Minnesota Fishing Guide

Big McDonald #2

Otter Tail County, Minnesota — DOW #56038603

66 Surveys

Invasive Species Alert

Big McDonald #2 has confirmed populations of:

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

561.03
Acres
33 ft
Max Depth
0
2
Fish Species
8
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Big McDonald #2. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Brown Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 3.3 (above normal) 0.3 – 2.2 0.67 lb 20
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 2.5 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.5 0.88 lb 15
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.1 (below normal) 0.3 – 1.5 0.57 lb 1
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 1.3 (normal) 0.3 – 2.2 0.97 lb 12
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 10.8 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.5 1.03 lb 54
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 1.4 (normal) 0.3 – 2.2 1.14 lb 7

Black Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.7 1.25 lb 1
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 2.7 (normal) 0.7 – 3.2 0.47 lb 16
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.7 0.55 lb 3
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.7 (below normal) 0.7 – 3.2 0.32 lb 6
2022-05-10 Special trap nets 12.2 — 0.88 lb 146
2016-04-20 Special trap nets 4.3 — 0.64 lb 86
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 1.8 (normal) 0.5 – 2.7 0.91 lb 9

Northern Pike

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 4.8 (normal) 3.1 – 8.5 1.29 lb 29
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 0.7 — 2.00 lb 4
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 11.3 (above normal) 3.1 – 8.5 0.96 lb 102
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 1.7 — 1.06 lb 15
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 9.0 (above normal) 3.1 – 8.5 1.25 lb 45
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 1.6 — 1.15 lb 8

Black Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.6 – 9.5 1.00 lb 1
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 24.6 (above normal) 0.3 – 2.8 0.15 lb 123
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 10.0 (above normal) 0.6 – 9.5 0.32 lb 50

White Sucker

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 1.3 (normal) 0.5 – 3.5 2.06 lb 8
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 0.4 (below normal) 0.5 – 3.5 1.30 lb 2
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.6 (normal) 0.2 – 1.0 3.07 lb 3

Bluegill

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 35.7 (normal) 5.6 – 42.3 0.18 lb 214
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 31.3 — 0.18 lb 282
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 78.9 (above normal) 5.6 – 42.3 0.08 lb 710
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 5.2 — 0.09 lb 26
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 59.2 (above normal) 5.6 – 42.3 0.07 lb 296

Rock Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.6 – 2.5 0.82 lb 2
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.6 – 2.5 0.34 lb 2
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.6 (normal) 0.6 – 2.5 0.37 lb 3

Walleye

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 2.7 (normal) 1.3 – 5.5 0.81 lb 16
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 0.3 (normal) 0.2 – 0.7 1.12 lb 2
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 1.4 (normal) 1.3 – 5.5 2.68 lb 13
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.2 (normal) 0.2 – 0.7 3.41 lb 2
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 6.6 (above normal) 1.3 – 5.5 1.57 lb 33
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.6 (normal) 0.2 – 0.7 1.22 lb 3

Yellow Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 12.7 (above normal) 0.9 – 10.0 0.67 lb 76
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 2.3 (normal) 1.5 – 7.7 0.75 lb 14
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 38.7 (above normal) 0.9 – 10.0 0.46 lb 348
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 15.7 (above normal) 1.5 – 7.7 0.26 lb 141
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 36.6 (above normal) 0.9 – 10.0 0.68 lb 183
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 13.2 (above normal) 1.5 – 7.7 0.52 lb 66

Pumpkinseed

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard trap nets 1.8 (normal) 1.7 – 8.2 0.22 lb 11
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 6.2 — 0.20 lb 56
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 2.9 (normal) 1.7 – 8.2 0.26 lb 26
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 3.4 — 0.16 lb 17
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 11.4 (above normal) 1.7 – 8.2 0.17 lb 57

Yellow Perch

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 2.5 – 24.2 0.10 lb 2
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.1 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.7 0.05 lb 1
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 0.6 (below normal) 2.5 – 24.2 0.04 lb 5
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.8 (normal) 0.5 – 2.7 0.20 lb 4
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 3.8 (normal) 2.5 – 24.2 0.12 lb 19

Largemouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
1977-08-11 Standard gill nets 1.0 (normal) 0.3 – 1.2 0.47 lb 6
2006-07-24 Standard electrofishing 58.0 — 0.68 lb 32
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 5.0 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.2 0.98 lb 45
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 2.6 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.1 0.65 lb 23
2016-04-20 Standard electrofishing 38.1 — 0.84 lb 19
1986-07-31 Standard gill nets 3.8 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.2 0.92 lb 19
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.3 – 1.1 2.20 lb 1

Hybrid Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2006-07-24 Standard gill nets 0.6 — 0.24 lb 5
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 2.4 — 0.34 lb 22
1986-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.4 — 0.20 lb 2

Common Carp

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2006-07-24 Standard trap nets 0.6 (normal) 0.2 – 1.1 1.98 lb 5

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Ben's Bait Shop

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 864-5596

★ 4.6

Carr's Lake Country Super Market

Ottertail, MN

(218) 367-2550

★ 4.4

Dunham's Sports

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 739-5708

★ 4.1

Elizabeth General Store

Elizabeth, MN

(218) 739-2132

★ 4.3

Flagman Products

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 671-2640

JK-Outdoors

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 739-5299

★ 5

Lakeland General Store

Pelican Rapids, MN

(218) 863-5703

★ 4.8

Lakes Community Coop - Ottertail Oasis

Ottertail, MN

(218) 367-3626

★ 4

Nearby Marinas

265th St. RV & Boat Storage

Henning, MN

(218) 210-8874

★ 4.8

Advanced Docks & Lifts

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 495-2811

★ 4.3

Aqua Marine & Storage

Dent, MN

(218) 457-2325

★ 4.9

Ark & Spark

Underwood, MN

(218) 864-5969

★ 4.6

Battle Lake Boat Works

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 864-5567

★ 3.8

Delagoon Park

Fergus Falls, MN

★ 4.4

Resorts & Lodges Near Big McDonald #2

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Big McDonald #2.

Legacy Lakeside Resort & Event Center
Fishing Resort Clitherall

(218) 321-3150
MN Tru North
Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 346-5253
Paul Lake Resort
Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 234-9001
Shoreside at Rush
Fishing Resort Ottertail

(218) 234-2319

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Big McDonald #2. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Black CrappieLargemouth Bass

Fishing Guides Near Big McDonald #2

Gene's Sport Shop
Fishing Guide

(218) 346-3355
Lock Jaw Guide Service
Fishing Guide

(218) 640-0158
Minnesota Experience
Fishing Guide

(218) 770-8032
North Country Bowfishing
Fishing Guide
Pit Properties LLC
Fishing Guide

(218) 205-5358
RED HOOKS FISHING ADVENTURES
Red Hooks Fishing Adventures
Fishing Guide

(218) 370-9006

View all 8 guides →

Other Lakes in Otter Tail County

Adley

240.56 acres

Alice

46.96 acres

Anderson

88.82 acres

Anna

598.19 acres

Annie Battle

354.4 acres

Bass

33.86 acres

Plan Your Trip to Big McDonald #2

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.