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Name: Big Sandy Lake ~ Fishing Report information provided from the DNR.

Public Access Information

Ownership Type Description
Minnesota DNR Concrete THE STATE OWNED PUBLIC ACCESS IS ON THE SANDY RIVER NORTH OF THE "Pier 65" bridge (T49N R23W S19).
Corps of Engineers Concrete The U.S Corps of Engineers access is within the Big Sandy Campground on the northwest side, off Highway 65. A fee is charged.
Minnesota DNR Concrete A state access is located on the northeast side of the lake (T49N R23W S5).
Township Unknown Several smaller accesses are located around the lake and are managed by various municipalities.


Lake Characteristics

Lake Area (acres): 6,526.00
Littoral Area (acres): 3,085.00
Maximum Depth (ft): 84.00
Water Clarity (ft): N/A

Dominant Bottom Substrate: N/A
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: N/A
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth (ft): N/A


Did you know? Ongoing habitat improvement and maintenance work is conducted on trout streams that have publicly owned land or easements.

Fish Sampled up to the 2005 Survey Year

Species

Gear Used

 Number of fish per net

Average Fish Weight (lbs)

Normal Range (lbs)

Caught

Normal Range

Black Bullhead Trap net 1.3 0.3 - 2.1 1.25 0.4 - 0.8
Black Crappie Gill net 0.1 0.2 - 1.1 0.28 0.2 - 0.5
Trap net 4.3 0.3 - 1.7 0.46 0.3 - 0.6
Bluegill Trap net 4.5 3.7 - 42.9 0.36 0.1 - 0.2
Bowfin (Dogfish) Trap net 1.7 0.3 - 1.1 5.35 3.9 - 5.1
Brown Bullhead Gill net 0.1 0.3 - 1.6 1.56 0.7 - 1.2
Trap net 0.5 0.3 - 1.7 1.33 0.7 - 1.1
Hybrid Sunfish Trap net 0.2 N/A - N/A 0.45 N/A - N/A
Northern Pike Gill net 4.7 3.0 - 7.9 1.24 1.7 - 2.8
Trap net 1.0 N/A - N/A 0.94 N/A - N/A
Pumpkinseed Sunfish Trap net 1.0 1.6 - 6.9 0.30 0.1 - 0.3
Rock Bass Gill net 1.3 1.0 - 6.6 0.79 0.3 - 0.5
Trap net 1.5 0.7 - 3.3 0.61 0.2 - 0.5
Shorthead Redhorse Gill net 1.9 0.1 - 0.5 1.35 1.5 - 2.7
Trap net 0.3 0.1 - 0.8 1.36 1.5 - 4.0
Silver Redhorse Trap net 0.3 N/A - N/A ND N/A - N/A
Tullibee (Cisco) Gill net 9.9 0.5 - 5.2 1.44 0.4 - 1.0
Walleye Gill net 3.2 4.0 - 9.6 0.54 1.1 - 1.9
Trap net 0.2 0.3 - 0.9 0.41 1.0 - 2.2
White Sucker Gill net 2.0 1.0 - 3.5 1.48 1.5 - 2.3
Yellow Bullhead Gill net trace 0.6 - 6.4 1.64 0.6 - 0.9
Trap net 0.7 0.9 - 4.8 1.21 0.7 - 1.0
Yellow Perch Gill net 11.5 7.1 - 33.9 0.32 0.1 - 0.2
Trap net 2.3 0.7 - 3.7 0.27 0.1 - 0.2
Normal Ranges represent typical catches for lakes with similar physical and chemical characteristics.


Length of Selected Species Sampled for All Gear for the 2005 Survey Year

Species Number of fish caught in each category (inches)
0-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30+ Total
Black Bullhead 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0 19
Black Crappie 0 44 21 2 0 0 0 0 67
Bluegill 13 52 2 0 0 0 0 0 67
Brown Bullhead 0 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 10
Hybrid Sunfish 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Northern Pike 0 0 5 13 51 14 2 0 85
Pumpkinseed Sunfish 3 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
Rock Bass 3 14 26 0 0 0 0 0 43
Tullibee (Cisco) 0 27 18 28 75 0 0 0 148
Walleye 0 13 27 8 2 1 0 0 51
Yellow Bullhead 0 0 2 10 0 0 0 0 12
Yellow Perch 41 105 58 2 0 0 0 0 206


For the record, the largest Northern Hogsucker taken in Minnesota weighed 1 lb., 15 oz. and was caught by:

    Who: Brian Humble, Brooklyn Park, MN
    Where: Sunrise River near Sunrise, Chisago County
    When: 8/16/82.
    Statistics: 14.25" length, 7.1" girth

Fish Consumption Guidelines

These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelines enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish.

Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15

LAKE NAME
County, DOWID		 Species Meal Advice Contaminants
Unrestricted 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Do not eat
BIG SANDY
Aitkin Co., 01006200		 Crappie All sizes Mercury
Northern Pike All sizes Mercury
Walleye All sizes Mercury

General Population

LAKE NAME
County, DOWID		 Species Meal Advice Contaminants
Unrestricted 1 meal/week 1 meal/month Do not eat
BIG SANDY
Aitkin Co., 01006200		 Crappie All sizes
Northern Pike All sizes Mercury
Walleye All sizes Mercury

DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number.

Contaminants listed were measured at levels high enough to warrant a recommendation to limit consumption.

Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted.

Dioxin
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate


Status of the Fishery (as of 07/11/2005)

Big Sandy Lake is located in northeastern Aitkin County approximately 9 miles north of McGregor. The lake is characterized as a large fertile walleye lake comprised of several habitat types. These include the open, windswept main basin, the deep cool eastern basin, Bill Horn Bay, the shallower and more isolated south basin, Webster Bay, and shallow bays containing dense rice beds on the south, east and northeast sides of the lake. The lake is currently managed for walleye, northern pike and black crappie. Walleyes are the most popular target for anglers, particularly in the main basin. The walleye in Big Sandy grow slowly and tend to be smaller on average than lakes with a faster growth rate. Past management has included a long history of various stocking strategies for walleye dating back to 1917. No measurable changes in the walleye abundance were detected due to stocking, therefore stocking was discontinued in 1995. Furthermore, the strongest year class of walleyes ever produced was in 1994, which was a year when stocking did not occur. The mean length for walleyes caught in the survey gill nets was only 10.8 inches long and only six percent measured 18 inches or longer. The size distribution was similar to what was found in previous surveys and gillnet catch rates were virtually identical to what was observed in 2001 at 3.2 fish per net. Survey data indicates that current catch rates are lower than what was documented through the 1990's when gill net catch rates ranged between 5.2 and 9.4 fish per net. Five different age classes were represented in this survey with the 2002 and 2003 year classes being the strongest. These fish will recruit to the sport fishery in the next couple of years. The walleye population will continue to be monitored at regular intervals in the future. Northern pike are also an important game fish in Big Sandy Lake. The gillnet catch rate for northern pike is about average for this type of lake at 4.6 per net and has ranged between 4.0 and 5.9 per net since 1975. The northern pike were also small, averaging just 17.8 inches, but ranging up to 26 inches in the survey gill nets. Despite the presence of a desirable yellow perch and tulibee population northern pike are small and seem to grow slow. Habitat segregation may explain some of this incongruity for example; yellow perch were mostly captured in the main basin, whereas northern pike were captured more often in the shallower, more vegetated areas of the lake. Angler harvest may also be a factor contributing to the lack of large pike. The abundance of yellow perch was about average for this type of lake and has fluctuated over time. The average size of perch was 8.0 inches and 30% were 9 inches or longer with some individuals reaching nearly 13.0 inches. The black crappie catch was up slightly from historical numbers and ranged in size from 7 to12 inches in length and averaged about 9 inches. The 2002 year class of crappies is strong and now are about 8 inches long. Bluegill numbers also showed an increase in 2005 with a strong 1999 year class and reasonable recruitment from the 2000, 2001 and 2002 year classes. Although not particularly numerous the average size was good with a mean of 7.2 inches and 33% of the sample over 8 inches in length. The tulibee population experienced summer kill in the mid 1980's but has since rebounded to normal levels. Tulibee were caught at a rate of 9.8 per net in 2005 with an average size of 13.8 inches with some fish reaching nearly 20 inches. Tulibee are a cold-water fish and provide quality forage for walleye and northern pike. They have a low tolerance for warm water and are therefore are usually limited to the confines of Bill Horn Bay during the summer months. Anglers are encouraged to release large northern pike and walleye and also to protect habitat by practicing responsible shoreline management techniques.