Big Marine

Big Marine Lake is a 1,799 acre, class 24 lake located in northern Washington County. Big Marine Lake is mesotrophic, moderately fertile, and is primarily managed for Walleye and Largemouth Bass. Bluegill and Black Crappie are secondary management species. From 1995 to 2017, Big Marine Lake was stocked with Walleye fingerlings at a rate of 1.0 pounds/littoral acre (1,152 pounds) in even numbered years. The stocking plan has since been altered to more effectively assess of the effects of stocking rate on year class strength. Walleye fingerlings were stocked annually from 2017 to 2022 at varying rates of 1.0 or 0.65 pounds per littoral-acre (1,152 and 749 pounds, respectively). Big Marine Lake was surveyed with gill nets in late-July/early-August of 2024 to monitor Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. The previous gill net survey was conducted in 2022. Walleye were sampled using gill nets at a rate of 0.25 fish per net. This catch rate is below the average for the lake class and is the lowest Walleye catch ever on Big Marine. The lake's mid-range and long-range management goals for relative abundance are not being met (2 and 4 Walleyes per net, respectively). Average size was small for the lake class and small relative to the history of the lake, with an average length of 15.3 inches. Fish lengths ranged from 14.2 to 16.5 inches. Of the 3 Walleyes sampled, 2 were age 2 and 1 was age 4. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 20.2 fish per gill net. This catch rate was the highest catch rate for Big Marine Lake since 2014. Average size for Northern Pike was the smallest ever recorded for Big Marine Lake, with an average length of just 14.8 inches. Only about 5 percent of Northern Pike exceeded 20 inches in length, and the largest was 29.6 inches. The Northern Pike population in Big Marine Lake appears to be very abundant and primarily comprised of smaller fish, which anglers may find unfavorable. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 2.3 fish per gill net. This catch rate is well below average for the lake class, yet it is the highest since 1999. Average Yellow Perch size was relatively large for the lake, with an average length of 9 inches. The largest measured was 11.6 inches. Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie were also sampled in gill nets; however, summer gill nets typically do not produce reliable data to estimate abundance or size structure for these species. It is worth noting that Largemouth Bass as large as 18 inches in length were sampled in gill nets. Other fish species were sampled including Black Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, and Hybrid Sunfish.

Big Marine Lake is a 1,799 acre, class 24 lake located in northern Washington County. Big Marine Lake is primarily managed for Walleye and Largemouth Bass, with Bluegill and Black Crappie as secondary management species. Big Marine Lake had been stocked with Walleye fingerlings at a rate of 1.0 pounds/littoral acre (1,152 pounds) in even numbered years until 2016. However, the stocking plan has been altered to allow a better assessment of the effects of stocking rate and frequency on the Walleye population in Big Marine Lake. Beginning in 2017 Walleye fingerlings will be stocked annually at a rate of either 1.0 or 0.65 pounds per littoral-acre (1,152 and 749 pounds respectively). Big Marine was surveyed with gill nets in August and with night time electrofishing in May for Largemouth Bass. The previous survey was conducted in 2020. Walleye were sampled by gill nets at a rate of 1.3 fish per net. This is below the mean for the lake class and the lowest catch since the 2004 survey. The mid-range management goal of 2 fish per net is not being met. Mean size was typical for the lake class but slightly low relative to the history of the lake with an average length of 16.7 inches. Fish lengths ranged from 11.8 to 19.6 inches. Ages of those fish ranged from 2 to 8 years old and were fairly well distributed through that range. Northern Pike were sampled at a rate of 13.3 fish per gill net. This far exceeds the 75th percentile for the lake class but was the lowest catch since the 2012 survey. The Northern Pike catch rate in Big Marine has exceeded the 75th percentile for the lake class continuously since the 1969 survey. Fish size was particularly small with a mean length of only 16.2 inches and the longest fish measuring 29.2 inches. Only 13 percent of fish exceeded 20 inches in length. Yellow Perch were sampled at a rate of 1 fish per gill net. This is well below the 25th percentile for the lake class but typical for the lake. Catch rates have not exceed the 25th percentile for the lake class since the 1999 survey. Fish size was relatively large with a mean length of 9.1 inches and a range of 7.5 to 11.1 inches. The low number fish and the absence of any smaller fish in the survey likely indicates a consistent lack of recruitment in the system. Largemouth Bass were sampled by electrofishing at a rate of 103.6 fish per hour. This is a high catch rate relative to similar lakes and this lakes history. It is more than double any of the previous surveys since 1994. Mean size has been pretty consistent with an average length of 11 inches. Lengths ranged from 4.2 to 17.9 inches. While other game fish species were sampled, summer gill netting does not produce data that is reliable for making inferences as to their abundance or size structure. As a note for anglers, Black Crappie up to 11.1 inches and Bluegill up to 9.4 inches were sampled. Other fish species sampled included: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead.

Big Marine Lake is a 1,799 acre lake located in northern Washington County. Water quality is considered suitable for swimming and wading, with good clarity and low algae levels throughout the open water season. Park facilities include a swimming beach, a boat launch with parking for 33 vehicle/trailer units, and a fishing pier. The River Valley Council of the Girl Scouts of America operates a popular camp on the east shore of the lake. The Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake is a family campground that provides facilities and opportunities for recreation, rest, and well-being for all who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States, whether still serving or have served in the past, their families, and sponsored friends. The 2021 spring trap netting survey was conducted to provide baseline information on Bluegill for the new 10-fish bag limit experimental fishing regulation that went into effect in 2021. The goal of this regulation on Big Marine Lake is to protect the quality size structure of Bluegill in the lake. Nine trap nets were set on May 11, 2021 and lifted on May 12, 2021 catching a total of 242 Bluegill. Bluegill ranged in size from 3.2 inches up to 9.8 inches in length, with an average size of 8.0 inches. Aging structures (otoliths) were collected from 95 Bluegill. The largest number of fish were found to be from 2012 (9 years old). The oldest Bluegill sampled in 2021 was determined to be from the 2007 year-class, making it 14 years old. The size structure of Bluegill in Big Marine Lake is quite good compared to many other Metro-area lakes with 90% of the fish sampled measuring 7 inches or larger.

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

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

Big Marine has a maximum depth of 60 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Big Marine is from 2024.

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