5 miles southwest of Detroit Lakes
Becker County, Minnesota · 46.7424° N, 95.8972° W
Directions to Melissa Lake, Mac's Landing Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
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Updated 19 Oct 2026, 5:46 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on Lake Melissa.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 20 stockings of Lake Melissa in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 934,000 walleye fry. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 934,000 walleye fry.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries (LakeFinder stocking reports), fetched 15 Oct 2026. How we measure
Measured from Minnesota DNR contours. How we measure
Minnesota DNR’s latest standard fish survey of Lake Melissa was in July 2024: 12 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 16 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in August 2024; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2004 5.7 · 2009 3.8 · 2014 9.5 · 2019 7.1 · 2024 6.2
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 2004 42 · 2009 13 · 2014 48 · 2019 37 · 2024 46
Walleye: 90 measured, 8 to 27 in, half 18 in or longer; average 2.3 lb, above normal (normal 1.2–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 288 measured, 12 to 31 in, half 20 in or longer; average 2.1 lb, normal (normal 1.6–2.8 lb).
Largemouth bass: 66 measured, 7 to 19 in, half 11 in or longer; average 0.98 lb, normal (normal 0.5–1.2 lb).
Black crappie: 23 measured, 5 to 11 in, half 8 in or longer; average 0.43 lb, normal (normal 0.3–0.6 lb).
Bluegill: 775 measured, 3 to 8 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.09 lb, below normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, tullibee (cisco), white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 14 Jul 2024, via LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Normal range: DNR’s range for lakes of the same class (43 classes, grouped by water chemistry and shape). Each line has its own scale. How we measure
Measured water clarity averages about 12 ft: the Secchi depth across 4 readings, 2009–2024.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Lake Melissa is 37 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 1,850 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Melissa Lake, Mac's Landing Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 20 stockings of it in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 934,000 walleye fry.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2024 standard survey caught 16 species, most often bluegill, pumpkinseed, northern pike and hybrid sunfish.
About 65% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.