Minnesota · Beltrami County
Big Lake Fishing guide
Big Lake covers 3,598 acres in Beltrami County, Minnesota, reaching 35 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 8.1 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 17 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.9per gill net17"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 122 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 56 fish
2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2024Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 64 fish
2022Lengths measured · 123 fish
2019Largemouth bassJust a few3.3per hr (electrofishing)10"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 36 fish
2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 41 fish
2019Northern pikeJust a few4.8per gill net19"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 167 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 79 fish
2025Lengths measured · 9 fish
2024Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 79 fish
2022Lengths measured · 86 fish
2019MuskellungeLast stocked 2025Present, stockedPresent and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Lengths measured · 57 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2023 + 2024Lengths measured · 1 fish
2024Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 16 fish
2024Lengths measured · 39 fish
2023Lengths measured · 1 fish
2022Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillJust a few14.2per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 455 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 277 fish
2025Lengths measured · 163 fish
2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2022Lengths measured · 219 fish
2019CrappieJust a few1.4per trap net9"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 106 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 58 fish
2025Lengths measured · 31 fish
2024Lengths measured · 17 fish
2022Lengths measured · 10 fish
2019Yellow perchGood numbers11.2per gill net6"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 356 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 203 fish
2025Lengths measured · 14 fish
2024Lengths measured · 139 fish
2022Lengths measured · 438 fish
2019Rock bassElite fishery5.3per seine haul7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 132 fish
Recent · 2022 + 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 86 fish
2025Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 36 fish
2022Lengths measured · 49 fish
2019Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Big Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Smallmouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22" | 17" | 17" |
| 2024 | 19" | 19" | — |
| 2022 | 23" | 14" | — |
| 2019 | 25" | 19" | — |
| 2015 | 24" | 19" | — |
| 2011 | 25" | 15" | — |
| 2007 | 28" | 14" | — |
| 2003 | 26" | 16" | — |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Ned Rig
2.75" finesse stickbait or craw-style Ned bait
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 70 fingerlings · 198 yearlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,033,000 fry |
| 2024 | Muskellunge | 1,050 fingerlings |
| 2024 | Walleye | 2,265,000 fry |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | 100 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,056,000 fry |
| 2022 | Muskellunge | 1,128 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,608,800 fry |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 1,104 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 2,136,000 fry |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 1,062 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 2,208,000 fry |
Stocking records before 2019 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Big Lake is a 3,596 acre lake with a maximum depth of 35 feet located 13 miles east of Bemidji in Beltrami County. The Big Lake boat launch is located on the east shore and can be accessed from Mission Road.
A total of 53 Walleye were captured in the 2025 survey, and they ranged in length from 10.5 inches to 22 inches with an average length of 18 inches. Walleye greater than 15 inches made up 90% of the catch. Big Lake is stocked annually with approximately 1 million Walleye fry.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike abundance remains low. The pike population did show some improvement in size structure since the 2022 survey, as 15% of the fish exceeded 24 inches in 2025 compared to 1% in 2022. Pike ranged in length from 11 to 31 inches.
The 2025 Bluegill catch rate of 17.5 fish per trap net was within the average range typically found in similar lakes. Bluegill captured ranged in length from 3 to 9 inches with an average size of 7 inches. Bluegill greater than 7 inches made up 49% of the sample. Black Crappie were present in good numbers. Crappie lengths ranged from 4 to 13 inches and 52% of the catch was over 10 inches.
Largemouth Bass captured during the survey ranged in length from 5 to 17 inches with an average length of 10 inches. Angler reports for Smallmouth Bass have been increasing in recent years. Only two Smallmouth were captured during the survey and the largest was 17.5 inches.
A total of 53 Tullibee (Cisco) were captured in gillnets and lengths ranged from 7 to 15 inches with an average size of just over 10 inches.
Other fish species captured during the survey include Brown Bullhead, Bowfin, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker and Yellow Bullhead.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Big Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Andrusia Lake · 1,596 ac · 3.6 mi
- Big Rice Lake · 643 ac · 3.9 mi
- Little Rice Lake · 123 ac · 4.2 mi
- Buck Lake · 360 ac · 4.3 mi
- Kitchi Lake · 1,865 ac · 4.9 mi
- South Twin Lake · 222 ac · 5.9 mi
- Pimushe Lake · 1,230 ac · 6 mi
- Cass Lake · 15,958 ac · 6.3 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big Lake?
Big Lake reaches 35 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 14.1 ft; about 59% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big Lake?
Big Lake covers 3,598 acres with about 16.6 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big Lake average 8.1 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Big Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2019.
Does Big Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big Lake has one public access site: Big Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Big Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2003.
When was Big Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big Lake in 2025, the most recent of 17 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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