North McDougal Lake

Lake County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 38068600

North McDougal Lake has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.

• North McDougal Lake shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of September 2, 2026.
• Maximum depth 13 ft; surface area 273 acres, 273 littoral acres, 5.5 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 3.5 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: bluegill, hybrid sunfish, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 10, 2023 (standard survey).
• Lake County, nearest town Isabella; DNR lake number (DOW) 38068600.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 9/11/1979 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2023

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

North McDougal Lake is in Lake County about ten miles west of Isabella and is within the Superior National Forest. There is a Forest Service campground with a concrete log boat ramp and dock that provides public access to the lake, as well as other connected waterbodies known collectively as the McDougal Chain of Lakes. These lakes have dark bog-colored water and are shallow but have diverse habitat that supports a naturally reproducing fish community with several popular species. The 2023 Walleye catch was within the normal range and near the average from eleven historic surveys of the lake. The size structure of the population remains small with an average length of 12.8" and average weight of 0.74 pounds. Analysis determined ten unique year classes were sampled with nearly half the catch from 2018 and 2020, collectively. Growth was slow compared to other area lakes with Walleye reaching just 13" long at age-5. Bluegill catch has increased in each survey completed on the lake since they were first sampled in 2006. The population has a good size structure with an average length of nearly 8" and fish over 10" long present. Bluegill ranged from two to ten years old with each year class between also sampled. The 2017 year class accounted for 31% of the catch with fish from this year class ranging from 8.1 to 9.5" long. Growth was good compared to other area lakes and compared to statewide averages. Results from this survey confirm that Bluegill have established a naturalized population that provides anglers with quality opportunities that are unique to the area. Northern Pike catch decreased to 2.17 per gill net in 2023 but was within the normal range and similar to historic surveys of the lake. Pike ranged from 9 to 41" long with an average size of about 21" long and 2.25 pounds. Age analysis determined consistent Northern Pike reproduction and recruitment in recent years. Anglers should continue to have decent opportunities for pike for the foreseeable future. A small number of Smallmouth Bass were again sampled in 2023, which continued a trend of low catches observed since the species was first sampled in North McDougal Lake in 2006. Anglers may have a hard time targeting the species because of low abundance but might catch some bass incidentally while fishing for other species.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 10, 2023.

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