Minnesota · DNR survey data

Sawbill Lake

Sawbill Lake covers 834 acres in Cook County, running to 45 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2013. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
Walleye
Fair numbers
2.8per gill net
13"Typical
24"Biggest
7"24"

Lengths measured · 53 fish

Recent · 2013
6"10"15"20"25"27"

Lengths measured · 53 fish

2013
6"10"15"20"25"27"

Lengths measured · 36 fish

2003
6"10"15"20"25"27"

Lengths measured · 56 fish

1998
6"10"15"20"25"27"

Lengths measured · 28 fish

1993
6"10"15"20"25"27"
Smallmouth bass
Present
0.6per gill net
Typical
16"Biggest
Northern pike
Just a few
1.2per gill net
15"Typical
22"Biggest
14"22"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

Recent · 2013
10"15"20"25"

Lengths measured · 24 fish

2013
10"15"20"25"

Lengths measured · 1 fish

2003
10"15"20"25"

Only 1 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 6 fish

1998
10"15"20"25"

Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 13 fish

1993
10"15"20"25"
Yellow perch
Fair numbers
1.2per gill net
6"Typical
8"Biggest
5"8"

Lengths measured · 14 fish

Recent · 2013
5"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 14 fish

2013
5"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 4 fish

2003
5"6"8"10"

Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Lengths measured · 23 fish

1998
5"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 4 fish

1993
5"6"8"10"

Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Rock bass
Good numbers
1.7per gill net
7"Typical
8"Biggest
4"8"

Lengths measured · 25 fish

Recent · 2013
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 25 fish

2013
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 11 fish

2003
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 14 fish

1998
3"4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 3 fish

1993
3"4"6"8"9"

Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

Recent reports

Sawbill Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Sawbill 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.

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Cook County reports

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Sawbill Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for Sawbill Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in Sawbill Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2013) recorded walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, rock bass.

Does Sawbill Lake have a public access?

Yes. Sawbill Lake has one public access site: Sawbill Lake (carry-in).

Is Sawbill Lake stocked?

No stocking is on record for Sawbill Lake in the DNR's stocking database.

When was Sawbill Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Sawbill Lake in 2013, the most recent of 8 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .