4 miles south of Avon
Stearns County, Minnesota · 45.5526° N, 94.4513° W
Directions to Big Watab Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access site.
Updated 15 Oct 2026, 5:34 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Big Watab Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 28 stockings of Big Watab Lake in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 2,000 brown trout yearlings. Species stocked: brown trout, rainbow trout, walleye.
Latest: 2025: 11,500 rainbow trout yearlings.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Big Watab Lake was in July 2023: 6 gill nets and 9 trap nets caught 13 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in June 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Northern pike per gill net, standard surveys: 1988 4.4 · 1999 4.2 · 2008 7.0 · 2016 7.7 · 2023 7.0
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1993 18 · 1999 33 · 2008 68 · 2016 15 · 2023 8.3
Northern pike: 43 measured, 10 to 34 in, half 14 in or longer; average 1.7 lb, normal (normal 1.5–3.2 lb).
Largemouth bass: 115 measured, 6 to 16 in, half 9 in or longer; average 0.49 lb, below normal (normal 0.5–1.2 lb).
Black crappie: 25 measured, 4 to 10 in, half 8 in or longer; average 0.32 lb, normal (normal 0.2–0.5 lb).
Bluegill: 275 measured, 3 to 9 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.15 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Yellow perch: 8 measured, 6 to 10 in, half 6 in or longer; average 0.28 lb, above normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, brown bullhead, brown trout, hybrid sunfish, rainbow trout, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 17 Jul 2023, 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 16 ft: the Secchi depth across 3 readings, 2008–2023.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Big Watab Lake is 123 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 246 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Big Watab Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 28 stockings of it in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 2,000 brown trout yearlings.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2023 standard survey caught 13 species, most often bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike and black crappie.
About 85% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.