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?

Sand Lake is located in north central Stearns County, three miles southwest of Albany. It has a surface area of 202 acres and a maximum depth of about 15 feet. A public access is located along the west shore. Due to the shallowness of the lake and poor water quality, the lake periodically experiences partial winterkill. This occurred most recently during 2011. A population assessment was conducted in 2012 to assess fish populations, and included spring electrofishing and summer trap netting. Catch rates were compared to lakes with similar characteristics as a way to evaluate the fish populations.

Sand Lake is managed for walleye and crappie, and these species can grow quickly following winterkill events. Walleye were stocked as fry in 2005, and survival was moderate (21.5 fingerlings/hour), based on night electrofishing in the fall of 2005. Gillnets, which sample walleye most effectively, were not used in the 2012 survey and only one 20 inch walleye was sampled by trap nets. Anglers have reported some success for walleyes in Sand Lake, but a more thorough assessment that includes gillnets would be necessary to accurately measure walleye abundance. The population of black crappie appeared to be very good both in terms of numbers and average size. Black crappies were sampled at a rate of 318/trap net, which is over 15 times greater than the range typically found in lakes similar to Sand. Most of the crappies were about 7.5 inches in length, but 13 percent of the crappies sampled were greater than nine inches. Without additional winterkill, these crappie should provide a good fishery for the next few years.

Only three largemouth bass were captured in a half hour of electrofishing. The water clarity was very poor at the time of sampling and likely affected the catch. The bass ranged in size between 15 and 17 inches in length. Smallmouth bass have also been sampled in previous surveys.

The catch rate of bluegill was within the range of expected values for similar lakes. Most bluegill were between 5-7 inches in length.

Only one northern pike (25 inches) and one yellow perch (8.5 inches) were sampled in trap nets.

Other species sampled during the survey included bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, and golden shiner. Large numbers of common carp were observed during the spring electrofishing and most were between 14 and 16 inches in length.

Despite the fact that the watershed of Sand Lake is quite small, water quality is poor. Nutrients entering the lake from run-off, as well as those re-suspended from the lake bottom, create nuisance algal blooms. The reduced water clarity also limits growth of submersed aquatic plants, which provide important fish habitat. Much of the shore is lined with cattails and bulrush, which offers habitat for fish and wildlife, and also provides protection from shoreline erosion.

What is the average air temp for Sand Lake?

Are there any state parks near Sand Lake?