West Leaf Lake

How big is West Leaf Lake?

How deep is West Leaf Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in West Leaf Lake?

What are the closest cities to West Leaf Lake?

Are there boat launches on West Leaf Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near West Leaf Lake?

West Leaf Lake is a 684-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in east central Otter Tail County approximately two miles east of Ottertail, MN. West Leaf Lake is connected to Middle Leaf Lake via an unnavigable culvert along the east shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots and marshland. West Leaf Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet; however, 37% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2010 lake survey was 8.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 5.6 to 9.9 feet.
Development is located around the entire shoreline of West Leaf Lake. The 1994 lake resurvey report referenced 129 homes and cabins along the shoreline. One resort is located along the northeast shoreline. A state owned concrete public access is located on a township road along the northeast shoreline off of County Highway 108. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. There are extensive areas of emergent aquatic plants (harstem bulrush, wild rice, and common cattail) present in the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat.
West Leaf Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass panfish-walleye type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, and bluegill are the dominant game fish species in the fish community. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat that is available.
Walleye abundance has historically fluctuated. In this survey, the test-net catch rate was within the expected range for this type of lake. Walleyes ranged in length from 9.2 to 23.0 inches with an average length and weight of 15.7 inches and 1.5 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 16.4 inches at four years of age.
Historically, the northern pike population has remained abundant. Age data from recent surveys indicate that northern pike exhibit consistently good reproduction. Pike ranged in length from 9.2 to 26.4 inches with an average length and weight of 18.5 inches and 1.4 pounds. Pike growth rates are slow with an average length of 22.1 inches at six years of age. The slow growth may correspond with a low abundance of yellow perch, a preferred forage fish.
Test-net catch data indicate that largemouth bass are abundant. Age data indicate that largemouth bass reproduction is consistently good. Bass ranged in length from 4.2 to 15.6 inches. Largemouth bass attain an average length of 11.8 inches at four years of age.
Historically, the bluegill population has exhibited large fluctuations in abundance. The test-net catch rate for this survey was within the expected range. Fifteen percent of the bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 7.3 inches at eight years of age.
Anglers can maintain or improve the quality of angling by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.

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Are there any state parks near West Leaf Lake?