Lida Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota5,523 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Lida Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- 58 ft max depth
- Public access
Lida Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 5522.82 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.60 walleye per gill net at Lida Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches. DNR survey details →
Lida Lake is a 5,523-acre mesotrophic lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 58 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 20 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 65 other monitored lakes in Otter Tail County, Lida Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 5,500 acres, Lida Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has one public boat landing. The median ice-out date is April 19, which is when the open-water season begins. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lida Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lida Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing20 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 19
- Deep water58 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water5,523 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lida Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lida Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Lida Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.6 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 14ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 5.6µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lida Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.60 walleye per gill net at Lida Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lida Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
17 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-08-05 (Targeted Survey).
17 surveys on file · most recent 2024-08-05 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spottail Shiner | 30.88 | ||
| Bluegill | 22.21 | 3–9 in 2024-08-05 | 0.16 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 18.44 | ||
| Walleye | 15.72 | 8–23 in 2024-08-05 | 1.44 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.97 | 9–12 in 2024-08-05 | 0.43 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Bluegill
Walleye
Black Crappie
From the 2024-08-05 survey
North Lida Lake is a 5,564-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northwestern Otter Tail County approximately five miles east of Pelican Rapids, MN. North Lida Lake is connected to South Lida Lake by a navigable culvert under State Highway 108 along the south shoreline. North Lida Lake is also…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Lida Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — North LidaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — North LidaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — North LidaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
58 ft
Surface area
5,523 acres
Shoreline
19.1 mi
Littoral zone
43%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Recreation & Access
- Lida Lake (South)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lida Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lida 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 Lida Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Lida Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lida 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 19
Earliest Apr 14, 2005 · Latest May 5, 2023
Typical ice-in
Nov 30
Earliest Nov 20, 2002 · Latest Dec 14, 2004
Most recent ice-out
May 5
2023
7 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Lida Lake
Where is Lida Lake?
- Lida Lake is a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lida Lake?
- Lida Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 58 ft. Surface area: 5522.82 acres.
Is Lida Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lida Lake?
- Lida Lake has a maximum depth of 58 feet. The lake covers 5522.82 acres.
What fish are in Lida Lake?
- Fish species found in Lida Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Lida Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lida Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on August 5, 2024 caught 3.60 walleye per gill net at Lida Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 8–23 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lida Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Lida Lake thaw?
- Lida Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 19. Ice typically forms around Nov 30. The open water season is approximately 225 days.
Are there boat ramps on Lida Lake?
- Lida Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lida Lake (South). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lida Lake?
- Lida Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lida Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Red River of the North Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Lida Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Lida Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
393 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA393 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate