Little Pelican Lake
Little Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 366.1 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 366 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 18
- Open water
- 221 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Little Pelican Lake is a 366-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including black crappie and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Little Pelican Lake ranks #35 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Pelican Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
Little Pelican Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Pelican Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Average Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 366 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.2 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 70% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pelican Lake (East)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Pelican Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-04-29 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 23.76 | 0.21 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 19.95 | 0.44 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 10.14 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 9.06 | 0.39 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.40 | 1.37 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 5.83 | 0.19 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Hybrid Sunfish
Yellow Bass
From the 2024-04-29 survey
Little Pelican Lake is a 345-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northwest Otter Tail County approximately six miles northwest of Vergas, MN. Little Pelican Lake is part of the Pelican River watershed. The Pelican River inlet is located along the northeast shoreline of the lake while the outlet is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Little Pelican Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Little PelicanFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.041 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (6 observations).
Estimated open water season: 221 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-11 (2005) | 2013-05-10 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2017-11-11 (2017) | 2006-11-28 (2006) |
Most recent ice-out: 2013-05-10
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 66 lakes in Otter Tail County
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Little Pelican Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Pelican Lake?
- Little Pelican Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 366.1 acres.
Is Little Pelican Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Pelican Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Pelican Lake?
- Little Pelican Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Pelican Lake?
- Little Pelican Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 366.1 acres.
What fish are in Little Pelican Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Pelican Lake include black crappie, bluegill. Little Pelican Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Little Pelican Lake thaw?
- Little Pelican Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 18. Ice typically forms around Nov 25. The open water season is approximately 221 days.
Are there boat ramps on Little Pelican Lake?
- Little Pelican Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pelican Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Pelican Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
119 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA119 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate