Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake

Size
589ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Walleye
Walleye

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Overview

Fishing Regulations

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

  • Sunfish: Daily limit five.
  • Walleye: All from 18-23” must be immediately released. One over 23” allowed in possession.

Features

Lake Winnibigoshish is part of a chain of lakes that includes Ravens Flowage, Sugar Lake, Big Cut Foot Sioux, Little Cut Foot Sioux and First River Lake. The Mississippi River inlet is navigable upstream to the Knutson Dam below Cass lake. Big Winnie, as it is often called, is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and Chippewa National Forest.Ice fishing for jumbo perch is a popular winter activity that attracts anglers from throughout the Midwest. Many resorts offer fish house rentals and provide plowed roads on the lake for thousands of anglers each winter.A voluntary catch-and-release program aimed at improving the walleye fishery is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Lake Winnie Resort Association.

Forage

Winnibigoshish is noted for its abundant perch and cisco forage base. Darters, spottail shiner, logperch and fathead minnows are common. Historically, periodic summerkill incidents have caused fluctuations in cisco numbers.

Seasonal Movements

There is significant movement of walleye from Lake Winnibigoshish into Big Cut Foot Sioux, Little Cut Foot Sioux, First River and Egg lakes. This typically begins in late summer when walleye begin to stage along the north shore of Lake Winnibigoshish. By late fall, many of these fish have moved from Winnie into Big Cut Foot Sioux. In spring, walleye move farther upstream into Little Cut Foot Sioux and First River, where the majority of spawning takes place. Many walleye also spawn along the rock/gravel shorelines in Lake Winnibigoshish. Spawning walleye also move up the Mississippi River and Third River Flowage. Northern pike move to Sugar Lake, Third River Flowage, Ravens Flowage and Williams Bay for spring spawning.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
5-11 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
3
0Statewide Range74.63

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202310
201710
Crappie
fish
6-13 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.33
0Statewide Range10.56

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun
Largemouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2002
Jun
2012
Jun
Northern pike
fish
10-33 in
Length Range
19 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
7.63
0Statewide Range19.6

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun
Perch
fish
5-11 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
16.75
0Statewide Range43.55

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun
Pumpkinseed
fish
6-7 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.38
0Statewide Range6.01

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
202310
201710
Rock bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
1995
Jun
2002
Jun
2012
Jun
Walleye
fish
10-23 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.75
0Statewide Range16.93

Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2012
Jun
2023
Jun