West McDonald Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Today's Fishing Forecast
Fishing looks to be not very active with peak fishing times around 4-6 PM. SEE MORE
Share your catch!
We want to see what you've caught on West McDonald Lake.Frequently Asked Questions About West McDonald Lake, MN
- How big is West McDonald Lake?
- How deep is West McDonald Lake?
- What kind of fish can you catch in West McDonald Lake?
- What are the closest cities to West McDonald Lake?
- Are there places to stay in the West McDonald Lake area?
- Are there boat launches on West McDonald Lake?
- Are there places to eat and drink near West McDonald Lake?
- What is the average air temp for West McDonald Lake?
- Are there any state parks near West McDonald Lake?
How big is West McDonald Lake?
How deep is West McDonald Lake?
What kind of fish can you catch in West McDonald Lake?
Other fish species in the lake include Banded Killifish, Bluntnose Minnow, Hybrid Sunfish, Johnny Darter, Mimic Shiner, Spottail Shiner and White Sucker.
What are the closest cities to West McDonald Lake?
Are there places to stay in the West McDonald Lake area?
More Lodging Options
Are there boat launches on West McDonald Lake?
Are there places to eat and drink near West McDonald Lake?
Explore the West McDonald Lake area in a RV
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What aquatic invasive species are found in West McDonald Lake?
Join us in the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species These sneaky creatures can hitch a ride on boats, clinging onto propellers, anchor lines, and trailers. They can even survive in hidden places like bilge water and ballast tanks, or disguise themselves in dirt and sand that sticks to nets, buckets, anchors, and waders. But don't worry, we have the power to stop them in their tracks with just a few simple steps. So let's do our part and protect our waters from these unwanted invaders.
History & Status of the Fishery
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in West McDonald Lake was conducted on August 28-29, 2023, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot or 15-foot seine, where possible. Backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine were completed at fourteen sampling stations. Nearshore sampling captured fourteen species of fish including five species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Mimic Shiner) and one that is tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish).
The nearshore data will be combined with gill net and trap net data from a survey planned for 2025 to describe the fish community and provide a fish-based IBI (FIBI) score. The FIBI uses fish community data to measure a lake's health, and the types of fish species present can help identify any stressors that may be negatively affecting the lake environment. In Minnesota lakes, certain fish species cannot survive without clean water and a healthy habitat (e.g., Blackchin Shiner, Iowa Darter, and Rock Bass), while other species are tolerant of degraded conditions (e.g., Black Bullhead and Green Sunfish). The FIBI score, composed of several fish community diversity and composition metrics, indicates the overall health of a lake by comparing it to what is expected for a healthy lake. For additional information on the FIBI, search for "lake index of biological integrity" on the mndnr.gov website.
Results from this survey will be considered when the biological health of West McDonald Lake is assessed during the Otter Tail River Watershed assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency.
What is the average air temp for West McDonald Lake?
Are there any state parks near West McDonald Lake?
For more Minnesota State Park information see our State Park Guide.
More Nearby Lakes To Explore
There's more lake's to explore around West McDonald Lake...| DISTANCE | ACRES | MAX DEPTH | |
| Hoffman Lake | 0.6 mi | 157 | 20 ft |
| Brown Lake | 0.7 mi | 84 | |
| Big McDonald Lake | 1.1 mi | 992 | 46 ft |
| Archie Lake | 1.2 mi | 32 | |
| McDonald Lake | 1.8 mi | 561 | 33 ft |
| Mud Lake | 1.9 mi | 114 | |
| Walde Lake | 2.0 mi | 94 | |
| Elbow Lake | 2.1 mi | 96 | 85 ft |
| Round Lake | 2.1 mi | 173 | 18 ft |
| Unnamed Lake | 2.1 mi | 12 |
