Minnesota · Crow Wing County
White Sand Lake Fishing guide
White Sand Lake is a 415-acre lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, reaching 27 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 10.8 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Good numbers4.4per gill net18"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 47 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 47 fish
2025Lengths measured · 21 fish
2019Lengths measured · 12 fish
2013Lengths measured · 22 fish
2008Largemouth bassOne of the best around122per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 223 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 223 fish
2025Lengths measured · 168 fish
2019Lengths measured · 99 fish
2013Lengths measured · 18 fish
2008Northern pikeFair numbers8.2per gill net17"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 82 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 82 fish
2025Lengths measured · 67 fish
2019Lengths measured · 113 fish
2013Lengths measured · 81 fish
2008BluegillJust a few15.7per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 196 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 196 fish
2025Lengths measured · 142 fish
2019Lengths measured · 350 fish
2013Lengths measured · 135 fish
2008CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 39 fish
Recent · 2025Lengths measured · 39 fish
2025Lengths measured · 44 fish
2019Lengths measured · 98 fish
2013Lengths measured · 55 fish
2008Rates 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 White Sand 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 10.8 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. With 62% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 10.8 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. With 62% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- 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 | Largemouth bass | Walleye | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19" | 25" | 34" |
| 2019 | 19" | 23" | 35" |
| 2013 | 19" | 22" | 36" |
| 2008 | 18" | 26" | 33" |
| 2005 | 20" | 25" | 35" |
| 2000 | 18" | 22" | 30" |
| 1995 | 16" | 23" | 33" |
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
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
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 | Walleye | 36 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 50 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 45 fingerlings · 1,118 yearlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 72 fingerlings · 286 adults |
| 2019 | Walleye | 220 fingerlings · 1,108 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 228 yearlings · 13 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 296 fingerlings · 24 yearlings · 215 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
White Sand is a 415 acre lake in the city of Baxter in Crow Wing County. Largemouth Bass is the primary management species and is monitored through spring electrofishing. Northern Pike and Walleye are secondary management species and larger Walleyes are stocked when available to create a "bonus" fishery. A standard survey using gill nets, trap nets, and spring electrofishing was conducted in August 2025 to assess fish populations and provide angler information.
The Largemouth Bass population remained healthy with 116 fish per hour while electrofishing. With 63 percent of the fish over 14 inches and fish up to 19.4 inches present, White Sand looks like a good place to catch some quality Bass.
Read the full DNR narrative
A couple of recent Walleye stockings seem to have done well on White Sand, with 92% of the fish being either age 3 or age 7 (stocked years). These ages average 14.8 and 20.0 inches, offering good opportunities for anglers to catch "eaters" as well as nicer fish right now. The net catch (4.4 per net) was high for this lake and fish ranged from 13.7 to 25.0 inches, with an average size of 17.8 inches.
The Northern Pike numbers (8.2 per net) were average. Although fish up to 34.5 inches were captured, 89 percent of the fish were under 22 inches. The silver lining is that none of the fish were in the 22 to 26 inch protected slot, so if you catch a fish, you likely could keep it if you desire to harvest Pike.
Black Crappie numbers looked better in gill nets (3.6 per net) than trap nets (0.8 per net). Size looked promising, with 49 percent of the fish over 9 inches and fish measuring up to 12.2 inches.
Bluegill numbers were average at 15.7 per net. While anglers can expect a good chance to catch fish, they may have a harder time sorting through fish to get a meal. While 39 percent were over 7 inches, only 1 percent were over 8 inches. Bluegill maxed out at 8.9 inches.
Other fish species sampled in the latest survey include Black Bullhead, Bowfin (Dogfish), Brown Bullhead, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
White Sand Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on White 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
- White Sand Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
White Sand Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Whipple Lake · 301 ac · 1.1 mi
- Perch Lake · 266 ac · 1.3 mi
- Red Sand Lake · 521 ac · 1.5 mi
- Dade Lake · 99 ac · 4.2 mi
- Hardy Lake · 105 ac · 4.2 mi
- Gilbert Lake · 357 ac · 5.1 mi
- Sylvan Lake · 322 ac · 5.4 mi
- Sylvan Lake · 894 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is White Sand Lake?
White Sand Lake reaches 27 ft at its deepest point; about 62% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is White Sand Lake?
White Sand Lake covers 415 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in White Sand Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on White Sand Lake average 10.8 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in White Sand Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is White Sand Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does White Sand Lake have a public access?
Yes. White Sand Lake has one public access site: White Sand Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in White Sand Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 19"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1995.
When was White Sand Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed White Sand Lake in 2025, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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