Minnesota · Cook County
McFarland Lake Fishing guide
McFarland Lake covers 386 acres in Cook County, Minnesota, reaching 49 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 15.7 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 9 times, most recently in 2023, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers6.9per gill net15"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 63 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 63 fish
2021Lengths measured · 73 fish
2017Lengths measured · 20 fish
2013Lengths measured · 47 fish
2003Smallmouth bassPresent2.9per gill net2"Typical17"Biggest
Lengths measured · 167 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 167 fish
2021Lengths measured · 126 fish
2017Lengths measured · 34 fish
2013Lengths measured · 57 fish
2003Northern pikeJust a few2.4per gill net21"Typical26"Biggest
Lengths measured · 24 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 24 fish
2021Lengths measured · 29 fish
2017Lengths measured · 18 fish
2013Lengths measured · 15 fish
2003Yellow perchFair numbers4.1per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 67 fish
2021Lengths measured · 46 fish
2017Lengths measured · 25 fish
2013Lengths measured · 8 fish
2003Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish McFarland Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 15.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. On a lake that drops to 49 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 15.7 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 49 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25" | 17" | 26" |
| 2017 | 25" | 17" | 30" |
| 2013 | 25" | 17" | 29" |
| 2003 | 20" | 16" | 25" |
| 1997 | 22" | 17" | 20" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2023 survey
A temperature-dissolved oxygen profile was collected in the deepest basin on McFarland Lake on August 7th, 2023 to evaluate the amount of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as Tullibee. Based on the profile, the top of the thermocline (i.e., the location in the water column with the sharpest transition from warm to cold water) occurred at approximately 13 feet. Dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L at 26.4 feet, which was below the thermocline, at the time of sampling. The temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to below 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 8.9°C (48.0°F).
TDO3 values cooler than 17.2°C for Lake Whitefish or 21.5°C for Cisco indicate that oxythermal conditions are favorable for both species. Dissolved oxygen concentrations below the thermocline indicate that suitable oxythermal habitat for Lake Whitefish and Cisco was available across a range of depths at the time of sampling. Data collected in 1988-2017 indicate suitable oxythermal habitat in most years, with the least favorable conditions recorded in 2017 (17.5°C). When adequate oxythermal habitat is available, Lake Whitefish or Cisco are not squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and therefore do not experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
McFarland Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on McFarland Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- McFarland Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
McFarland Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Little John Lake · 40 ac · 0.9 mi
- John Lake · 191 ac · 1.2 mi
- East Pike Lake · 554 ac · 2.7 mi
- Loft Lake · 14 ac · 2.9 mi
- Moose Lake · 1,026 ac · 3.5 mi
- Devilfish Lake · 405 ac · 4.1 mi
- Gadwell Lake · 20 ac · 4.4 mi
- Margaret Lake · 6 ac · 4.4 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is McFarland Lake?
McFarland Lake reaches 49 ft at its deepest point; about 53% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is McFarland Lake?
McFarland Lake covers 386 acres with about 7.3 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in McFarland Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on McFarland Lake average 15.7 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in McFarland Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2023) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch.
Is McFarland Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for McFarland Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does McFarland Lake have a public access?
Yes. McFarland Lake has one public access site: McFarland Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in McFarland Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was McFarland Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed McFarland Lake in 2023, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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