---
type: lake
name: "Big McDonald Lake"
county: "Otter Tail"
nearest_town: "Perham"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 992
max_depth_ft: 46
latitude: 46.58062
longitude: -95.76696
lake_score: 63
dnr_lake_id: "56038601"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/big-mcdonald-lake
---

# Big McDonald Lake

Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, near Perham

- **Surface Area**: 992 acres
- **Max Depth**: 46 ft
- **Shoreline**: 5.8 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 13 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 63/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Big McDonald Lake is a 992-acre lake near Perham in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It reaches 46 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 5.8 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 13 feet, clearer than most lakes in the state.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 15 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2025.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with zebra mussel — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 16, based on 15 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

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

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 15
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2025
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Rock Bass, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

zebra mussel. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 16
- **Years of record**: 15
- **Earliest**: 2016-04-01
- **Latest**: 2022-05-06

## Nearby Lakes

- [West McDonald Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/west-mcdonald-lake) - 1.1 miles, 597 acres
- [McDonald Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/mcdonald-lake) - 1.1 miles, 561 acres
- [Hoffman Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/hoffman-lake) - 1.6 miles, 157 acres
- [Round Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/round-lake-dent) - 2.3 miles, 173 acres
- [Grunard Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/grunard-lake) - 2.5 miles, 121 acres
- [Sybil Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/sybil-lake) - 3.1 miles, 683 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.58062,-95.76696)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=56038601)
- [All lakes in Otter Tail County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/otter-tail-county/big-mcdonald-lake)*