Sand Lake

How big is Sand Lake?

How deep is Sand Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Sand Lake?

What are the closest cities to Sand Lake?

Are there boat launches on Sand Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Sand Lake?

What are the fishing regulations for Sand Lake?

There are specific fishing regulations Sand Lake that you need to know. For complete fishing regulations visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. To report a violation call (800) 652-9093. Need a Minnesota fishing license?

Sand (Stump) Lake is 200 acre lake located just south of U.S. 10 on the Becker-Clay county line. The lake is composed of seven smaller, almost separate basins. Sand lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet, but is subject to extreme water level fluctuations of up to 10 feet in a single year. These drastic water fluctuations make the lake prone to winterkill in years with long winters and deep snow. The most recent severe winterkill occurred during the winter of 1993-1994. Trap net catches after this winterkill (April 1994) consisted of only one Northern Pike, one Yellow Perch, and 36 bullheads. To reestablish gamefish populations, Walleye fry, and adult Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Yellow Perch were reintroduced in 1994. Adult Northern Pike were stocked in 1996. Gill and trap net catches in the 1998 survey showed the fish community was recovering from the 1994 winterkill. Oxygen tests conducted between 2011-2014 have not detected levels low enough to cause winterkill.

Sand Lake is primarily managed for sunfish species (Bluegill, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass), and secondarily for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Walleye.

Mean Bluegill trap net catch in 2015 was 31.4 per net, which is both the highest on record for Sand Lake and above average for similar lakes in the state. Average length of trap netted Bluegills was 6.6 inches, and lengths ranged from 3.9-9.2 inches. Three-year-old Bluegill were most numerous, comprising 71% of the 2015 trap net catch. Mean length of four-year-old Bluegills was 7.9 inches, which is above average for Sand Lake. Bluegills captured in 2015 ranged from 1-6 years old.

Trap net catch rate for Black Crappie averaged 3.8 per net in 2015, which is above average for similar lakes around the state and the highest ever recorded in Sand Lake. The 2012 year class made up 34% of the 2015 Black Crappie trap net catch. Average Black Crappie length was 9.4 inches, and lengths ranged from 4.0 to12.7 inches. Black Crappies captured in trap nets ranged from 1-7 years old.

In 2015, eleven Largemouth Bass were captured in trap nets for an average of 1.4 per net. This catch rate is above both the Sand Lake average and that of similar lakes around the state. Average length of trap netted Largemouth Bass was 10.8 inches, and lengths ranged from 4.8 to 17.8 inches. Mean weight of Largemouth Bass caught in trap nets was 1.2 pounds, and Largemouth Bass captured in all gears ranged from 1-8 years old.

The catch rate of Northern Pike in 2015 was 6.5 per gill net, which is above average for similar lakes around the state and nearly twice the average for Sand Lake. Northern Pike exhibit good growth rates with an average four-year-old fish attaining a length of 26.8 inches. Northern Pike lengths ranged from 19.8 to32.3 inches, with a mean length of 24.7 inches. Northern Pike caught in all gears ranged from 2-5 years old with just over half (53%) being two years old.

Although Walleye spawning has occurred during high water level years, the Walleye fishery in Sand Lake is maintained primarily through annual fry stocking. Walleye catch rates were 9.5 per gill net in 2015, which is the highest observed since the original survey in 1964. Walleye ranged in age from 1-12 years old, but most were between 2-4 years old. Gill netted walleye ranged in length from 8.7-28.0 inches and averaged 17.4 inches long. Walleyes exhibited good growth rates in Sand Lake, with a typical four-year-old fish reaching a length of 18.3 inches.
The 2015 Yellow Perch catch rate was the second highest recorded at 65.7 per gill net, and well above the Sand Lake average (40.8 per gill net). Yellow Perch caught in gill nets averaged 7.2 inches long and ranged in size from 3.2-9.0 inches.

Three other fish species captured in the 2015 survey included White Sucker, and Yellow Bullhead, and Brown Bullhead.

With continuing shoreline and watershed development, this diverse, productive, and valuable fishery will need help on several fronts to be sustained. Anglers can help to maintain balance in fish populations by voluntarily releasing a portion of medium and large fish and keeping smaller ones for eating. This is particularly true for Northern Pike and Bluegill. Shoreline owners and other watershed dwellers can help to maintain or improve water quality and fish habitat by leaving shoreline buffer zones, by leaving stands of native aquatic vegetation intact, by taking precautions to prevent invasive species introductions, and by using wise land management practices.

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Are there any state parks near Sand Lake?