Committee Chair is Derek Hendrickson

Water and Fishery Update 9/21/2021

White Sand Lake was again monitored with three annual water sample collections and secchi depth readings. Readings were again taken from Site 203, MN ID #18-0379

STATUS OF THE WATER:

June 22, 2021: The physical condition of the lake was a greenish/brown tint, suitable for swimming and other recreational activities. The water temperature was 69.6 degrees. The air temperature was 65 degrees. The secchi disk reading (water clarity) was 14.5 feet.

July 31, 2021: The physical condition of the lake had more of a brown tint, suitable for swimming and other recreational activities. The water temperature was 76.2 degrees. The air temperature was 73 degrees. The secchi disk reading was 11.5 feet, dropping three feet in clarity over a one month period.

September 15, 2021: The physical condition of the lake again had more of a brown tint, suitable for swimming and other recreational activities. The water temperature was 67.8 degrees. The air temperature was 73 degrees. The secchi disk reading was 10.5 feet, dropping one foot over a month and a half period.

STATUS OF THE FISHERIES:

The 2020-21 ice fishing season really took a toll on the lake. There were many permanent and portable fish houses on the lake throughout the hardwater season chasing panfish, walleye, and northern pike. The winter walleye bite was very good early, with many people enjoy the action and putting walleye in the frying pan. Fishing reports have been slower this summer than in previous summers. Bass fisherman noted a little slower catch and size rate. Possibly due to the lower water and the bass not being able to access their typical weeds, shady areas, or docks that they do when the water is higher. Crappie size was on the small side of consistent six to nine in fish, rather than the nine to eleven inch crappies that had been prevalent the previous two to three years. Crappie numbers also appear to be down, as well as the walleye numbers. Northern pike and bluegills continue to be in good numbers, with many reporting good action all summer long. Bow fisherman reported good success shooting suckers and dogfish at night as well.

Derek Hendrickson
WSLA Fishery and Water Quality

Fishery Update 4/07/2020

I had a great conversation with Marc Bacigalupi, Brainerd Area Fisheries Supervisor.  We agreed that White Sand Lake is a very good lake for anglers.  The abundance of large mouth bass and northern pike can keep anglers happy with a lot of action throughout the year.  Marc noted that the crappie population is cyclical, with numbers and size of fish varying from year to year based on many conditions and factors.  The DNR status of the fisheries report is showing that the stocking of walleye in White Sand is holding an adequate amount of fish based on the size of the lake.  The walleye stocking with fingerlings and yearlings is being done to assist the survival rate and to increase opportunities for walleye anglers to catch fish sooner.     

The Minnesota DNR website has really good information about fish reports and stocking.
Click this link to see the info.