Big Pine Lake
depth
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Survey readout
Big Pine Lake is mapped to a depth of 70 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 4,728 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1978.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 70 ft
- Survey year
- 1978
- Surface area
- 4,728 acres
- Shoreline
- 14.24 mi · lobed
- Aquatic vegetation
- 0% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Big Pine Lake (E) Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 2 more
Additional depth details9 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–70 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 70 ft, 50 ft, 50 ft, 50 ft, 50 ft, 40 ft
Provenance
Sources: MN DNR Lake Bathymetric Contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 46.61110, -95.50109
- MN DNR lake ID
- 56013000
- Vertical exaggeration
- 1.4×
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.2 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Big Pine Lake has a partly natural setting, long open-water fetch, some nearby classified roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Good | 16.7 of 35 | 56% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (30% forest, 24% wetland; 25% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 4,964 m · 0% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · long open-water fetch |
| Motor & speed rules | Not modeled | — | Minnesota’s lake-by-lake motor, speed and no-wake rules are mostly county and city ordinances, not map data, so they are not part of the Minnesota index. Check local signage and ordinances before going out. |
| Public access | Excellent | 17.6 of 18 | 3 DNR public access sites · carry-in or canoe launch · boat ramp |
| Road isolation | Good | 7.5 of 18 | some nearby classified roads · 11 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 7,814 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Low — approximately 0% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- Moderate — 30% forest and 24% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
- State water trail
- On a state water trail — Part of a designated Minnesota State Water Trail: Otter Tail River. · MN DNR State Water Trails
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys19 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
Lake Sturgeon
Common Carp
Freshwater Drum
White Sucker
Shorthead Redhorse
Hybrid Sunfish
Trout-PerchAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2017Gamefish Walleye 296 · Northern Pike 20 · Bowfin 10 · Largemouth Bass 9
Panfish Yellow Perch 340 · Bluegill 255 · Pumpkinseed 188
All survey species19 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Infested waters listing
listed via connectionMussels & snails
- Zebra MusselListed in 2020 because this water is connected to East Loon (56-0523). The species has not necessarily been found in this lake.
What does the infested waters list mean?
The Minnesota DNR lists a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested when it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters, or when it is connected to a water where one is present. Activities such as bait harvest and water use are managed differently on infested waters. Check the current list before moving water, bait or equipment.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. List of Infested Waters, September 9, 2026. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html
Big Pine Lake — common questions
How deep is Big Pine Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Big Pine Lake is 70 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Big Pine Lake?
Big Pine Lake covers about 4,728 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Big Pine Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, bluegill. The page lists all 19 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Big Pine Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 3 public access sites on Big Pine Lake: Big Pine Lake (E) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Big Pine Lake (W) Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Big Pine Lake (N) Public Water Access Site (carry-in launch).
