big Watab has a maximum depth of 123 feet and a mean depth of 43.5 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

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

Yes — Big Watab has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.