Ochotto Lake
Stearns County, Minnesota40 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Ochotto Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Ochotto Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 40.09 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 9, 2012 caught 18.50 northern pike per gill net at Ochotto Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–27 inches. DNR survey details →
Ochotto Lake is a 40-acre lake in Stearns County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet (15-foot average). The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and hybrid sunfish. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Ochotto Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 7
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingLimited data
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Ochotto 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 Ochotto Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Ochotto 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 13 ft. TSI 40.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 40 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Ochotto Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Ochotto Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Jun (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (73°F) to its warmest (82°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2023–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ochotto Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 9, 2012 caught 18.50 northern pike per gill net at Ochotto Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Ochotto Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
5 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2012-07-09 (Standard Survey).
5 surveys on file · most recent 2012-07-09 (Standard Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 20.83 | 4–21 in 2012-07-09 | 0.95 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.45 | 3–8 in 2012-07-09 | 0.14 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 11.44 | 6–13 in 2012-07-09 | 0.7 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 7.83 | 0.53 lb | |
| Northern Pike | 6.89 | 11–27 in 2012-07-09 | 1.57 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 4.57 | 3–6 in 2012-07-09 | 0.13 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.
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Yellow Bullhead
Northern Pike
From the 2012-07-09 survey
Ochotto Lake is located in Stearns County, near Avon. The lake has a surface area of 40 acres and a maximum depth of 40 feet. The watershed is very small and mostly residential and agriculture. A public access is located in a city park on the south side of the lake. The survey was conducted in July, 2012. Northern…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Ochotto Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OchottoFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Ochotto (1985)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OchottoPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
40 ft
Average depth
15.2 ft
Surface area
40 acres
Shoreline
1.2 mi
Littoral zone
55%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
21 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,115 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ochotto LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Ochotto Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ochotto Lake in Stearns 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 Ochotto Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ochotto Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 7
Earliest Apr 4, 2007 · Latest Apr 24, 2008
Typical ice-in
Nov 26
Earliest Nov 20, 2006 · Latest Nov 26, 2021
Most recent ice-out
Apr 22
2022
8 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Ochotto Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Avon WwtpAvon · 0.8 mi away · NPDES MN0047325Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Stearns County
Frequently asked questions about Ochotto Lake
Where is Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake is a lake in Stearns County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake in Stearns County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 40.09 acres.
Is Ochotto Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet and an average depth of 15.2 feet. The lake covers 40.09 acres.
What fish are in Ochotto Lake?
- Fish species found in Ochotto Lake include black crappie, bluegill, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, yellow bullhead. Ochotto Lake is located in Stearns County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Ochotto Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on July 9, 2012 caught 18.50 northern pike per gill net at Ochotto Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 11–27 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Ochotto Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Ochotto Lake thaw?
- Ochotto Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 7. Ice typically forms around Nov 26. The open water season is approximately 233 days.
Are there boat ramps on Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ochotto Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Ochotto Lake?
- Ochotto 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.
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Where this data comes from
57 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA57 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate