Big Sand Lake, Burnett County Fishing
A 1,434-acre Wisconsin lake in Burnett County, down to 55 feet.
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The basics of Big Sand Lake, Burnett County for anglers
Big Sand Lake, Burnett County is a lake of 1,434 acres lying in Burnett County. The bottom drops to 55 feet at most, with a mean of 9 feet. For a home base, Webster is roughly 8 miles away. It falls in the WDNR Northern Region. Its WDNR lake class is complex warm clear.
The state designates it an Outstanding Resource Water. Being in the ceded territory, it follows the three-walleye bag. Find a Lake shows largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. Public launching comes through 1 public boat landing. About 11.3 feet of clarity, by the 2017 satellite estimate.
For the walleye herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 The Big Sand Lake, Burnett County fishery by species
Abundance labels for Big Sand Lake, Burnett County come straight from the WDNR lake page.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Abundant |
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Panfish | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Walleye | Present |
WDNR on lakes like Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
“Complex warm clear lakes often support great action fisheries for warmwater species like bluegill and largemouth bass.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Launching on Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
- Big Sand Lake Access1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, public
Other launches near Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
- Warner Lake AccessWarner Lake, 1 mile south
- Viola Lake AccessViola Lake, 2 miles west
- Taylor Lake Access near SirenTaylor Lake, 4 miles west
- Bass Lake Launch near WebsterBass Lake, 5 miles northwest
- Clam Dam Park Canoe LaunchClam River, 5 miles west
- Clam Lake – East AccessClam Lake, 5 miles southwest
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Water quality and bottom at Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
By water source, Big Sand Lake, Burnett County counts as a seepage lake (no inlet or outlet stream; fed by groundwater and rain).
Invasive species the WDNR has confirmed in Big Sand Lake, Burnett County: chinese mystery snail and purple loosestrife. Clean boats and drain live wells before leaving the landing.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Seasons and bag limits on Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
For Big Sand Lake, Burnett County, the DNR regulation search returns the rows shown here.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
The all-species line for Big Sand Lake, Burnett County reads: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
The Burnett County entry says: Burnett County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). A portion of Burnett County is in the Northern Bass Zone (see base regulations on page 12). Countywide: With the exceptions below, there is no minimum length limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass in all waters of Burnett County (including all lakes and flowages that are border waters between Burnett and Polk counties
Pike rules here follow the zone north of Hwy 10; bass follow the Northern or Southern Bass Zone (the county is split; see the guide map).
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Fish stocked in Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
WDNR crews stocked Big Sand Lake, Burnett County 5 times from 2023 to 2025, 578,343 fish counted.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | fry | 0.5 in | 129,495 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.39 in | 567 |
| 2024 | Walleye | small fingerling | 3.51 in | 228,122 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 0.5 in | 217,901 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.99 in | 2,258 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Big Sand Lake, Burnett County against nearby lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sand Lake, Burnett County | 1,434 | 55 | 1 | complex warm clear | |
| Viola Lake, Burnett County | 2 miles west | 265 | 34 | 1 | simple warm clear |
| Warner Lake, Burnett County | 2 miles south | 176 | 75 | 1 | simple warm clear |
| Buck Lake near Webster, Burnett County | 2 miles northeast | 66 | 6 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Cranberry Lake near Siren, Burnett County | 2 miles southwest | 80 | 23 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Bass Lake near Siren, Burnett County, 82 acres | 3 miles south | 82 | 18 | 0 | simple warm clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Close to Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
More water to try near Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
- Viola Lake, Burnett County2 miles west
- Warner Lake, Burnett County2 miles south
- Buck Lake near Webster, Burnett County2 miles northeast
- Cranberry Lake near Siren, Burnett County2 miles southwest
- Bass Lake near Siren, Burnett County, 82 acres3 miles south
Shops that serve Big Sand Lake, Burnett County anglers
- Big Mikes Outdoor Sportssporting goods store, Siren, 5 miles
- Rockcrusher Outdoors Incsporting goods store, Siren, 7 miles
- Joel's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Siren, 8 miles
- Wild Bills Sporting Goods & Spiritssporting goods store, Webster, 8 miles
- A&H Country Marketbait and tackle shop, Spooner, 10 miles
- Backwoods Beer & Baitbait and tackle shop, Siren, 15 miles
Communities around Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
- Webster8 miles
- Siren9 miles
- Lewis11 miles
Counties holding Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
- Burnett Countyseat: Siren
Piscifun reels sized for Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
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Water close to Big Sand Lake, Burnett County in photographs
Photo: Iulus Ascanius at en.wikipedia, Public domain
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: LaurentianShield, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Seclusive Nature, CC BY-SA 4.0
Common questions about fishing Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
Where in Wisconsin is Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
Burnett County holds it, WDNR Northern Region, about 8 miles from Webster.
How deep does Big Sand Lake, Burnett County get?
Roughly 1,434 acres and 55 feet at the deepest.
Which public landing serves anglers on Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
There are 1 mapped landing; Big Sand Lake Access has the most lanes.
Is Big Sand Lake, Burnett County good for panfish?
WDNR lists largemouth bass (abundant), northern pike (abundant), panfish (present), smallmouth bass (present) and walleye (present).
Which WDNR rules cover Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
For Walleye, sauger and hybrids, The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
Which Wisconsin license covers fishing Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the water like in Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
Satellite clarity about 11.3 feet (2017). WDNR class: complex warm clear. Type: seepage.
Where are minnows sold on the drive to Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
Drive 5 miles to reach Big Mikes Outdoor Sports.
Which fish are stocked in Big Sand Lake, Burnett County?
Latest on file (2025): 129,495 walleye and 567 walleye.
Trailer up for Big Sand Lake, Burnett County
Check the posted rules before keeping fish.