6 miles northwest of Nevis
Hubbard County, Minnesota · 47.0013° N, 94.9658° W
Directions to Big Sand Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access site.
Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:01 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Big Sand Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Big Sand Lake was in July 2020: 15 gill nets and 15 trap nets caught 13 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in July 2023; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1998 4.7 · 2004 16 · 2006 12 · 2011 9.3 · 2020 12
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1998 1.5 · 2004 8.3 · 2006 16 · 2011 33 · 2020 7.7
Walleye: 198 measured, 6 to 26 in, half 14 in or longer; average 1.3 lb, normal (normal 1.1–1.9 lb).
Northern pike: 52 measured, 12 to 34 in, half 21 in or longer; average 2.9 lb, above normal (normal 1.7–2.8 lb).
Largemouth bass: 22 measured, 4 to 15 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.72 lb, normal (normal 0.6–1 lb).
Smallmouth bass: 28 measured, 5 to 18 in, half 13 in or longer; average 1.6 lb, normal (normal 0.9–1.8 lb).
Bluegill: 132 measured, 3 to 8 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.12 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black crappie, hybrid sunfish, tullibee (cisco), white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 20 Jul 2020, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 21 ft: the Secchi depth across 4 readings, 2011–2023.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Big Sand Lake is 135 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 1,639 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Big Sand Lake Public Water Access Site.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2020 standard survey caught 13 species, most often rock bass, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch.
About 78% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.