McDonald

Cook County, Minnesota — DOW #16023500

43 Surveys

85.7

Acres

8 ft

Max Depth

Fish Species

Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on McDonald. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Northern Pike

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-28	Standard gill nets	9.0 (above normal)	2.8 – 8.5	1.61 lb	54
1986-06-12	Standard gill nets	4.7 (normal)	2.8 – 8.5	1.89 lb	14
2017-06-19	Standard gill nets	2.5 (below normal)	2.8 – 8.5	1.67 lb	15
2017-06-19	15-ft beach seine	1.0	—	0.07 lb	9
2007-06-20	Standard gill nets	6.5 (normal)	2.8 – 8.5	2.06 lb	39
1998-06-22	Standard gill nets	6.0 (normal)	2.8 – 8.5	1.29 lb	36
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.5	—	0.84 lb	5
2001-06-20	Standard gill nets	5.8 (normal)	2.8 – 8.5	1.26 lb	35

Smallmouth Bass

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-28	Standard gill nets	1.7 (normal)	0.8 – 2.8	1.57 lb	10
1986-06-12	Standard gill nets	0.7 (below normal)	0.8 – 2.8	1.88 lb	2
2017-06-19	Standard gill nets	2.7 (normal)	0.8 – 2.8	1.88 lb	16
2007-06-20	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.8 – 2.8	2.23 lb	9
1998-06-22	Standard gill nets	1.7 (normal)	0.8 – 2.8	2.06 lb	10
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.3	—	0.12 lb	3
2001-06-20	Standard gill nets	1.5 (normal)	0.8 – 2.8	1.99 lb	9

Walleye

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-28	Standard gill nets	1.3 (normal)	1.3 – 5.0	1.56 lb	8
1986-06-12	Standard gill nets	6.3 (above normal)	1.3 – 5.0	2.13 lb	19
2017-06-19	Standard gill nets	2.2 (normal)	1.3 – 5.0	1.21 lb	13
2007-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	1.98 lb	3
1998-06-22	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	1.00 lb	5
2001-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.5 (below normal)	1.3 – 5.0	1.21 lb	3

Yellow Perch

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-28	Standard gill nets	7.2 (normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.27 lb	43
1986-06-12	Standard gill nets	2.7 (normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.12 lb	8
2017-06-19	15-ft beach seine	2.0	—	—	18
2017-06-19	Standard gill nets	5.2 (normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.34 lb	31
2007-06-20	Standard gill nets	0.8 (below normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.48 lb	5
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	1.8	—	0.05 lb	18
1998-06-22	Standard gill nets	2.7 (normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.38 lb	16
2001-06-20	Standard gill nets	4.0 (normal)	2.0 – 16.0	0.50 lb	24

White Sucker

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Avg Weight	Total Catch
2004-06-28	Standard gill nets	3.2 (below normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.88 lb	19
1986-06-12	Standard gill nets	16.3 (above normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.81 lb	49
2017-06-19	Standard gill nets	4.2 (normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.12 lb	25
2007-06-20	Standard gill nets	2.5 (below normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.85 lb	15
1998-06-22	Standard gill nets	2.8 (below normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.74 lb	17
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.2	—	2.11 lb	2
2001-06-20	Standard gill nets	6.3 (normal)	4.0 – 14.5	2.41 lb	38

Golden Shiner

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2017-06-19	15-ft beach seine	5.2	—	47

BNS

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2017-06-19	15-ft beach seine	24.8	—	223
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	1.6	—	16

Bluegill

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
2017-06-19	15-ft beach seine	8.6	—	77

PRD

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.1	—	1

CNM

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.2	—	2

Longnose Dace

Date	Gear	CPUE	Normal Range	Total Catch
1998-06-22	1/4-in trap nets	0.1	—	1

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Marinas

Bearskin Wilderness Outfitters

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 388-2292

★ 4.7

BoatPAL Services

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 264-9934

★ 5

Grand Marais Boat Rides

Grand Marais, MN

(218) 387-4159

Grand Marais Campground & Marina

Grand Marais, MN

(800) 998-0959

★ 4.6

Grand Marais Harbor

Grand Marais, MN

Grand Marais Marina Photogenic Point

Grand Marais, MN

★ 4.9

Resorts & Lodges Near McDonald

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near McDonald.

Eve's Place Lakeside Cabins

Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 370-9834

SAGONTO Wilderness Resort

Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 370-1074

Timberlund's Resort

Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 387-1147

Borderland Lodge

Fishing Resort Grand Marais

(218) 388-2233

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit McDonald. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

Bluegill Northern Pike Smallmouth Bass Walleye White Sucker Yellow Perch

Fishing Guides Near McDonald

Devil Track Lake Cabins

Fishing Guide

(218) 877-7502

Fly Box And Company

Fishing Guide

(218) 370-9659

Grand Marais Charters

Fishing Guide

(218) 370-5800

Little Vince's Guide Services

(218) 388-9942

(218) 370-8726

Other Lakes in Cook County

Plan Your Trip to McDonald

Weather forecast for McDonald — check wind, rain, and temperature before you go
GPS: 47.8626°N, 90.5237°W — Get Directions
View on MN DNR LakeFinder for the latest survey data and lake info
Review Minnesota fishing regulations for season dates and limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required for ages 16+ — buy online at dnr.state.mn.us

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.

McDonald

DNR Fish Surveys

Northern Pike

Smallmouth Bass

Walleye

Yellow Perch

White Sucker

Golden Shiner

BNS

Bluegill

PRD

CNM

Longnose Dace

Depth Maps & Lake Info

Map & Directions

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Bear Track Outfitting Co.

Buck's Hardware

Clearwater BWCA Outfitters

Hungry Jack Canoe Outfitters

Lake Superior Trading Post

Moose Tracks

Northern Goods

The Fisherman's Daughter at Dockside Fish Market

Nearby Marinas

Bearskin Wilderness Outfitters

BoatPAL Services

Grand Marais Boat Rides

Grand Marais Campground & Marina

Grand Marais Harbor

Grand Marais Marina Photogenic Point

Resorts & Lodges Near McDonald

Fish Species

Fishing Guides Near McDonald

Other Lakes in Cook County

Abita

Ada

Agnes

Alder

Allen

Alpine

Plan Your Trip to McDonald