Big Island

Itasca County, Minnesota — DOW #31067100

71 Surveys

243.82

Acres

42 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Big Island. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	11.0 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	2.33 lb	66
2005-07-18	Standard trap nets	0.6	—	0.85 lb	5
1984-07-02	Standard gill nets	11.0 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	1.78 lb	55
1984-07-02	Standard trap nets	0.3	—	0.80 lb	1
1979-07-23	Standard gill nets	9.0 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	2.08 lb	45
1979-07-23	Standard trap nets	1.0	—	1.41 lb	8
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	6.8 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	2.36 lb	41
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	0.4	—	2.13 lb	4
1974-06-24	Standard gill nets	6.5 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	3.08 lb	13
1974-06-24	Standard trap nets	1.0	—	2.56 lb	4
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	9.2 (normal)	3.6 – 11.0	2.27 lb	46
1990-07-22	Standard trap nets	0.8	—	1.43 lb	3

Black Crappie

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	2.7 (normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.35 lb	16
2005-07-18	Standard trap nets	2.2 (normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.44 lb	20
1984-07-02	Standard gill nets	0.6 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.30 lb	3
1984-07-02	Standard trap nets	4.0 (normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.33 lb	16
1979-07-23	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.20 lb	1
1979-07-23	Standard trap nets	3.4 (normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.32 lb	27
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	1.7 (normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.21 lb	10
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	2.8 (normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.26 lb	25
1974-06-24	Standard gill nets	3.5 (normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.07 lb	7
1974-06-24	Standard trap nets	16.3 (above normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.35 lb	65
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	0.6 (below normal)	1.0 – 10.5	0.53 lb	3
1990-07-22	Standard trap nets	1.8 (normal)	0.7 – 4.3	0.21 lb	7

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard trap nets	12.8 (normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.08 lb	115
2005-07-18	Survey seining	1.0	—	—	2
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	21.5	—	0.11 lb	129
1984-07-02	Standard trap nets	19.5 (normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.17 lb	78
1984-07-02	Standard gill nets	4.0	—	0.10 lb	20
1979-07-23	Standard trap nets	2.8 (below normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.25 lb	22
1979-07-23	Standard gill nets	0.6	—	0.37 lb	3
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	9.4 (normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.10 lb	85
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	7.2	—	0.07 lb	43
1974-06-24	Standard trap nets	24.3 (normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.36 lb	97
1990-07-22	Standard trap nets	9.0 (normal)	4.0 – 28.1	0.16 lb	36
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	9.6	—	0.19 lb	48
2021-07-20	Backpack electrofishing	6.0	—	—	8
2021-07-20	50-ft beach seine	16.0	—	—	32
2021-07-20	15-ft beach seine	0.8	—	—	3

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard trap nets	0.3 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.08 lb	3
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	5.0 (normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.09 lb	30
1984-07-02	Standard gill nets	5.6 (normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.10 lb	28
1979-07-23	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.20 lb	1
1979-07-23	Standard gill nets	3.8 (normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.11 lb	19
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	0.6 (normal)	0.5 – 3.3	0.08 lb	5
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	1.8 (below normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.12 lb	11
1974-06-24	Standard gill nets	4.0 (normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.06 lb	8
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	3.0 (below normal)	3.8 – 22.8	0.13 lb	15

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.0 – 3.2	2.00 lb	3

Smallmouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	1.0	—	2.53 lb	6
2005-07-18	Standard trap nets	0.2	—	0.09 lb	2
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	0.1	—	0.49 lb	1

Largemouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2005-07-18	Survey seining	5.5	—	—	11
2005-07-18	Standard electrofishing	38.4	—	0.99 lb	52
2005-07-18	Standard gill nets	1.2 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.9	1.09 lb	7
1984-07-02	Standard gill nets	0.8 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	1.38 lb	4
1979-07-23	Standard trap nets	0.3 (normal)	0.2 – 0.6	0.15 lb	2
2020-07-13	Standard trap nets	0.1 (below normal)	0.2 – 0.6	0.07 lb	1
2020-07-13	Standard electrofishing	68.6	—	0.90 lb	69
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	1.8 (above normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.95 lb	11
1974-06-24	Standard trap nets	0.8 (above normal)	0.2 – 0.6	0.58 lb	3
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	0.6 (normal)	0.3 – 0.9	0.73 lb	3
2021-07-20	Backpack electrofishing	5.3	—	—	7
2021-07-20	50-ft beach seine	1.5	—	—	3

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
1979-07-23	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.7 – 3.5	5.20 lb	1
1990-07-22	Standard gill nets	0.2 (below normal)	0.7 – 3.5	3.20 lb	1

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2020-07-13	Standard gill nets	0.5 (normal)	0.3 – 4.8	0.10 lb	3
2021-07-20	50-ft beach seine	1.0	—	—	2

BNS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2021-07-20	50-ft beach seine	7.0	—	14

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2021-07-20	Backpack electrofishing	90.6	—	120

Bluntnose Minnow

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2021-07-20	50-ft beach seine	0.5	—	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids, MN

★ 3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 326-0351

★ 4.3

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids, MN

Marine Clinic

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 244-4281

★ 4.9

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 812-8888

NorthStar Barge

Grand Rapids, MN

(218) 269-0566

★ 5

Resorts & Lodges Near Big Island

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Big Island.

Anchor Inn Resort

Fishing Resort Spring Lake

(218) 659-2718

Birch Haven Resort Closed

Fishing Resort Bovey

(218) 910-9707

Bowen Lodge

Fishing Resort Deer River

(218) 246-8707

Loon Point Resort

Fishing Resort Bigfork

(218) 245-1470

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Big Island. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black Crappie Bluegill Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Smallmouth Bass Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near Big Island

Bro's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 340-6051

Early Bird Fishing Guide Jeff Sundin

Fishing Guide

(218) 245-9858

Grand Rapids Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-7140

Minnesota Fishing Connections

Fishing Guide

(218) 259-2628

MN Fishing Pros

Fishing Guide

(218) 244-2517

Moo Moo's Guide Service

Fishing Guide

(218) 398-7593

View all 9 guides →

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Plan Your Trip to Big Island

Weather forecast for Big Island — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.5702°N, 93.5960°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

Big Island

DNR Fish Surveys

Northern Pike

Black Crappie

Bluegill

Yellow Perch

Walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

White Sucker

Golden Shiner

BNS

CNM

Bluntnose Minnow

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Best Bet Waxworm Wholesale Bait & Breeder Kits

Bite Me Waxworms Wholesale Bait Shop

Diamond Custom Rods

Fred's Live Bait & Tackle

Frontier Sports

Glen's Army & Navy Store

God's Country Outfitters

Hollywood Bait

Nearby Marinas

Bass Lake public Water Access - Whispering Pines

Grand Rapids Marine

Grand Rapids Marine

Marine Clinic

Mishawaka Outdoors LLC

NorthStar Barge

Resorts & Lodges Near Big Island

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near Big Island

Other Lakes in Itasca County

Alice

Allen

Amen

Anderson

Ann

Antler

Plan Your Trip to Big Island