Otter Tail River Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota313 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Otter Tail River Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- zebra mussel
- 55 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Otter Tail River Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 313.22 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 8, 2015 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at Otter Tail River Lake. DNR survey details →
Otter Tail River Lake is a 313-acre lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including bluegill, hybrid sunfish, and pumpkinseed. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Otter Tail River Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water55 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 Otter Tail River 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 Otter Tail River Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Otter Tail River 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 11.5 ft. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.5ft | 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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Otter Tail River Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Otter Tail River Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (60°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Otter Tail River Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 8, 2015 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at Otter Tail River Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Otter Tail River 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
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-05-25 (Targeted Survey).
6 surveys on file · most recent 2021-05-25 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 18.38 | 6–19 in 2015-06-08 | 1.7 lb |
| Bluegill | 12.35 | 3–9 in 2021-05-25 | 0.27 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.18 | 4–7 in 2015-06-08 | 0.11 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 5.63 | 3–7 in 2021-05-25 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 3.87 | 11–27 in 2015-06-08 | 1.56 lb |
| Yellow Bullhead | 2.30 | 8–13 in 2015-06-08 | 0.79 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 Perch
Pumpkinseed
From the 2021-05-25 survey
Red River Lake is a 305-acre impoundment of the Otter Tail River located in west-central Otter Tail County approximately seven miles north of Fergus Falls, MN. An active hydroelectric dam owned by Otter Tail Power Company is located along the west shoreline. The Otter Tail River flows into the lake along the east…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Otter Tail River Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Otter Tail River(Red RiveFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Otter Tail River(Red Rive (0946)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Otter Tail River(Red RiveFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Otter Tail River(Red RivePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
55 ft
Surface area
313 acres
Shoreline
9.1 mi
Littoral zone
44%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1,124 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,312 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
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Stays near Otter Tail River Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Otter Tail River Lake
- → Otter Tail River Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Otter Tail River Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Otter Tail River Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Otter Tail River Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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
Nearby Lakes in Otter Tail County
Frequently asked questions about Otter Tail River Lake
Where is Otter Tail River Lake?
- Otter Tail River 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 Otter Tail River Lake?
- Otter Tail River Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 313.22 acres.
Is Otter Tail River 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 Otter Tail River Lake?
- Otter Tail River Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Otter Tail River Lake?
- Otter Tail River Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 313.22 acres.
What fish are in Otter Tail River Lake?
- Fish species found in Otter Tail River Lake include bluegill, hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed. Otter Tail River Lake is located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Otter Tail River Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Standard Survey on June 8, 2015 caught 1.67 walleye per gill net at Otter Tail River Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Otter Tail River 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.
Can I fish at Otter Tail River Lake?
- Public access to Otter Tail River Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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
29 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
MNPCA29 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder