Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest April 21, 2025
Mason Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mason Lake average 3.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 21, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–31 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Mason Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 3.0 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Mason Lake
17 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Mason Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Mason Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mason Lake average 3.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 21, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–31 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mason Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-04-21 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 33.78 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 11.42 | 0.17 lb |
| Rock Bass | 5.70 | 0.39 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.57 | 0.21 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.11 | 0.23 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.56 | 2.16 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This is not a weekly bite report.
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
Yellow Perch
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
From the 2025-04-21 survey
West Battle Lake is a 5,624-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County. The city of Battle Lake, Minnesota abuts the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 108 feet; however,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Mason Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — West BattleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — West Battle (1195)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — West BattleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — West BattlePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Mason Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Mason Lake average 3.56 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated April 21, 2025. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–31 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Mason Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Mason Lake is dated April 21, 2025. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Mason Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Mason Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Mason Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mason Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Mason Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Mason Lake
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