Minnesota · Becker County
Melissa Lake Fishing guide
Melissa Lake sits in Becker County, Minnesota, and covers 1,850 acres, reaching 37 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 12.5 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2024, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers6.2per gill net18"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 102 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 12 fish
2024Lengths measured · 90 fish
2024Lengths measured · 92 fish
2019Lengths measured · 120 fish
2014Largemouth bassJust a few6.9per hr (electrofishing)11"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 81 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2024Lengths measured · 66 fish
2024Lengths measured · 69 fish
2019Lengths measured · 93 fish
2014Northern pikeOne of the best around22.7per gill net20"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 303 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 15 fish
2024Lengths measured · 288 fish
2024Lengths measured · 154 fish
2019Lengths measured · 201 fish
2014BluegillFair numbers31.9per trap net5"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1079 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 304 fish
2024Lengths measured · 775 fish
2024Lengths measured · 511 fish
2019Lengths measured · 854 fish
2014CrappieJust a few0.5per trap net9"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 29 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 6 fish
2024Only 6 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 23 fish
2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2019Lengths measured · 82 fish
2014Yellow perchGood numbers4.6per gill net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 55 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 55 fish
2024Lengths measured · 29 fish
2019Lengths measured · 111 fish
2014Lengths measured · 148 fish
2009Rock bassOne of the best around3.4per seine haul8"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 5 fish
2024Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 55 fish
2024Lengths measured · 57 fish
2019Lengths measured · 76 fish
2014Rates 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 Melissa Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.5 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.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.5 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 27" | 34" | 19" |
| 2019 | 26" | 32" | 18" |
| 2014 | 28" | 36" | 17" |
| 2009 | 28" | 33" | 18" |
| 2004 | 31" | 37" | 19" |
| 2000 | 29" | 36" | 18" |
| 1994 | 25" | 29" | 16" |
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
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Jigs & bladed
Inline Spinner (Mepps/Blue Fox)
#2–#4 in-line spinner
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 934,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 941,984 fry · 2,812 fingerlings · 11,962 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 934,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 934,000 fry · 17,867 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 934,000 fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 7,746 yearlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 934,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 934,000 fry · 14,247 fingerlings · 190 yearlings · 171 adults |
| 2017 | Walleye | 2,200,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 1,000,000 fry · 7,750 fingerlings · 260 yearlings · 542 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2024 survey
A targeted survey of nearshore fish species in Melissa Lake was conducted on August 12th-15th, 2024, by Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) Program staff. Eighteen sampling sites were evenly spaced around the lake, and each was sampled by backpack electrofishing and seining with a 50-foot seine. Nearshore sampling captured twenty-four species of fish including eight species that are intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Banded Killifish, Blackchin Shiner, Blacknose Shiner, Iowa Darter, Least Darter, Logperch, Mimic Shiner, and Rock Bass) and two that are tolerant of disturbance (i.e., Green Sunfish and Fathead Minnow).
A concurrent summer trap net survey was also conducted by IBI Program staff. Fifteen trap nets were set along the shoreline in locations that encompassed multiple habitat types. Trap net sampling captured eleven species of fish, including one that is intolerant of disturbance (i.e., Rock Bass). Bluegill comprised a majority of the catch by number, whereas Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Walleye comprised a majority by biomass.
Read the full DNR narrative
The nearshore and trap net were combined with gill net data from a July 2024 survey 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., Green Sunfish and Fathead Minnow). 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 provide evidence that the fish community in Melissa Lake is healthy as indicated by an FIBI score above the general use impairment threshold for aquatic life use determined for similar lakes. These results are similar to previous findings which indicated that Melissa Lake is fully supporting aquatic life. The survey results will be considered when the biological health of the lake is assessed during the Otter Tail River assessment process, which will be completed in coordination with MN Pollution Control Agency. You can help protect the fish community in Melissa Lake by reducing runoff, maintaining natural shorelines, and preventing the spread of invasive species.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Melissa Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Melissa 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
- Melissa Lake, Mac's Landing (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Melissa Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Mill Lake · 155 ac · 1 mi
- Meadow Lake · 71 ac · 1.7 mi
- Sauer Lake · 193 ac · 1.7 mi
- Sallie Lake · 1,280 ac · 2.4 mi
- Johnson Lake · 183 ac · 2.9 mi
- Little Pelican Lake · 366 ac · 3.1 mi
- Muskrat Lake · 69 ac · 3.2 mi
- Pearl Lake · 280 ac · 3.2 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Melissa Lake?
Melissa Lake reaches 37 ft at its deepest point; about 50% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Melissa Lake?
Melissa Lake covers 1,850 acres with about 7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Melissa Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Melissa Lake average 12.5 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Melissa Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2024) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Melissa Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Melissa Lake have a public access?
Yes. Melissa Lake has one public access site: Melissa Lake, Mac's Landing (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Melissa Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1994.
When was Melissa Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Melissa Lake in 2024, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
Featured guide spot
Your guide service here
One featured guide per lake, with your photo, your writeup and a link straight to your booking page. Free through December 31, 2026.
Then $20 a month from January. Cancel any time.
The live map adds today's conditions and ranked spots for Melissa Lake, plus a trip plan you can share:
Open Melissa Lake on the live map → Fished it lately? Write a report