Big Sugar Bush Lake
Becker County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 03030400
DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Big Sugar Bush Lake since 2016, most recently walleye yearlings in 2024 (5,590 fish).
- Big Sugar Bush Lake has 10 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2016-2024): walleye (10).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 40,020 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 42 ft; surface area 522 acres, 297 littoral acres, 14.3 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 15.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and 1 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Becker County, nearest town Richwood; DNR lake number (DOW) 03030400.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 7/10/1963 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Walleye | yearlings | 5,590 | 621.0 |
| 2024 | Walleye | fingerlings | 792 | 144.0 |
| 2024 | Walleye | adults | 152 | 38.0 |
| 2022 | Walleye | fingerlings | 10,134 | 654.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye6 | fingerlings | 590 | 59.0 |
| 2020 | Walleye | yearlings | 8,380 | 535.0 |
| 2018 | Walleye | fingerlings | 10,860 | 594.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | fingerlings | 1,275 | 80.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | adults | 183 | 90.0 |
| 2016 | Walleye | yearlings | 2,064 | 424.0 |
6 fish cooperatively purchased, raised, and/or stocked by White Earth Nation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| concrete ramp | county | EAST SHORE OF NE BAY IN SECTION 9. - Parking space available for about four rigs. |
DNR fish survey, 2022
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 57.67 | 519 | 0.15 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 3.22 | 29 | 0.50 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 2.44 | 22 | 0.50 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 1.78 | 16 | 0.20 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 1.67 | 15 | 0.57 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 1.33 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.67 | 6 | 0.64 |
| Brown bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.79 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 14.89 | 134 | 0.33 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 11.44 | 103 | 1.12 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 5.33 | 48 | 1.11 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 4.67 | 42 | 0.55 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 3.11 | 28 | 0.33 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 1.89 | 17 | 2.28 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 1.33 | 12 | 0.58 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 1.22 | 11 | 0.17 |
Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.
Big Sugar Bush is a 472-acre, scenic lake in north-central Becker County, within the boundary of the White Earth Indian Reservation. Water clarity is relatively high (average 17 feet), and a diverse fish community provides a variety of angling opportunities. A standard fisheries survey was completed in June 2022 to evaluate the current status of the fish populations in Big Sugar Bush Lake. Northern Pike abundance was higher than normal for Big Sugar Bush Lake. Pike were mostly small, averaging 17 inches long. Walleye abundance was low and similar to what was observed in the late 90's. Walleye ranged in size from 10 to 25 inches, with an average length of 18 inches. Black Crappie abundance was lower than the last survey conducted in 2017, but still higher than average for Big Sugar Bush Lake. Crappie had an average length of 10 inches and needed four years of growth to reach nine inches long. Bluegill abundance was the third highest ever recorded, the first time it has reached this level since 1992. Bluegill averaged eight inches long. Largemouth Bass that were captured during the survey had an average size of 13 inches, with the largest bass measuring 17 inches. Catch rates of Yellow Perch during fisheries surveys have never been high in Big Sugar Bush Lake and the 2022 survey was no exception. Perch ranged in size from 6 to 10 inches long. Other sampled fish species included Black, Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, and White Sucker.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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