Sand Point Lake, Minnesota Fishing Regulations
- Large northern pike were counted among fish recorded in Sand Point Lake.pike image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
Sand Point Lake lies near the town of Crane Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota. The lake is approximately 184 feet deep and encompasses 8,526 acres. Sizable walleye, tullibee, white sucker and northern pike were recorded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) during 2009 trap net and gill net fishing in the lake. Sand Point Lake fishing currently falls under MDNR regulations for special or experimental fishing areas of the state. - Walleye measuring 17 to 28 inches are protected in Sand Point Lake.walleye image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com
If you plan to fish Sand Point Lake for walleye, also called sauger, be aware that special regulations currently apply. Walleye that measure 17 inches to 28 inches long are listed as protected, and must be released immediately upon capture. You may keep one walleye that measures longer than 28 inches. There is a maximum bag limit of six fish on Sand Point Lake, only four of which can be walleye. - Open season dates are applicable for walleye, northern pike, bass and crappie.walleye image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com
Sand Point Lake walleye open season runs from mid May through the end of February, but the specific dates change each year. Open season for northern pike, large or small mouth bass and crappie is continuous with no Sand Point Lake restrictions. Inland bag limits and continuous open seasons apply to all other fish species typically found in Sand Point Lake. - Ice fishing houses must be removed by March 31.ice fishing equipment image by Inger Anne Hulb?|kdal from Fotolia.com
Sand Point Lake is considered a border water with part of the lake in Minnesota and part in Canada. In addition to general fishing regulations, some specific border water regulations apply to Sand Point Lake anglers.
Anglers are allowed only one line, unless they are ice fishing when the limit increases to two. Dressed sauger caught in Minnesota border waters are considered and counted as walleye. Minnesota anglers may not take amounts over the bag limit in Minnesota waters, but may possess more if proof can be provided to MDNR that the excess were caught in Canadian waters. Receipts from Canadian lodging or verification from U.S. Customs is considered proof.
Ice houses are legal on Sand Point Lake, but must be removed no later than the last day of March. Bowfishing is also legal on species deemed as rough fish. Rough fish species in Sand Point Lake consist of redhorse, sucker and tullibee. Complete bowfishing regulations can be found on the MDNR Web site.
