Otter Tail Lake

Otter Tail Lake

View in the App
Size
14,022ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
Yes
Toilet
Yes
Boat Dock
Yes
Species in Otter Tail 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
Sturgeon
Sturgeon
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.

Otter Tail 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
8-9 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.05
0Statewide Range19.68

Otter Tail Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20159
Crappie
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
0.35
0Statewide Range12.68

Otter Tail Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Largemouth bass
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
0.1
0Statewide Range3.68

Otter Tail Lake Largemouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
Northern pike
fish
17-31 in
Length Range
23 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
2
0Statewide Range19.75

Otter Tail Lake Northern pike abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
View in the App
Perch
fish
5-12 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
17.45
0Statewide Range43.58

Otter Tail Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
View in the App
Pumpkinseed
fish
3-8 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.05
0Statewide Range6.18

Otter Tail Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
View in the App
Rock bass
fish
5-11 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
2.8
0Statewide Range6.58

Otter Tail Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
View in the App
Smallmouth bass
fish
16-17 in
Length Range
17 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
0.75
0Statewide Range3.42

Otter Tail Lake Smallmouth bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2004
Sep
View in the App
Sturgeon
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No abundance data
0.35
0Statewide Range1.73

Otter Tail Lake Sturgeon abundance

Average range for similar lakes

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
8-27 in
Length Range
14 in
Length Range
2004
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Below Avg.
2004
Surveyed
Gillnet
Catch Method
10.05
0Statewide Range16.93

Otter Tail Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

View in the App
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
2001
Sep
2004
Sep
View in the App
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized bluegill based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
20159
View in the App

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