Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest June 10, 2019
Otter Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Otter Lake average 8.84 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches. In Ramsey County, Minnesota, Otter Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 11.5 feet of visibility, and there is one public boat landing. The survey figures on this page are Minnesota DNR's own; the water-quality grade comes from EPA Water Quality Portal samples. Neither is a forecast of today's bite.
Species recorded at Otter Lake
12 species on the Minnesota DNR list for this lake. A species on the list has been recorded here; it does not mean it is catchable today or in every part of the lake.
Stocking at Otter Lake
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for this lake — which species went in, how many, and in which years. Read the years: a lake stocked in one year is not necessarily stocked in the next.
Getting on the water
1 public boat landing is recorded on Otter Lake. Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Otter Lake average 8.84 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Otter Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
8 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 25.41 | 0.35 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.46 | 0.21 lb |
| Brown Bullhead | 10.83 | 0.53 lb |
| Northern Pike | 8.84 | 1.49 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 3.59 | 0.26 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 2.85 | 0.18 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE means more abundant in standardized sampling. This 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.
Black Bullhead
Bluegill
Northern Pike
Hybrid Sunfish
From the 2019-06-10 survey
Otter Lake is a 332 acre highly fertile lake assigned to lake class 39. The maximum depth is 21 feet but the vast majority of the lake is 15 feet or shallower. The lack of deep water habitat has resulted in this lake being historically susceptible to winter kills. An aeration system was installed in 2002 and is…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Otter Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — OtterFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — OtterFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — OtterPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Otter Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Otter Lake average 8.84 northern pike per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 8 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated June 10, 2019. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 9–28 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 12 species for the lake in total. Those are survey results, not a catch report: a net set on one date measures what was in that net.
When was Otter Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Otter Lake is dated June 10, 2019. Survey intervals vary by lake and by species; a gap of several years between surveys is normal and does not mean the record is missing.
Is Otter Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Otter Lake. It records which species were released, in what numbers and in which years — the source documents are linked further down this page. A lake can be stocked in some years and not others, so read the years rather than assuming an annual release.
Does the water-quality grade tell me how Otter Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Otter Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Before you eat what you catch
A water-quality grade is not a consumption advisory. Mercury and PCB advice for Minnesota waters comes from MDH, and it is issued per species and per size class — a lake can grade well and still carry a meal limit on larger predator fish.
Where to stay near Otter Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Otter Lake
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