---
type: lake
name: "Big Lake"
county: "Stearns"
nearest_town: "Richmond"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 458
max_depth_ft: 42
latitude: 45.42384
longitude: -94.5771
lake_score: 57
dnr_lake_id: "73015900"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/big-lake
---

# Big Lake

Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota, near Richmond

- **Surface Area**: 458 acres
- **Max Depth**: 42 ft
- **Average Depth**: 15 ft
- **Shoreline**: 7.5 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 6.5 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 57/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Big Lake is a 458-acre lake near Richmond in Stearns County, Minnesota. It reaches 42 feet at its deepest point, with an average depth of about 15 feet, and has roughly 7.5 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 6.5 feet.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 16 fish species here, including walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill. 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 2017.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. Ice typically goes out around April 11, based on 8 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**: 16
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2017
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, White Sucker, Yellow Bullhead

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 11
- **Years of record**: 8
- **Earliest**: 2017-03-01
- **Latest**: 2018-05-01

## Nearby Lakes

- [Horseshoe Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/horseshoe-lake) - 2.2 miles, 629 acres
- [Becker Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/becker-lake) - 2.3 miles, 221 acres
- [Long Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/long-lake) - 2.9 miles, 487 acres
- [North Brown's Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/north-brown-s-lake) - 3.3 miles, 312 acres
- [Cedar Island Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/cedar-island-lake) - 3.8 miles, 986 acres
- [Rice Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county/rice-lake) - 3.9 miles, 1,513 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.42384,-94.5771)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=73015900)
- [All lakes in Stearns County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/stearns-county)

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