Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys · latest July 15, 2024
Peterson Lake FishingNRNot rated for water quality
Minnesota DNR surveys at Peterson Lake average 15.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–20 inches. In Otter Tail County, Minnesota, Peterson Lake has no letter grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Water clarity averages 5.9 feet of visibility, and the lake has public access. 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 Peterson Lake
16 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 Peterson 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
Minnesota DNR lists the public access sites, including ramp type and parking, in the documents below.
Survey results in full
Minnesota DNR surveys at Peterson Lake average 15.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–20 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Peterson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
11 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg catch rate (CPUE) | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluntnose Minnow | 76.74 | — |
| Bluegill | 39.67 | 0.12 lb |
| Smallmouth Bass | 15.88 | 1.69 lb |
| Rock Bass | 10.91 | 0.3 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.89 | 0.14 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.
Bluegill
Smallmouth Bass
Rock Bass
Yellow Perch
From the 2024-07-15 survey
Clitherall Lake is a 2,493-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately one mile south of Clitherall, MN. Clitherall Lake is connected to Crane Lake via a non-navigable inlet along the south shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Peterson Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ClitherallFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Clitherall (1190)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — ClitherallFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — ClitherallPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Common questions
What fish are in Peterson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys at Peterson Lake average 15.88 smallmouth bass per unit of sampling effort (CPUE) across 11 surveys. The most recent is a Standard Survey dated July 15, 2024. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 20–20 inches. Minnesota DNR lists 16 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 Peterson Lake last surveyed?
The most recent fisheries survey on file for Peterson Lake is dated July 15, 2024. 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 Peterson Lake stocked?
Minnesota DNR publishes a stocking history for Peterson 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 Peterson Lake fishes?
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Peterson Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 Peterson Lake
Top-rated places to stay near Peterson Lake
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