---
type: lake
name: "Budd Lake"
county: "Martin"
nearest_town: "Fairmont"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 228
max_depth_ft: 23
latitude: 43.63971
longitude: -94.46678
lake_score: 50
dnr_lake_id: "46003000"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/budd-lake
---

# Budd Lake

Lake in Martin County, Minnesota, near Fairmont

- **Surface Area**: 228 acres
- **Max Depth**: 23 ft
- **Shoreline**: 2.2 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 50/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Budd Lake is a 228-acre lake near Fairmont in Martin County, Minnesota. It reaches 23 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 2.5 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 19 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, largemouth bass, black crappie, and white crappie. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. Special fishing regulations apply to yellow bass, and they override the statewide limits. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the city. Ice typically goes out around March 27, based on 83 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: city
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 19
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: Yes
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

### Special Regulations

- **yellow bass**: daily limit 100, no possession limit, no closed season.

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Quillback, White Sucker, Yellow Bass, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: March 27
- **Years of record**: 83
- **Earliest**: 1987-03-01
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [Sisseton Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/sisseton-lake) - 0.8 miles, 138 acres
- [Hall Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/hall-lake) - 1.1 miles, 548 acres
- [George Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/george-lake) - 1.6 miles, 83 acres
- [Amber Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/amber-lake) - 2.3 miles, 182 acres
- [Imogene Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/imogene-lake) - 5 miles, 186 acres
- [Willmert Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/willmert-lake) - 5.5 miles, 335 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=43.63971,-94.46678)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=46003000)
- [All lakes in Martin County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/martin-county/budd-lake)*