Sugar Lake

Sugar Lake

View in the App
Size
1,477ac
Boat Launch
No
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Sugar Lake
Walleye
Walleye
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Perch
Perch
Crappie
Crappie
Northern pike
Northern pike
Bluegill
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass

Overview

Sugar Lake Map

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.

  • 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
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance 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
No Survey Data
Crappie
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Largemouth bass
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Northern pike
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Perch
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App
Walleye
fish
15-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
1993
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
1993
Surveyed
NA
Catch Method
View in the App
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
1993
Aug
View in the App

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