4 miles east of Ottertail
Otter Tail County, Minnesota · 46.4114° N, 95.4906° W
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Updated 19 Oct 2026, 6:09 pm EDT.
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Minnesota DNR lake survey, fetched 15 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.
1 public access site on West Leaf Lake.
Minnesota DNR public water accesses, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 9 stockings of West Leaf Lake in 8 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 3,000 walleye fingerlings. Species stocked: walleye.
Latest: 2025: 3,000 walleye 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 West Leaf Lake was in July 2022: 9 gill nets and 11 trap nets caught 17 species. The DNR also ran a targeted survey in July 2022; this section uses the latest standard survey.
Walleye per gill net, standard surveys: 1999 6.8 · 2004 2.5 · 2010 4.3 · 2017 4.2 · 2022 4.7
Bluegill per trap net, standard surveys: 1999 18 · 2004 40 · 2010 20 · 2017 18 · 2022 11
Walleye: 47 measured, 8 to 24 in, half 17 in or longer; average 2 lb, normal (normal 1.2–2.1 lb).
Northern pike: 59 measured, 17 to 27 in, half 20 in or longer; average 1.8 lb, normal (normal 1.6–2.8 lb).
Largemouth bass: 18 measured, 7 to 18 in, half 11 in or longer; average 1.3 lb, above normal (normal 0.5–1.2 lb).
Black crappie: 10 measured, 7 to 12 in, half 10 in or longer; average 0.71 lb, above normal (normal 0.3–0.6 lb).
Bluegill: 142 measured, 2 to 9 in, half 5 in or longer; average 0.19 lb, normal (normal 0.1–0.2 lb).
Also caught: black bullhead, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, hybrid sunfish, shorthead redhorse, tullibee (cisco), white sucker, yellow bullhead.
Source: Minnesota DNR Fisheries lake survey, 11 Jul 2022, 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 10 ft: the Secchi depth across 3 readings, 2010–2022.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and volunteer Secchi readings, via Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, fetched 15 Oct 2026.
Minnesota DNR lake survey; straight-line miles.
West Leaf Lake is 55 feet at its deepest point, measured by Minnesota DNR survey. It covers 700 acres.
Yes. 1 public access site is listed: West Leaf Lake Public Water Access Site.
Yes. Minnesota DNR stocking reports list 9 stockings of it in 8 of the years 2016 to 2025. The most recent, in 2025, included 3,000 walleye fingerlings.
Minnesota DNR’s July 2022 standard survey caught 17 species, most often bluegill, northern pike, rock bass and walleye.
About 67% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Minnesota DNR depth contours.