Little McDonald Lake

Otter Tail County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 56032800

DNR records show 11 stocking entries at Little McDonald Lake since 2017, most recently walleye yearlings in 2025 (100 fish).

• Little McDonald Lake has 11 DNR stocking records across 7 years (2017-2025): walleye (11).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 72,140 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 109 ft; surface area 1,316 acres, 413 littoral acres, 8.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 22.4 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, and 2 more.
• 2 public accesses on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: August 24, 2020 (targeted survey).
• Otter Tail County, nearest town Perham; DNR lake number (DOW) 56032800.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey; depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2020

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Little McDonald Lake is a 1,174-acre mestrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately six miles west of Perham, MN. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 109 feet; however, 35% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading was 19.8 feet, indicating excellent water clarity. Secchi disk readings in previous surveys ranged from 10.0 to 30.5 feet. The entire shoreline of the lake has been developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. DNR owned public water accesses are located along the north and south shorelines. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Areas of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent in the western portion of the lake. Emergent plants are important because they provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish species such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They are also important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological importance, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. A special gillnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Walleye and Northern Pike populations. Northern Pike abundance has remained stable over the recent series of surveys. Age data indicate that Northern Pike reproduction is consistently good. Northern Pike ranged in length from 13.8 to 31.8 inches with an average length and weight of 21.3 inches and 2.2 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 19.8 inches at four years of age. Walleye abundance has historically been stable but the Walleye numbers in the 2020 survey were the lowest recorded. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.5 to 28.4 inches with an average length and weight of 20.7 inches and 3.5 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.8 inches at four years of age. An experimental regulation designed to maintain or improve the Walleye size structure in Little McDonald Lake was implemented in 1998 and was in effect through 2010. The regulation was an 18.0 to 26.0 inch protected slot limit with one Walleye over 26.0 inches allowed in possession. The regulation was reviewed and a public input meeting was held in the fall of 2010. In 2011, after overwhelming public support, the experimental regulation was amended and made into a special regulation and is now permanent. The amended regulation is a 17.0 to 26.0 inch protected slot limit with one Walleye over 26.0…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, August 24, 2020.

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