Sandy Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Sandy Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Sandy Lake, MN
- How big is Sandy Lake?
- How deep is Sandy Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Sandy Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Sandy Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Sandy Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Sandy Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Sandy Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Sandy Lake?
How big is Sandy Lake?
How deep is Sandy Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Sandy Lake?
Are there places to stay in the Sandy Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Sandy Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Sandy Lake?
Explore the Sandy Lake area in a RV
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2025 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf - Family Friendly & Adventure Ready!
Bemidji, MN
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Sandy Lake was conducted on September 5-6, 2023 by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program Staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at all ten sampling stations. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample eight stations and site conditions prevented the use of seines at two stations. Nearshore sampling captured 11 species of fish including four species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass) and one species that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data was combined with gill net and trap net data from a July 2020 survey to describe the fish community and provide a Fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Data from this survey indicates Sandy Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score, well above the impairment threshold and the exceptional threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous survey findings, which indicated that Sandy Lake is an exceptional lake. Data from this survey will contribute biological information about the health of the fish community to the Upper/Lower Red Lake River Watershed assessment process in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Sandy Lake?
Are there any state parks near Sandy Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around Sandy Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Perch Lake | 0.9 mi | 62 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.2 mi | 15 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.2 mi | 10 | |
| Whitefish Lake | 2.3 mi | 125 | 30 ft |
| Braas Lake | 2.3 mi | 35 | |
| Stray Horse Lake | 3.0 mi | 52 | |
| Unnamed Lake | 3.6 mi | 10 | |
| Fawn Lake | 3.6 mi | 40 | |
| Myrtle Lake | 3.7 mi | 118 | 50 ft |
