Indian Lake
Indian Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 156.86 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 157 acres
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 228 days
Next lake in Otter Tail County
Why Indian 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 Indian 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.
Indian Lake is a 157-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and green sunfish. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2021-09-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Indian Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Indian Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Indian Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Indian 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Indian Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 157 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 40% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Indian Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1972-07-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 39.00 | 0.23 lb |
| Bluegill | 23.09 | 0.3 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 7.83 | 0.06 lb |
| Walleye | 4.00 | 1.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.08 | 2.28 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.58 | 2.78 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1972-07-31 survey
Compared to their respective statewide medians, the test net catch rates of northern pike, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish were all sampled in above average numbers. The catch rates of yellow perch and bluegills were especially high. Pumpkinseeds and black crappies were sampled in…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Indian Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — IndianFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (55 observations).
Estimated open water season: 228 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2000-03-25 (2000) | 1997-04-26 (1997) |
| Ice-In | 1991-11-04 (1991) | 2004-12-14 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2007-04-19
Graded lakes near Indian Lake
Indian Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Indian Lake
What is the water quality grade for Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 156.86 acres.
Is Indian Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Indian 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 Indian Lake?
- Indian Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 156.86 acres.
What fish are in Indian Lake?
- Fish species found in Indian Lake include black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, white sucker, yellow perch. Indian Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
When does Indian Lake thaw?
- Indian Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Nov 27. The open water season is approximately 228 days.
Explore Indian Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Otter Tail County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Alexandria Lakes area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Detroit Lakes Area area
Top lakes and where to stay in the Otter Tail County area
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Indian Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA13 samples · 2021
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate