Sugar

Itasca County

Near Cass Lake

DOW: 31092600

WalleyeExcellent · 78Northern PikeGood · 73Yellow PerchGood · 65

A 1,509-acre lake near Cass Lake in Itasca County — best known for walleye and pike. Last surveyed 1993.

Fish Species (13)

Walleye

Excellent · 78

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.3"

Avg Weight

2.90 lbs

Catch rate: 2.5 per gill net

Size of catchable walleye100% keeper-size (15"+)

All keeper-sizeLargest sampled 26"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	0.67	20.3"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	2.50	20.3"	2.90 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 23, 1993	0.50	20.3"	3.64 lbs	Standard trap nets

Northern Pike

Good · 73

Typical numbers · large fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

14.7"

Avg Weight

2.24 lbs

Catch rate: 9.2 per gill net

Size of catchable northern pike30% keeper-size (24"+)

14–23" · 70%Largest sampled 33"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	9.17	14.7"	2.24 lbs	Standard gill nets
Aug 23, 1993	3.25	14.7"	0.66 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 23, 1993	4.33	14.7"	-	Survey seining

Yellow Perch

Good · 65

Above-normal numbers · small fish

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

2.5"

Avg Weight

0.19 lbs

Catch rate: 48.7 per gill net

Size of catchable yellow perch5% keeper-size (9"+)

5–8" · 95%Largest sampled 11"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	31.50	2.5"	0.15 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 23, 1993	2150.00	2.5"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	48.67	2.5"	0.19 lbs	Standard gill nets

Pumpkinseed

Average · 25

Typical numbers · small fish

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

1.0"

Avg Weight

0.34 lbs

Catch rate: 1.4 per trap net

Size of catchable pumpkinseed0% keeper-size (8"+)

3–7" · 100%Largest sampled 7"

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	333.33	1.0"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	1.42	1.0"	0.34 lbs	Standard trap nets

Rock Bass

Poor · 24

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

8.0"

Avg Weight

0.94 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	0.17	8.0"	0.94 lbs	Standard trap nets

Black Crappie

Poor · 9

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

2.1"

Avg Weight

0.71 lbs

Catch rate: 0.17 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	273.67	2.1"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	0.17	2.1"	0.71 lbs	Standard trap nets

Largemouth Bass

Insufficient

Seining survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

4.6"

Catch rate: 2.3 · Seining survey

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	2.33	4.6"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	0.17	4.6"	2.61 lbs	Standard trap nets

Other species in this lake (6)

Rough fish, bullheads, and baitfish recorded in DNR surveys — present in the lake, but not typical angling targets.

Brown Bullhead

Excellent · 97

Above-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.6"

Avg Weight

0.73 lbs

Catch rate: 1.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	1.50	10.6"	0.73 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 23, 1993	0.33	10.6"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	2.83	10.6"	0.84 lbs	Standard gill nets

Shorthead Redhorse

Good · 70

Typical numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

20.3"

Avg Weight

4.10 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	0.50	20.3"	4.10 lbs	Standard gill nets

Black Bullhead

Good · 50

Typical numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

9.1"

Avg Weight

0.48 lbs

Catch rate: 0.5 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	0.50	9.1"	0.48 lbs	Standard trap nets
Aug 23, 1993	0.50	9.1"	0.73 lbs	Standard gill nets

White Sucker

Poor · 23

Below-normal numbers

Gill-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

10.0"

Avg Weight

0.79 lbs

Catch rate: 0.33 per gill net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	13.33	10.0"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	0.33	10.0"	0.79 lbs	Standard gill nets

Yellow Bullhead

Poor · 5

Below-normal numbers

Trap-net survey · surveyed Aug 1993

Last surveyed 1993 — treat with caution

Avg Size

11.0"

Avg Weight

0.88 lbs

Catch rate: 0.08 per trap net

Survey History

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	0.08	11.0"	0.88 lbs	Standard trap nets

Date	Catch Rate	Avg Length	Avg Weight	Gear
Aug 23, 1993	1160.00	4.0"	-	Survey seining
Aug 23, 1993	0.08	4.0"	0.06 lbs	Standard trap nets

Fishing Regulations

Special regulations on this lake

DNR special regulations override the statewide limits.

Walleye
All from 18-23" must be immediately released. One over 23" allowed in possession.

Statewide limits

Statewide limits — apply unless a special regulation above overrides them.

Overridden on this lake — see special regulation above.

Walleye and Sauger

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

6 combined, not more than one walleye over 20"

Northern Pike

Season: May 9, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Angling: 10 (not more than 2 over 26". All from 22-26" must be immediatley released).

Largemouth Bass

Season: Mar 1, 2026 – May 22, 2026

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

Catch-and-release only

Largemouth Bass

Season: May 23, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

Largemouth bass in the Southern and North-central zones

6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth (when smallmouth season is open)

Crappie

10 combined total

Sunfish

20 combined total

Perch

20 daily and 40 in possession

More statewide rules (spearing, rough fish)

Northern Pike

Season: Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027

North-central zone

Darkhouse spearing: 10 (only 1 between 22-26" and 1 over 26"; or, only 2 over 26").

Rock Bass

Bowfin, buffalo, carp, carpsuckers, freshwater drum, goldeneye, redhorse, and suckers

no limit

Bullhead

100

Biologist Notes

August 23, 1993Sugar Lake is commonly thought of as a shallow weedy basin with little fishable water; however, Sugar Lake has a relatively large area of deep (more t…

Sugar Lake is commonly thought of as a shallow weedy basin with little fishable water; however, Sugar Lake has a relatively large area of deep (more than 15 feet) water. This deeper water supports large numbers of northern pike and yellow perch, and moderate numbers of walleye. The northern pike range from very small (less than 10 inches) to very large (more than 10 pounds) in size and average 2.2 pounds. The yellow perch are good sized with 28% more than 8 inches long and 10% greater than 9 inches. The perch are also relatively parasite free with 14% infected with yellow grub. Sugar Lake walleye are of above average size with a average length of 19.9 inches and average weight of 2.9 pounds. Sugar Lake also has small numbers of largemouth bass, black crappie, pumpkinseed sunfish, and various rough fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish can you catch in Sugar?

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, and Rock Bass in Sugar. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Is there public access at Sugar?

We don't have a confirmed public access point on record for Sugar. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for current access details before you go.

How deep is Sugar?

Sugar has a maximum depth of 22 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

When were the main sport fish in Sugar last surveyed?

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sugar is from 1993. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

Does Sugar have any invasive species?

Yes — Sugar has confirmed faucet snail and zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.

Are there special fishing regulations on Sugar?

Yes — the 2026 Minnesota DNR regulations list 1 special rule for Sugar, covering walleye. Special regulations override the statewide limits; see the fishing regulations section on this page. Verify current rules with the Minnesota DNR before keeping fish.