Hoot Lake
Hoot Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 161.33 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.7 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 161 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why Hoot Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Hoot Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Hoot Lake is a 161-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and brown bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Hoot Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hoot Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hoot Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 39% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Hoot LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Hoot Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-07-07 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 39.82 | 2.15 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 27.54 | 0.08 lb |
| Bluegill | 22.20 | 0.15 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 14.58 | 1.13 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.09 | 2.44 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.55 | 0.15 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Smallmouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
From the 2025-07-07 survey
Hoot Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in southwest Otter Tail County. Hoot Lake is located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Hoot Lake is part of the Otter Tail River chain of lakes. The Otter Tail River enters the lake along the northeast shoreline and outlets to Wright Lake…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Hoot Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HootFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Hoot (1180)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — HootFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — HootPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.19 m/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Hoot Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Hoot Lake (completed 1913), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Ottertail River; gravity-type dam, 10 ft tall and 226 ft long.
- Max storage
- 99 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,240 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Otter Tail Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00194 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Hoot Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Otter Tail Power Co - Hoot Lake PlantFergus Falls · 1.1 mi away · NPDES MN0002011Major
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Graded lakes near Hoot Lake
Hoot Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Hoot Lake
What is the water quality grade for Hoot Lake?
- Hoot Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 11.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 161.33 acres.
Is Hoot Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Hoot Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Hoot Lake?
- Hoot Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 161.33 acres.
What fish are in Hoot Lake?
- Fish species found in Hoot Lake include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Hoot Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Are there boat ramps on Hoot Lake?
- Hoot Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hoot Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA7 samples · 2022–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory