10 miles north of Pelican Rapids
Otter Tail County, Minnesota · 46.7014° N, 96.0234° W
Directions to Pelican Lake (E) Public Water Access SiteApple Maps
Directions open in Google or Apple Maps, to the Minnesota DNR public access sites (2 listed; this is the first).
Updated 15 Oct 2026, 5:18 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
2 public access sites on Pelican Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 16 stockings of Pelican Lake in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 813 muskellunge fingerlings. Species stocked: muskellunge, walleye.
Latest: 2025: 813 muskellunge fingerlings.
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 Pelican Lake was in July 2024: 12 gill nets and 12 trap nets caught 17 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in April 2025; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 2011 12 · 2015 10 · 2018 14 · 2021 16 · 2024 12
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 2011 21 · 2015 31 · 2018 55 · 2021 17 · 2024 10
Walleye: 185 measured, 5 to 28 in, half 12 in or longer; average 0.89 lb, below normal (normal 1.2–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 34 measured, 13 to 34 in, half 22 in or longer; average 3.2 lb, above normal (normal 1.6–2.8 lb).
Muskellunge: 43 measured, 37 to 50 in, half 44 in or longer; average 23 lb, above normal (normal 0.4–4 lb).
Largemouth bass: 7 measured, 5 to 17 in, half 13 in or longer; average 1.2 lb, above normal (normal 0.2–0.8 lb).
Smallmouth bass: 61 measured, 5 to 19 in, half 14 in or longer; average 1.8 lb, normal (normal 0.9–2 lb).
Also caught: bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, hybrid sunfish, muskellunge, pumpkinseed, white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 22 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 5 readings, 2008–2024.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
Pelican Lake is 55 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 3,962 acres.
Yes. 2 public access sites are listed: Pelican Lake (E) Public Water Access Site; Pelican Lake (W) Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 16 stockings of it in 10 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 813 muskellunge fingerlings.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2024 standard survey caught 17 species, most often yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and smallmouth bass.
About 69% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.