Minnesota · USA
Big Sandy Lake
- Region
- Minnesota, USA
- Regulation zone
- Minnesota statewide regulations
Species in Big Sandy Lake
Bigmouth Buffalo
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Bluegill
Bowfin (dogfish)
Brown Bullhead
Burbot
Channel Catfish- Hybrid Sunfish
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
Redhorse
Rock Bass
Shorthead Redhorse
Silver Redhorse
Smallmouth Bass
Tullibee (cisco)
Walleye
White Sucker
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Perch
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Seasons & limits — Minnesota statewide regulations
| Species | Season | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (and their hybrid) | May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | 6 combined total (only 1 walleye over 20" in possession) | — |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass — statewide (Southern and North-central zones) | Catch-and-release only Mar. 1 - May 22, 2026; harvest season May 23, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 (smallmouth bass catch-and-release only Sept. 14, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027) | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | — |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass — Northeast Zone | Catch-and-release only Mar. 1 - May 8, 2026; harvest season May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass | — |
| Crappie (white or black and their hybrids) | Continuous | 10 combined total | — |
| Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, green, orangespotted, northern, warmouth, and their hybrids) | Continuous | 20 combined total | — |
| Rock bass | Continuous | 30 | — |
| Channel catfish | Continuous | 5 (only 1 over 24") | — |
| Perch | Continuous | 20 daily, 40 in possession | — |
| Burbot (eelpout) | Continuous | 4 | — |
| Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeye, redhorse, and suckers | Continuous | No limit | — |
| Bullhead | Continuous | 100 | — |
| Northern pike | May 9, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2027 | Northeast Zone: 2 (only 1 over 40" in possession; all from 30-40" must be immediately released). North-central Zone: 10 (not more than 2 over 26"; all from 22-26" must be immediately released). Southern Zone: 2 (minimum size 24") | — |
Always confirm regulations with the official state regulations before fishing — rules change, and waterbody-specific exceptions apply.
Waterbody-specific rules
- Location: Including connected waters: Aitkin Lake including area known as Aitkin Flowage, Davis Lake including bay known as Steamboat Lake, Flowage Lake, Sandy River Lake, Prairie River from confluence with Tamarack River downstream to confluence with Big Sandy Lake, Sandy River from State Highway 210 downstream to confluence with the Mississippi River, and West Savanna River from County Highway 14 downstream to confluence with the Prairie River.
- Sunfish: Daily limit five.
- Walleye: All less than 14" or greater than 18" must be immediately released. One over 26" allowed in possession.
More Minnesota lakes
Species: Minnesota state fisheries lake records, via the Bump Board dataset.