Sand Lake (Lake County)
Lake County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38073500
DNR records show 1 stocking entry at Sand Lake (Lake County) since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2016 (500,000 fish).
- Sand Lake (Lake County) has 1 DNR stocking record across 1 year (2016-2016): walleye (1).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 500,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 11 ft; surface area 486 acres, 486 littoral acres, 8.1 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 4.1 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: bluegill, burbot, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
- 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Lake County, nearest town Isabella; DNR lake number (DOW) 38073500.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 1/1/1942 (topo map/drg); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Walleye | fry | 500,000 | 5.0 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| CA | USF | At campground on east side of the lake. - Short carry down at the Sand Lake Rustic Campground. Parking and turning space is limited. |
| earthen ramp | USF | From 5.9 miles south of State Hwy1 on Lake Co. Rd 2. Go 0.4 mile west on USFS Road #941to Sand Lake. - Small access at the end of Forest Service 941 suitable for light boats. There is minimal parking and space to turn around, so a trailer may need to be disconnected and moved by hand. |
DNR fish survey, 2022
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 147.50 | 295 | 0.00 |
| Yellow perch | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 1.50 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Pumpkinseed | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 1.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| White sucker | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 1.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Blacknose shiner | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 1.00 | 2 | 0.00 |
| Golden shiner | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 0.50 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Iowa darter | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 0.50 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Burbot | Trapnet - Mini Fyke | 0.50 | 1 | 0.04 |
| Bluegill | 1/4-in trap nets | 56.33 | 169 | 0.02 |
| Yellow perch | 1/4-in trap nets | 12.33 | 37 | 0.00 |
| Pumpkinseed | 1/4-in trap nets | 10.67 | 32 | 0.00 |
| Spottail shiner | 1/4-in trap nets | 5.00 | 15 | 0.00 |
| Common shiner | 1/4-in trap nets | 2.33 | 7 | 0.00 |
| Walleye | 1/4-in trap nets | 1.67 | 5 | 0.54 |
| Blacknose shiner | 1/4-in trap nets | 1.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Golden shiner | 1/4-in trap nets | 1.00 | 3 | 0.00 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 14.44 | 130 | 0.65 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 7.44 | 67 | 1.33 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 6.22 | 56 | 0.24 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 3.44 | 31 | 1.60 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.17 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.34 |
| Golden shiner | Standard gill nets | 0.11 | 1 | 0.08 |
| Rock bass | Standard gill nets | 0.11 | 1 | 0.19 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 3.33 | 30 | 0.21 |
| Yellow perch | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 9 | 0.17 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.89 | 8 | 2.10 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 0.44 | 4 | 0.16 |
| Rock bass | Standard trap nets | 0.22 | 2 | 0.25 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.22 | 2 | 1.46 |
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.
Sand Lake is located about fifteen miles west of Isabella on the west side of Lake Co Hwy 2 and is 486 acres in size with a maximum depth of 11 feet. The primary access is a carry in at the Sand Lake rustic campground maintained by the Forest Service. A second access is located at the end of Forest Service 941, a 0.4 mile spur that originates on Hwy 2. A small boat and trailer can be turned around by hand to launch, but space for parking is limited. This trail is narrow, rough, and a four-wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended. Walleye have been the primary management species in Sand Lake since the first Lake Management Plan in 1987. The lake was stocked with Walleye fry for many years. In 2016 the decision was made to end stocking due to consistent strong year classes produced in non-stocked years. In 2000, adult Bluegill of various sizes were stocked in the lake and have since established a self-sustaining population with excellent size structure. The lake currently has a special regulation of a reduced bag limit on Bluegill of 5 daily and 20 in possession to help preserve this quality fishery. The 2022 Walleye gill net catch of 14.44/lift was higher than average compared to similar lakes and was the highest catch on Sand Lake since 1961. The average weight was 0.65 pounds, which is below the normal range compared to similar lakes. The average length was 11.9 inches with the largest fish sampled measuring 25.6 inches long. Analysis determined over 85% of Walleye were from non-stocked years with several strong year classes produced since stocking was discontinued. Survey results suggest that Walleye 12-15 inches long currently provide good opportunities for anglers. With the highest catch in 60 years and most of the fish naturally reproduced it is apparent that the decision to end Walleye stocking was a sound one at this time. The Bluegill trap net catch of 3.33/lift with an average weight of 0.21 pounds was within the normal range compared to other similar lakes. Growth was also average for the area. While there are some very nice Bluegill present, most anglers report catching an occasional keeper while fishing for Walleyes and Perch. The Northern Pike gill net catch of 3.44/lift with an average weight of 1.60 pounds was within the normal range of other similar lakes. Average length was 19 inches long. The largest fish sampled was 33 inches long with just 10% of the catch at least 24 inches. Survey results suggest than most of the Northern Pike are small, but there is a reasonable chance at catching a memorable sized fish. The…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
All Minnesota stockings · every Minnesota lake with a page · state CSV · this lake on DNR LakeFinder
Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02; contours are the DNR bathymetric survey. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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