3 miles northwest of Dent
Otter Tail County, Minnesota · 46.5786° N, 95.7698° W
Directions to West McDonald Lake Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access sites (4 listed; this is the first).
Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:10 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
4 public access sites on Big McDonald Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 29 stockings of Big McDonald Lake in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 4,250 walleye fingerlings. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 148,000 walleye fry.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Big McDonald Lake (Big McDonald basin) was in August 2025: 9 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 12 species.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2008 4.8 · 2013 5.8 · 2017 9.1 · 2021 7.2 · 2025 9.7
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 2008 35 · 2013 17 · 2017 15 · 2021 17 · 2025 10
Walleye: 97 measured, 8 to 25 in, half 18 in or longer; average 2 lb, normal (normal 1.2–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 151 measured, 14 to 32 in, half 17 in or longer; average 1.4 lb, below normal (normal 1.6–2.8 lb).
Largemouth bass: 34 measured, 4 to 17 in, half 11 in or longer; average 0.85 lb, normal (normal 0.5–1.2 lb).
Black crappie: 17 measured, 4 to 13 in, half 9 in or longer; average 0.55 lb, normal (normal 0.3–0.6 lb).
Bluegill: 243 measured, 2 to 9 in, half 7 in or longer; average 0.28 lb, above normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 19 Aug 2025, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 13 ft: the Secchi depth across 10 readings, 2006–2025.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Big McDonald Lake is 62 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 2,242 acres.
Yes. 4 public access sites are listed: West McDonald Lake Public Water Access Site; Big McDonald Lake Public Water Access Site; Hoffman Lake Public Water Access Site; McDonald Lake, Seclusion Point Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 29 stockings of it in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 4,250 walleye fingerlings.
Minnesota DNR’s August 2025 standard survey caught 12 species, most often bluegill, northern pike, walleye and rock bass.
About 63% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.