Big Stone Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Big Stone Lake is mapped to a depth of 15 ft on the Minnesota DNR survey and covers about 11,969 acres in Big Stone County, Minnesota. Depths come from the Minnesota DNR survey of 1958.
Measured from the Minnesota DNR lake bathymetric contour survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 15 ft
- Survey year
- 1958
- Surface area
- 11,969 acres
- Shoreline
- 60.34 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 1% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Trailer Launch · Big Stone Lake, #8 Public Water Access Site · Minnesota DNR site · 8 more
Additional depth details3 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–15 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 15 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
- 45.42794, -96.70349
- MN DNR lake ID
- 06015200
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.3 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-25Big Stone Lake has a mixed natural and developed setting, long open-water fetch, substantial nearby higher-volume roads.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Mixed | 10.4 of 35 | 35% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (17% forest, 13% wetland; 17% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Modest | 1.5 of 29 | mean fetch 6,238 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 | Good | 15.0 of 18 | 9 DNR public access sites · boat ramp · ADA-accessible · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Modest | 3.3 of 18 | substantial nearby higher-volume roads · 74 MnDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 4,866 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 1% 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
- Limited — 17% forest and 13% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Minnesota lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys & active stocking25 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
Golden Redhorse
White Sucker
Quillback
Shorthead Redhorse
White Bass
Hybrid Sunfish
Bluntnose Minnow
Emerald Shiner
Spottail Shiner
Johnny DarterAbout these fish → the Fish of Minnesota guide
Fishery
surveyed 2024Gamefish Walleye 36 · Northern Pike 15 · Largemouth Bass 8 · Channel Catfish 2
Panfish Bluegill 2,603 · Yellow Perch 1,175 · Black Crappie 252
All survey species25 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
DNR stocking
state stocking record · 2016–2025Fish the Minnesota DNR has planted in this lake — what was added, distinct from what a survey netted above.
Infested waters listing
1 confirmedMussels & snails
Zebra MusselConfirmed in this water in 2023 (listed 2023).
How to identify invasive species in Minnesota lakes →
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 Stone Lake — common questions
How deep is Big Stone Lake?
The deepest contour on the Minnesota DNR bathymetric survey of Big Stone Lake is 15 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 Stone Lake?
Big Stone Lake covers about 11,969 acres in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
What fish are in Big Stone Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, black bullhead. The page lists all 25 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Big Stone Lake?
Yes. The Minnesota DNR lists 9 public access sites on Big Stone Lake: Big Stone Lake, #8 Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Big Stone Lake, Bonanza Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Big Stone Lake, Hornsteins Public Water Access Site (boat ramp); Big Stone Lake, Kanne Public Water Access Site (boat ramp) and 5 more.
