Minnesota · Stearns County
Big Watab Lake Fishing guide
Big Watab Lake sits in Stearns County, Minnesota, and covers 246 acres, reaching 123 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 16 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 10 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassGood numbers57.2per hr (electrofishing)9"Typical16"Biggest
Lengths measured · 121 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 115 fish
2023Lengths measured · 258 fish
2016Lengths measured · 104 fish
2008Northern pikeFair numbers7per gill net14"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 45 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 2 fish
2025Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 43 fish
2023Lengths measured · 57 fish
2016Lengths measured · 52 fish
2008BluegillJust a few22.3per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 601 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 326 fish
2025Lengths measured · 275 fish
2023Lengths measured · 371 fish
2016Lengths measured · 976 fish
2008CrappieJust a few0.4per trap net8"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 31 fish
Recent · 2023 + 2025Lengths measured · 6 fish
2025Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 25 fish
2023Lengths measured · 4 fish
2016Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 14 fish
2008Present and managed by the DNR.
Present and managed by the DNR.
Rates 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 Watab Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. At 16 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 123 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 16 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. On a lake that drops to 123 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Rainbow trout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11" | 15" | — |
| 2023 | 16" | 34" | 14" |
| 2016 | 19" | 36" | 17" |
| 2008 | 16" | 37" | 14" |
| 1999 | 17" | 36" | 15" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Rainbow trout · Trolling
Trout Trolling (spoons/cowbells)
2–3in trolling spoon behind a small cowbell/dodger string
Rainbow trout · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
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 | Brown Trout | 2,000 yearlings |
| 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 11,500 yearlings |
| 2024 | Brown Trout | 2,000 adults |
| 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 250 fingerlings · 10,000 yearlings |
| 2023 | Brown Trout | 2,000 yearlings · 75 adults |
| 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 240 fingerlings · 10,000 yearlings · 50 adults |
| 2022 | Brown Trout | 2,000 yearlings · 75 adults |
| 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 yearlings |
| 2021 | Brown Trout | 2,000 yearlings |
| 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 yearlings |
| 2020 | Brown Trout | 2,400 adults |
| 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 10,000 yearlings |
Stocking records before 2020 omitted.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
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.
Read the full DNR narrative
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.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Big Watab Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Big Watab 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 Watab Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Big Watab Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Kalla Lake · 106 ac · 1.6 mi
- Little Watab Lake · 57 ac · 1.8 mi
- Kreigle Lake · 102 ac · 2.3 mi
- Long Lake · 153 ac · 2.3 mi
- Minnie Lake · 27 ac · 2.4 mi
- Big Fish Lake · 557 ac · 2.4 mi
- Island Lake · 116 ac · 2.5 mi
- Pitts Lake · 114 ac · 2.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Big Watab Lake?
Big Watab Lake reaches 123 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 43.5 ft; about 19% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Big Watab Lake?
Big Watab Lake covers 246 acres with about 4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Big Watab Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Big Watab Lake average 16 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Big Watab Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout, brown trout, rock bass.
Is Big Watab Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked brown trout and rainbow trout in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2020.
Does Big Watab Lake have a public access?
Yes. Big Watab Lake has one public access site: Big Watab Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Big Watab Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 16"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1999.
When was Big Watab Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Big Watab Lake in 2025, the most recent of 10 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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