Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Block Lake Fishing guide
Block Lake covers 290 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, reaching 23 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.8 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 6 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
No recent survey rating.
Largemouth bassNo recent survey ratingNo recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Lengths measured · 47 fish
No recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
CrappieNo recent survey ratingNo recent survey rating.
No recent survey rating.
Lengths measured · 72 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 72 fish
2022Lengths measured · 29 fish
2015Lengths measured · 156 fish
2001No recent survey rating.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Block Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Crappie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | 20" | 12" |
| 2015 | 26" | — | 11" |
| 2001 | 27" | — | 12" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Crappie · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Crappie · Jigs & bladed
Beetle Spin
1.5–2" curly-tail grub trailer on a small in-line spinner jighead
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 132,000 fry |
| 2024 | Walleye | 2,480 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 132,000 fry |
| 2022 | Walleye | 2,600 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 132,000 fry |
| 2020 | Walleye | 4,510 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 132,000 fry |
| 2018 | Walleye | 1,600 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 150,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 3,000 fingerlings |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Block Lake is a 263-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in southeastern Otter Tail County approximately seven miles west of Parkers Prairie, MN. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 23 feet; however, 50% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. Historical secchi disk readings have ranged from 2.0 to 9.8 feet. Water clarity can diminish on this lake during the summer months due to algae blooms.
Shoreline development on Block Lake is moderate. A DNR owned concrete public water access is located off of County Road 6 along the north shoreline of the lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent in various locations throughout the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants cannot be removed without a DNR permit.
Read the full DNR narrative
A spring trapnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Black Crappie population. Catch and length data indicate that a moderately abundant Black Crappie population with a quality size structure exists in Block Lake. Black Crappies ranged in length from 3.4 to 12.9 inches with an average length of 7.8 inches. Forty percent of the Black Crappies were 10.0 inches or greater in length and 8% were 12.0 inches or greater in length. Black Crappies attain an average length of 10.7 inches at five years of age.
Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch larger fish in the future.
Block Lake is not listed as an infested water. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Block Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Block Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Block Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Block Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Fish Lake · 489 ac · 4.5 mi
- Spitzer Lake · 731 ac · 6.5 mi
- Ellingson Lake · 151 ac · 6.9 mi
- Lake Adley · 241 ac · 7.6 mi
- Vermont Lake · 342 ac · 7.7 mi
- Lake Aaron · 610 ac · 7.8 mi
- Stuart Lake · 740 ac · 8.8 mi
- Lake Moses · 824 ac · 8.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Block Lake?
Block Lake reaches 23 ft at its deepest point; about 46% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Block Lake?
Block Lake covers 290 acres with about 3.4 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Block Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Block Lake average 9.8 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Block Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Block Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Block Lake have a public access?
Yes. Block Lake has one public access site: Block Lake (trailer launch).
When was Block Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Block Lake in 2022, the most recent of 6 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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