---
type: lake
name: "Big Lake"
county: "Carlton"
nearest_town: "Sawyer"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 526
max_depth_ft: 25
latitude: 46.70017
longitude: -92.62995
lake_score: 62
dnr_lake_id: "09003200"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/big-lake
---

# Big Lake

Lake in Carlton County, Minnesota, near Sawyer

- **Surface Area**: 526 acres
- **Max Depth**: 25 ft
- **Average Depth**: 8 ft
- **Shoreline**: 8.1 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 13.2 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 62/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Big Lake is a 526-acre lake near Sawyer in Carlton County, Minnesota. It reaches 25 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 8 feet, and has roughly 8.1 miles of shoreline. It is the largest lake in Carlton County in the Minnesota DNR's LakeFinder records. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 13.2 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 9 fish species here, including northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2020.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around April 19, based on 9 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 9
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2020
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 19
- **Years of record**: 9
- **Earliest**: 2024-03-13
- **Latest**: 2013-05-14

## Nearby Lakes

- [Torch Light Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/torch-light-lake) - 3.2 miles, 126 acres
- [Bob Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/bob-lake) - 4.7 miles, 77 acres
- [Park Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/park-lake) - 5.8 miles, 381 acres
- [West Twin Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/west-twin-lake) - 7.1 miles, 121 acres
- [Chub Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/chub-lake) - 9.7 miles, 313 acres
- [Hay Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/hay-lake) - 10.5 miles, 140 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.70017,-92.62995)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=09003200)
- [All lakes in Carlton County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/carlton-county/big-lake)*