Minnesota · Hubbard County
Little Sand Lake Fishing guide
Little Sand Lake sits in Hubbard County, Minnesota, and covers 410 acres, reaching 80 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 17.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 12 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassPresent1.1per gill net12"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 16 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 16 fish
2022Lengths measured · 11 fish
2017Lengths measured · 13 fish
2012Lengths measured · 11 fish
2007Northern pikeOne of the best around19.8per gill net19"Typical31"Biggest
Lengths measured · 181 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 181 fish
2022Lengths measured · 128 fish
2017Lengths measured · 98 fish
2012Lengths measured · 108 fish
2007Last recorded in the 1982 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few7per trap net7"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 71 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 71 fish
2022Lengths measured · 151 fish
2017Lengths measured · 114 fish
2012Lengths measured · 294 fish
2007CrappieJust a few0.6per trap net6"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 12 fish
2022Lengths measured · 4 fish
2017Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 9 fish
2012Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 17 fish
2007Yellow perchFair numbers3.1per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2022Lengths measured · 76 fish
2017Lengths measured · 38 fish
2012Lengths measured · 58 fish
2007Rock bassElite fishery4.6per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 65 fish
2022Lengths measured · 46 fish
2017Lengths measured · 48 fish
2012Lengths measured · 92 fish
2007Rates 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 Little Sand Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 17.9 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 80 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.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 17.9 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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. On a lake that drops to 80 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31" | 28" | 17" |
| 2017 | 39" | 23" | 15" |
| 2012 | 31" | 23" | 15" |
| 2007 | 31" | 25" | 7" |
| 2002 | 29" | 26" | 13" |
| 1997 | 36" | 22" | 7" |
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:
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
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | 75,690 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 75,690 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 9,208 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 7,680 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Little Sand Lake is located two miles north of Dorset in south central Hubbard County. Little Sand has a surface area of 409 acres and a maximum depth of 80 feet. A DNR owned public access is located on the east shore of the lake off. Access is also available by small craft from Ida Lake. Little Sand provides angling opportunities for Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and panfish.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different types based on physical, chemical, and other characteristics. Little Sand is in class 25. Class 25 lakes are generally deep, very clear, have hard water, and are irregularly shaped. Other class 25 lakes in the Park Rapids management include: Bad Axe, Belle Taine, Big Mantrap, Dead (Upper Ojibway), Eagle, Island, Little Mantrap, Spider, Straight, Third Crow Wing, Two Inlets, and West Crooked.
Read the full DNR narrative
Northern Pike abundance was the highest ever recorded in Little Sand. Anglers will find most northern from 16 - 22 inches in length, a great opportunity to take advantage of the current Northern Pike Regulation. There were also three Silver Pike sampled, which are Northern Pike without the normal green and white spotted coloration. Northern Pike sampled had an average length of 19.8 inches and weighed 1.8 pounds.
Largemouth Bass were sampled in good numbers again in 2022, with fish averaging 11.2 inches. The longest Largemouth Bass sampled was 17.1 inches in length. Smallmouth Bass have been sampled in the past, and one small fish was again sampled in 2022.
Little Sand supports a Black Crappie population and angling for them is popular year around. Only a few crappies were sampled in this survey, with the largest at 13 inches. Little Sand also provides good fishing for Bluegill and Pumpkinseed; with some nicer fish ranging from 7.0-8.5 inches.
Currently, no Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been identified in Little Sand Lake. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants or animals from their watercraft and drain all water from their boat before leaving the access.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Little Sand Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Little Sand 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
- Little Sand Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Little Sand Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Gilmore Lake · 93 ac · 1 mi
- Ida Lake · 75 ac · 1.2 mi
- Loon Lake · 82 ac · 1.3 mi
- Boulder Lake · 341 ac · 1.6 mi
- Big Sand Lake · 1,639 ac · 1.6 mi
- Round Lake · 45 ac · 1.6 mi
- Emma Lake · 78 ac · 2 mi
- Ojibway Lake · 184 ac · 2.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Little Sand Lake?
Little Sand Lake reaches 80 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 22 ft; about 36% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Little Sand Lake?
Little Sand Lake covers 410 acres with about 6.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Little Sand Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Little Sand Lake average 17.9 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Little Sand Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Little Sand Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Little Sand Lake have a public access?
Yes. Little Sand Lake has one public access site: Little Sand Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Little Sand Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 31"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Little Sand Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Little Sand Lake in 2022, the most recent of 12 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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