Walker Lake

Walker Lake

Size
577ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Walker Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye

Overview

Walleye are the main attraction here. One of the best for winter perch. Broad sand flats and numerous midlake humps provide plenty of spots to fish.

Walker Lake Map

Features

Otter Tail Lake lies in the middle of a number of river chains connecting Rush and Pine lakes to the north. Walker and Dead lakes to the northwest, Deer and East Lost lakes to the southwest, and West Battle Lake to the south. The Otter Tail River is the deepest of the rivers and can be navigated (with caution) upstream to Rush Lake. The majority of the lake is fringed by broad sand borders that extend well out into the lake, making Otter Tail a premier summer swimming and recreation lake. Otter Tail Lake is known for its excellent walleye fishing. Many perch and fair numbers of northern pike are also caught. Some of the best wintertime yellow perch fishing in the area is found on Otter Tail Lake.

Forage

Emerald shiner, spottail shiner, lake shiner, yellow perch, tullibee (cisco), and white sucker are the primary forage species. Bullhead, rock bass, burbot and juvenile panfish are also available to gamefish. The consistently high tullibee population is a sign of good water quality.

Seasonal Movements

In the early spring, walleye and sucker run up the Dead and Otter Tail River; suckers also move up Balmoral Creek. According to a DNR fisheries study, approximately 10% of the walleye spawning in Otter Tail Lake used the Dead and Otter Tail rivers. Walleye fishing is impacted each spring by a major movement of lake shiners into the shallows. Depending on spring weather conditions, this shiner run usually occurs in early-to-late May and draws many walleye into the shallows to feed.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
3-10 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Crappie
fish
7-11 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Largemouth bass
fish
12-14 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Electro
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Northern pike
fish
17-24 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Perch
fish
5-10 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Pumpkinseed
fish
4-8 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Rock bass
fish
9-10 in
Length Range
10 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug
Smallmouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Walleye
fish
10-26 in
Length Range
15 in
Length Range
2014
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Unknown
2014
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
2003
Aug
2007
Aug
2014
Aug