Lake Area (acres): 1799.18 Dominant Bottom Substrate: Sand (Abundant) Average Fish Weight(lbs) Normal Range(lbs) Fish Stocked by Species for the Last Ten Years These fish consumption guidelines help people make choices about which fish to eat and how often. Following the guidelines enables people to reduce their exposure to contaminants while still enjoying the many benefits from fish. Pregnant Women, Women who may become pregnant and Children under age 15 General Population DOWID - MN DNR, Divion of Waters' lake ID number. Contaminants listed were measured at levels high enough to warrant a recommendation to limit consumption. Listing of consumption guidelines do not imply the fish are legal to keep, MN DNR fishing regulations should be consulted. Dioxin This survey, and subsequent biennial surveys, is being done to gain a better understanding of the game fish population of Big Marine Lake. Walleyes were sampled within the normal range for this lake. The gill net catch of 2.38/set is an increase over the 2006 walleye catch. The walleyes sampled averaged 18.24 inches in length and 2.55 pounds. A total of 1152 lbs of walleye are stocked biennially. Northern pike were sampled at 16.38/set, which is the fourth highest gill net catch rate. This species continues to have a high population in Big Marine Lake. Conditions for high northern pike reproduction have been common recently. The average size pike in the lake is 19.92 inches and 1.72 pounds. Largemouth bass, while normally not sampled effectively in nets, were found in high abundance. Anglers have reported good catches of largemouth bass from this lake. Forage species such as yellow perch and white sucker continue to be found in low abundance. Bluegills were sampled in good abundance. They averaged 5.87 inches in length. Black crappies were also found in good numbers. They averaged 9.28 inches in the spring sample. Individuals over 12 inches were caught. Black and brown bullheads were found in low numbers, while yellow bullhead were found in average numbers. ? Big Marine Lake is a Beautiful lake close to forest lake-still water-25 minutes to st.paul-minneapolis.
Big marine lake is 7146 acre lake spring fed around 9.5 water clarity. Lots of fish. People like to bass fish on Big Marine Lake lots of little fish. Once in a while some one catches a big fish.
Big Marine Park Reserve opened 2008. Very nice park with a beautiful beach and walking paths. Awsome play ground for children. There is the vets camp for veterens on the lake.
A few boat launches 1 at the north end of the lake is free. The south end in the park costs money.
Lake information report
Name: Big Marine
Nearest Town: Forest Lake
Primary County: Washington
Public Access Information
Ownership
Type
Description
County
Concrete
South west shoreline
DNR
Concrete
South east shoreline
DNR
Concrete
North end of lake
Lake Characteristics
Littoral Area(acres): 1152
Maximum Depth (ft): 60
Water Clarity(ft): 8.5 (7.1-9.9)
Abundance of Aquatic Plants: 41 Varieties Sampled
Maximum Depth of Plant Growth (ft): 12.6 (4-23)
Fish Sampled for the 2008 Survey Year
Species
Number of fish per net
Caught
Black Bullhead
Trap net
0.53
0.7 - 25.7
ND
0.3 - 0.6
Gill net
0.12
2.5 - 45.0
0.56
0.3 - 0.7
Black Crappie
Trap net
4.93
1.8 - 21.2
0.46
0.2 - 0.3
Gill net
7.38
2.5 - 16.5
0.13
0.1 - 0.3
Bluegill
Trap net
48.40
7.5 - 62.5
0.15
0.1 - 0.3
Gill net
5.00
N/A
0.13
N/A
Brown Bullhead
Trap net
0.20
0.2 - 1.4
ND
0.5 - 1.0
Golden Shiner
Trap net
0.07
0.2 - 0.8
ND
0.1 - 0.1
Hybrid Sunfish
Trap net
2.20
N/A
ND
N/A
Largemouth Bass
Trap net
0.67
0.2 - 0.7
ND
0.2 - 0.9
Gill net
2.75
0.3 - 0.8
1.02
0.4 - 1.0
Northern Pike
Trap net
0.87
N/A
ND
N/A
Gill net
16.38
1.5 - 7.3
1.72
2.0 - 3.5
Pumpkinseed
Trap net
1.73
0.7 - 4.2
ND
0.1 - 0.2
Gill net
0.75
N/A
0.07
N/A
Walleye
Trap net
0.07
0.3 - 1.2
ND
0.8 - 2.8
Gill net
2.38
1.2 - 6.3
2.55
1.2 - 2.7
White Sucker
Trap net
0.40
0.2 - 1.0
ND
1.6 - 2.8
Yellow Bullhead
Trap net
2.40
0.9 - 5.7
ND
0.5 - 0.8
Gill net
3.88
0.5 - 7.5
0.93
0.5 - 0.8
Yellow Perch
Trap net
0.20
0.3 - 1.7
ND
0.1 - 0.2
Length of Selected Species (Trapnet, Gillnet) Sampled for the 2008 Survey Year
Species
Number of fish caught in each category (inches)
0-5
6-8
9-11
12-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30+
Total
black bullhead
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
9
black crappie
39
49
42
3
0
0
0
0
133
bluegill
342
417
0
0
0
0
0
0
766
brown bullhead
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
golden shiner
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
hybrid sunfish
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
33
largemouth bass
1
6
3
8
4
0
0
0
32
northern pike
0
0
0
3
69
52
5
2
144
pumpkinseed
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
32
walleye
0
0
2
5
3
8
1
0
20
white sucker
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
yellow bullhead
0
1
12
17
1
0
0
0
67
yellow perch
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Fish Stocking Activity
Year
Species
Size
Number
Pounds
2008
Walleye
adults
42
88.8
Walleye
fingerlings
56,550
917.0
Walleye
yearlings
210
50.0
2006
Walleye*
fingerlings
14,869
1,151.2
2005
Walleye
yearlings
6,639
370.9
2002
Walleye
fingerlings
17,672
1,151.9
2000
Walleye
fingerlings
23,575
1,150.0
Privately Stocked Fish
*indicates privately stocked fish. Private stocking includes fish purchased by the DNR for stocking and fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.
Stocking Fish Sizes
Fry- Newly hatched fish that are ready to be stocked usually called "swim-ups". Walleye fry are 1/3 of an inch or around 8 mm.
Fingerling- Fingerlings are one to six months old and can range from a size of one to twelve inches depending on the species. Walleye fingerlings range from three to eight inches each fall.
Yearling- Yearling fish are at least one year old. A one-year-old fish can range from three to twenty inches depending on the species. Walleye yearlings average from six to twelve inches.
Adult- Adult fish are fish that have reached maturity. Depending on the species, maturity can be reached at two years of age. Walleye reach maturity between the ages of four and six years.
Fish Consumption Guidelines
LAKE NAME
County, DOWIDSpecies
Meal Advice
Contaminants
Unrestricted
1 meal/week
1 meal/month
Do not eat
BIG MARINE
Washington Co., 82005200Bluegill Sunfish
All sizes
Mercury
Bullhead
All sizes
Mercury
Crappie
All sizes
Mercury
Northern Pike
All sizes
Mercury
Walleye
All sizes
Mercury
LAKE NAME
County, DOWIDSpecies
Meal Advice
Contaminants
Unrestricted
1 meal/week
1 meal/month
Do not eat
BIG MARINE
Washington Co., 82005200Bluegill Sunfish
All sizes
Bullhead
All sizes
Mercury
Crappie
All sizes
Mercury
Northern Pike
All sizes
Mercury
Walleye
shorter than 21"
21" or longer
Mercury
Mercury
PCBS - Polychlorinated biphenyls
PFOS - Perfluorooctane sulfanate
Status of the Fishery (as of 08/04/2008)