Pelican Lake is located in northwestern Otter Tail County approximately seven miles north of Pelican Rapids, MN. Pelican Lake is a 3,986-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake that is located within the Otter Tail River Watershed. The southern portion of the lake (309 acres) is referred to as Fish Lake. Pelican Lake is connected to Little Pelican Lake and Lake Lizzie via the Pelican River. The Pelican River inlet is located along the east shoreline of the lake while the outlet is located along the south shoreline of Fish Lake. The Pelican River is navigable by boat upstream to Little Pelican Lake. A dam at the outlet impedes navigability downstream to Lake Lizzie. The maximum depth of Pelican Lake is 55 feet; however, 41% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2008 lake survey was 9.4 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 5.4 to 13.0 feet. The shoreline of Pelican Lake has been extensively developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the majority of the development. DNR owned concrete public water accesses are located along the east and southwest shorelines of the lake. Remnant stands of hardstem bulrush and wild rice are scattered along various shorelines of the lake. A large stand of hardstem bulrush is located along the north shoreline of the entrance into Fish Lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and wild rice provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Pelican Lake is a popular angling lake during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. The lake is best known for its excellent walleye, northern pike, and bluegill fishing. Data from the population assessment indicate that these species are abundant. Pelican Lake is also becoming renowned as a trophy muskellunge lake. Walleye is a primary management species in this lake. The test-net catch rate of walleye was the second highest recorded in any survey on this lake and was in excess of the normal range for this class of lake. Walleye ranged in length from 7.9 to 25.2 inches with an average length and weight of 14.4 inches and 1.1 pounds. The 2004 and 2006 year classes appear to be strong and should provide consistently good walleye angling for several years. Walleye attain an average length of 14.0 inches at four years of age. Northern pike population characteristics have demonstrated stability over the recent series of assessments. The pike population has remained at a moderate density since the 1983 survey and natural reproduction has continued to be consistently good. Northern pike ranged in length from 10.0 to 30.5 inches with an average length and weight of 18.8 inches and 1.5 pounds. Pike exhibit moderate growth rates with an average length of 20.5 inches at four years of age. The muskellunge population can be characterized as a trophy fishery; a low-density population with fish of quality size. Muskellunge up to 46.0 inches in length have been sampled in recent assessments. The DNR will continue to manage Pelican Lake as a trophy muskellunge fishery by stocking muskies at a rate of 1 fish per littoral acre (1,625 fish) on a biennial basis. Bluegill test-net catch rates have fluctuated over the recent series of assessments with the general trend being a decline in the catch rate. The decline in bluegill abundance has led to a corresponding increase in bluegill size distribution. Fifty percent of the bluegills were at least 7.0 inches in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.9 inches at six years of age. A low-density smallmouth bass population exists in Pelican Lake. Smallmouth bass test-net catch rates have historically been low. Suitable spawning habitat and/or juvenile nursery areas may be factors limiting smallmouth bass abundance. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.