Sugar

A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sugar Lake was conducted on July 8-9th, 2025, by Area Fisheries 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 13 sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample 7 stations, and a 15-foot seine was used at 2 stations. Four stations were not seined due to deep water and dense lilies. One site was moved, since both stations 9 and 10 did not have lake access since they were separated by a constructed road. Station 10 was moved to the nearest accessible shoreline, but station 10 was skipped due to lack of access. Nearshore sampling captured 19 species of fish including 5 species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass) and 1 that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish). The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill net data from a July 2021 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, Pugnose Shiner, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish and Black Bullhead). 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 Sugar Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Sugar Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Mississippi River - St. Cloud watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Sugar Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.

Sugar Lake is a 1,015-acre lake located five miles north of the City of Annandale in northern Wright County. The lake has excellent water quality and is a popular recreation lake. Sugar Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet and an average water clarity of ten feet. Sugar Lake was designated for Muskellunge management in 1967 and is primarily managed for Muskellunge, Walleye, and Northern Pike. Since 2015, Muskellunge fingerlings have been stocked annually as opposed to biennially (2004 - 2014), while Walleye fingerlings have been stocked annually since 2005. There are two public accesses on the lake, one each on the north and south ends of the lake. The access on the south end is the larger of the two with enough parking spaces for 18 vehicle-trailer combinations. In 2007, experimental fishing regulations were put in place for Northern Pike and Black Crappie. An assessment conducted in early spring was used to evaluate the effects of these regulations as well as to estimate the adult Muskellunge population size for Sugar Lake. Fifty-five Muskellunge were sampled using large frame trap nets during the spring and marked with a pelvic fin clip and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag. The Muskellunge population was estimated to be 116 adults (30 inches or larger). This estimate (0.11/acre) was less than the previous estimates of 2016 (0.15/acre), 2012 (0.22/acre), and 2007 (0.26/acre) and well below the management goals for a low-density Muskellunge population (0.2 - 0.4/acre). The decreasing population trend of adult Muskellunge and lack of juvenile fish observed on Sugar Lake has also been observed in other lakes with mature populations even in cases where stocking rates have remained consistent. Muskellunge sampled during the spring assessment ranged in length from 34 to 54 inches with a mean length of 44 inches. For the fourth consecutive survey fish over 50 inches were sampled. Sugar Lake has been plagued by high Northern Pike abundance dating back to the 1970's. In an attempt to improve the size structure in Sugar Lake, a special 24- to 36-inch protected slot limit was implemented in 2007.The size of Northern Pike seems to be improving. The catch in 2023 was lower than 2016 although much of this decrease could be explained by the unusually late ice-out and rapid warmup observed in 2023. Results from the spring targeted survey were encouraging given the fact that 20% of the Northern Pike sampled were larger than 24 inches and 12% were larger than 30 inches in length. These values are higher than in each of the previous 14 ice-out assessments dating back to 1976 which is a significant indicator that the special pike regulation is having a positive impact on medium to large fish. Sugar Lake has a reputation of being a good crappie lake and can receive relatively high fishing pressure especially during late winter and early spring. Past angler surveys have indicated relatively high harvest pressure as well. The goal of the special crappie regulation was to redistribute the harvest over a longer period of time and to protect the existing size structure. Nearly 3,000 Black Crappie were sampled during the spring survey with fish up to 15 inches in length being sampled. After 16 years with the reduced bag limit on Black Crappie, it appears that the regulation is helping protect the size structure of the crappie population. The average size of Black Crappie has increased from 8.2 inches to 9.4 inches and the percentage of crappies larger than 10 inches has increased from 27% in 2007 to 50% in 2023. Two hundred and seven Walleye were sampled during the spring assessment and marked with a pelvic fin clip. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 12 - 31.5 inches with a mean length of 21 inches. The size structure of the Walleye population in Sugar Lake appears to have remained remarkably consistent over the last 25 years, consistently producing some of the largest Walleye sampled in the Sauk Rapids management area.

Sugar Lake is a 1,015-acre lake located five miles north of the City of Annandale in northern Wright County. The lake has excellent water quality and is a popular recreation lake. Sugar Lake has a maximum depth of 69 feet and an average water clarity of ten feet. Sugar Lake was designated for Muskellunge management in 1967 and is primarily managed for Muskellunge, Walleye, and Northern Pike. Since 2015, Muskellunge fingerlings have been stocked annually as opposed to biennially (2004 - 2014), while Walleye fingerlings have been stocked annually since 2005. There are two public accesses on the lake, one each on the north and south ends of the lake. The access on the south end is the larger of the two with enough parking spaces for 18 vehicle-trailer combinations. In 2007, experimental fishing regulations were put in place for Northern Pike and Black Crappie. An assessment conducted in early spring was used to evaluate the effects of these regulations as well as to estimate the adult Muskellunge population size for Sugar Lake. Fifty-five Muskellunge were sampled using large frame trap nets during the spring and marked with a pelvic fin clip and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag. The Muskellunge population was estimated to be 116 adults (30 inches or larger). This estimate (0.11/acre) was less than the previous estimates of 2016 (0.15/acre), 2012 (0.22/acre), and 2007 (0.26/acre) and well below the management goals for a low-density Muskellunge population (0.2 - 0.4/acre). The decreasing population trend of adult Muskellunge and lack of juvenile fish observed on Sugar Lake has also been observed in other lakes with mature populations even in cases where stocking rates have remained consistent. Muskellunge sampled during the spring assessment ranged in length from 34 to 54 inches with a mean length of 44 inches. For the fourth consecutive survey fish over 50 inches were sampled. Sugar Lake has been plagued by high Northern Pike abundance dating back to the 1970's. In an attempt to improve the size structure in Sugar Lake, a special 24- to 36-inch protected slot limit was implemented in 2007.The size of Northern Pike seems to be improving. The catch in 2023 was lower than 2016 although much of this decrease could be explained by the unusually late ice-out and rapid warmup observed in 2023. Results from the spring targeted survey were encouraging given the fact that 20% of the Northern Pike sampled were larger than 24 inches and 12% were larger than 30 inches in length. These values are higher than in each of the previous 14 ice-out assessments dating back to 1976 which is a significant indicator that the special pike regulation is having a positive impact on medium to large fish. Sugar Lake has a reputation of being a good crappie lake and can receive relatively high fishing pressure especially during late winter and early spring. Past angler surveys have indicated relatively high harvest pressure as well. The goal of the special crappie regulation was to redistribute the harvest over a longer period of time and to protect the existing size structure. Nearly 3,000 Black Crappie were sampled during the spring survey with fish up to 15 inches in length being sampled. After 16 years with the reduced bag limit on Black Crappie, it appears that the regulation is helping protect the size structure of the crappie population. The average size of Black Crappie has increased from 8.2 inches to 9.4 inches and the percentage of crappies larger than 10 inches has increased from 27% in 2007 to 50% in 2023. Two hundred and seven Walleye were sampled during the spring assessment and marked with a pelvic fin clip. Walleye sampled ranged in length from 12 - 31.5 inches with a mean length of 21 inches. The size structure of the Walleye population in Sugar Lake appears to have remained remarkably consistent over the last 25 years, consistently producing some of the largest Walleye sampled in the Sauk Rapids management area.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Muskellunge, Rock Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike in Sugar. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sugar has a maximum depth of 69 feet and a mean depth of 25.1 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sugar is from 2021.

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