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Big Watab Lake

Big Watab Lake is a lake in Minnesota, near Stearns County.

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Big Watab Lake Fishing Weather

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Fish species in Big Watab Lake

Big Watab Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Big Watab Lake covers about 246 acres, reaches a recorded 122 feet and holds about 10,148 acre-feet.

What to Expect at Big Watab Lake

Big Watab Lake has very deep water, but the deepest hole is not always the best place to fish, so look for baitfish, nearby points and the depth where bites start.

Fish and Useful Baits at Big Watab Lake

Fish reported from Big Watab Lake include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook stickleback, brown bullhead, brown trout, central mudminnow, fathead minnow, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, least darter, northern pike, pugnose shiner, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, rock bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Big Watab, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Big Watab, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Big Watab, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Big Watab, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Bullheads

For bottom fishing at Big Watab, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.

Salmon and Trout

For cold-water fish at Big Watab, run spoons or minnow-shaped lures in cool water for trout.

Rock Bass

At Big Watab, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Big Watab Lake

On a first trip to Big Watab, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

When to Fish Big Watab Lake

Spring at Big Watab is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer fishing is usually better in cooler, deeper water. Fall at Big Watab can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Banded Killifish — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Black Crappie — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blackchin Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Blacknose Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluegill — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Bluntnose Minnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brook Stickleback — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brown Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Brown Trout — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Central Mudminnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Fathead Minnow — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Green Sunfish — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Iowa Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Johnny Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Largemouth Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Least Darter — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Northern Pike — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Pugnose Shiner — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Pumpkinseed — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Steelhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Rock Bass — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Tadpole Madtom — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Walleye — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • White Sucker — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Yellow Bullhead — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Yellow Perch — supporting source

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder — Fisheries Lake Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

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