Bad Medicine Lake
Becker County, Minnesota803 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Bad Medicine Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- 84 ft max depth
- Public access
Bad Medicine Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 84 ft. Surface area: 803.03 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 9.67 walleye per gill net at Bad Medicine Lake. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Bad Medicine Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Bad Medicine Lake is a 803-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Becker County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 84 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and burbot. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 83 other monitored lakes in Becker County, Bad Medicine Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Bad Medicine Lake covers about 800 acres in Becker County. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 22, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Bad Medicine Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Bad Medicine Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water25 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing13 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 22
- Deep water84 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Bad Medicine Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Bad Medicine Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Bad Medicine Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 25 ft down. Phosphorus 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 1.6 µg/L. TSI 32.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 25ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 1.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 32 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Bad Medicine Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Bad Medicine Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (54°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 80 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bad Medicine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bad Medicine Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (216,770 cells/mL) on April 25, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 9.67 walleye per gill net at Bad Medicine Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bad Medicine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
14 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey).
14 surveys on file · most recent 2022-07-11 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 34.17 | 15–22 in 2022-07-11 | 2.4 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 18.29 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 10.28 | 20 in 2012-06-25 | 1.25 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 9.62 |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
White Sucker
Largemouth Bass
From the 2022-07-11 survey
Bad Medicine is a four mile long, narrow, 800-acre, 84 foot deep, clear water lake located in northeastern Becker County and within the White Earth Indian Reservation. The lake has steep, primarily rocky, slopes near shore. Although the lake lies within the Mississippi River drainage, it has no outlet and is primarily…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Bad Medicine Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Bad MedicineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Bad Medicine (1226)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Bad MedicineFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Bad MedicinePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
84 ft
Surface area
803 acres
Shoreline
12.8 mi
Littoral zone
36%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
34 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,598 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bad Medicine LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bad Medicine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bad Medicine Lake in Becker County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Bad Medicine Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Follow Bad Medicine Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bad Medicine Lake
- → Bad Medicine Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Bad Medicine Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Bad Medicine Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Bad Medicine Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.8 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.07 µg/L/yr4 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 22
Earliest Apr 6, 2021 · Latest May 11, 1979
Typical ice-in
Dec 1
Earliest Nov 19, 1996 · Latest Dec 20, 2015
Most recent ice-out
Apr 9
2024
100 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Becker County
Frequently asked questions about Bad Medicine Lake
Where is Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake is a lake in Becker County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake in Becker County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 25 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 84 ft. Surface area: 803.03 acres.
Is Bad Medicine Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, from 80 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake has a maximum depth of 84 feet. The lake covers 803.03 acres.
What fish are in Bad Medicine Lake?
- Fish species found in Bad Medicine Lake include black crappie, bluegill, burbot, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, rainbow trout, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Bad Medicine Lake is located in Becker County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bad Medicine Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 11, 2022 caught 9.67 walleye per gill net at Bad Medicine Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bad Medicine Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Bad Medicine Lake thaw?
- Bad Medicine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 22. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 223 days.
Does Bad Medicine Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Bad Medicine Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (216,770 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bad Medicine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Bad Medicine Lake?
- Bad Medicine Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Bad Medicine Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Becker County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Park Rapids Area area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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State Parks Near Bad Medicine Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Oligotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Bad Medicine Lake With Nearby Lakes
Becker County · 6.6 ft
Becker County · 24.8 ft
Becker County · 7.3 ft
Becker County · 14 ft
Becker County · 15 ft
Becker County · 13.1 ft
Where this data comes from
311 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA265 samples · 2020–2025 - Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (White Earth Band) (Tribal)
WEARTH_WQX46 samples · 2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate