Big Island Lake
Itasca County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be moderately active with peak fishing times around 7-8 AM and 3-5 PM. SEE MORE
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on Big Island Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About Big Island Lake, MN
- How big is Big Island Lake?
- How deep is Big Island Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in Big Island Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the Big Island Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on Big Island Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near Big Island Lake?
- What is the average air temp for Big Island Lake?
- Are there any state parks near Big Island Lake?
How big is Big Island Lake?
How deep is Big Island Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in Big Island Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include White Sucker.
Are there places to stay in the Big Island Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on Big Island Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near Big Island Lake?
Explore the Big Island 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 Big Island Lake was conducted on July 20-21, 2021, 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 or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing was completed at 10 sampling stations, but one station was sampled from the boat due to site conditions. Similarly, a 50-foot seine was used to sample two stations, a 15-foot seine was used at four stations, and site conditions prevented the use of seines at four stations. Nearshore sampling captured six species of fish including one species that is intolerant of disturbance (Blacknose Shiner) and no species that are tolerant of disturbance.
The nearshore data were combined with trap net and gill 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 (Blacknose Shiner), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (Black Bullhead). 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.
Results from this survey indicate that the fish community in Big Island Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Big Fork River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for Big Island Lake?
Are there any state parks near Big Island 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 Big Island Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| No Man's Lake | 0.8 mi | 57 | |
| Crooked Lake | 0.9 mi | 134 | 46 ft |
| Big Ole Lake | 0.9 mi | 217 | 65 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 1.2 mi | 17 | |
| Three Island Lake | 1.2 mi | 250 | 66 ft |
| Bluerock Lake | 1.4 mi | 12 | |
| Raft Lake | 1.4 mi | 158 | |
| Little Ole Lake | 1.4 mi | 44 | |
| Little McKewen Lake | 1.5 mi | 40 | |
| McKewen Lake | 1.5 mi | 26 | 31 ft |
