Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest September 7, 2021
Otter Tail Lake FishingAWater-quality grade A
Minnesota DNR surveys at Otter Tail Lake average 12.67 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 7, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Otter Tail Lake carries an overall water-quality grade of A. Water clarity averages 12.1 feet of visibility, and there are 2 public boat landings. 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 Tail Lake
17 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 Tail 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
2 public boat landings are recorded on Otter Tail 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 Tail Lake average 12.67 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 7, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Otter Tail Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-09-07 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 58.77 | 0.14 lb |
| Walleye | 12.67 | 0.92 lb |
| Tullibee (Cisco) | 3.56 | 0.48 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.14 | 3.01 lb |
| White Sucker | 2.83 | 2.1 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.
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Tullibee (Cisco)
Northern Pike
From the 2021-09-07 survey
Otter Tail Lake is a 13,725 acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in central Otter Tail County. The city of Ottertail, MN abuts the east shoreline of the lake. Otter Tail Lake is part of the Otter Tail River chain of lakes. Rush, Big Pine, and Little Pine Lakes are located upstream, while Deer, East Lost,…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Otter Tail Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Otter TailFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Otter TailFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Otter TailPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Otter Tail Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Otter Tail Lake average 12.67 walleye per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 12 surveys. The most recent is a Targeted Survey dated September 7, 2021. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 7–28 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 17 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 Tail Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Otter Tail Lake is dated September 7, 2021. 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 Tail Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Otter Tail 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 Tail Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Otter Tail Lake A from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
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 Tail Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Otter Tail Lake
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