Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest August 24, 2020
Little Mcdonald Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Mcdonald Lake average 5.74 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 24, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Little Mcdonald Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 26.5 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Little Mcdonald Lake
14 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Little Mcdonald Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Mcdonald Lake average 5.74 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 24, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Mcdonald Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
10 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-08-24 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 36.73 | 0.14 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 6.65 | — |
| Walleye | 5.74 | 3.42 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.64 | 0.35 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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.
Bluegill
Walleye
Rock Bass
From the 2020-08-24 survey
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…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Mcdonald Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little McDonaldFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Little McDonaldFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Little McDonaldPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Little Mcdonald Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Little Mcdonald Lake average 5.74 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 10 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated August 24, 2020. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 14 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Little Mcdonald Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Little Mcdonald Lake is dated August 24, 2020. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Little Mcdonald Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Little Mcdonald Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Little Mcdonald Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Mcdonald Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Little Mcdonald Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Little Mcdonald Lake
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