4 miles south of Marine on St. Croix
Washington County, Minnesota · 45.1351° N, 92.8085° W
Directions to Big Carnelian Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access site.
Updated 15 Oct 2026, 5:38 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Big Carnelian Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of Big Carnelian Lake in 5 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 33,000 walleye fry. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 33,000 walleye fry.
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 Carnelian Lake was in August 2025: 8 gill nets and 9 trap nets caught 11 species.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1998 1.6 · 2003 1.1 · 2009 1.4 · 2015 0.2 · 2025 1.2
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1998 14 · 2003 23 · 2009 20 · 2015 6.7 · 2025 5.3
Walleye: 10 measured, 0 to 23 in, half 21 in or longer; average 3 lb, above normal (normal 1.2–2.7 lb).
Northern pike: 52 measured, 11 to 32 in, half 18 in or longer; average 1.2 lb, below normal (normal 2–3.5 lb).
Largemouth bass: 20 measured, 5 to 17 in, half 10 in or longer; average 0.53 lb, normal (normal 0.4–1 lb).
Black crappie: 12 measured, 4 to 10 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.22 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Bluegill: 98 measured, 3 to 9 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.08 lb, below normal (normal 0.1–0.3 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, hybrid sunfish, white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 4 Aug 2025, 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 18 ft: the Secchi depth across 2 readings, 2009–2025.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Big Carnelian Lake is 66 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 457 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Big Carnelian Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 5 stockings of it in 5 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 33,000 walleye fry.
Minnesota DNR’s August 2025 standard survey caught 11 species, most often bluegill, northern pike, hybrid sunfish and pumpkinseed.
About 79% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.