Stalker Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Stalker Lake at a C: clarity at 6.6 ft, 22 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 49 signal an intermediate trophic state. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Stalker Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake's 95 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Minnesota — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. At 1,357 acres, Stalker Lake is one of the larger lakes in Otter Tail County, with 8.1 miles of shoreline supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within the 97 graded lakes of Otter Tail County, Stalker Lake sits at rank 79, near the bottom of the county list.

Stalker Lake has at least one documented invasive species (flowering rush), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 17 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.