Minnesota · DNR survey data

First Silver Lake

First Silver Lake covers 529 acres in Otter Tail County, running to 43 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2022. The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for this lake, so there is no depth map here, just the survey record: what the nets held and how big it ran.

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DNR survey data

Fish species

Species
How many
Survey numbers
Lengths
WalleyeStocked · 2025
One of the best around
13.7per gill net
14"Typical
23"Biggest
10"23"

Lengths measured · 82 fish

Recent · 2022
6"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 82 fish

2022
6"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 114 fish

2016
6"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 163 fish

2011
6"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 240 fish

2006
6"10"15"20"25"26"
Largemouth bass
Present
4.3per gill net
11"Typical
17"Biggest
8"17"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

Recent · 2022
2"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 26 fish

2022
2"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 21 fish

2016
2"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

2011
2"5"10"15"17"

Lengths measured · 100 fish

2006
2"5"10"15"17"
Northern pike
Just a few
3.2per gill net
25"Typical
30"Biggest
22"30"

Lengths measured · 19 fish

Recent · 2022
13"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 19 fish

2022
13"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 19 fish

2016
13"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 35 fish

2011
13"15"20"25"30"35"36"

Lengths measured · 25 fish

2006
13"15"20"25"30"35"36"
Bluegill
Present
9.7per gill net
6"Typical
8"Biggest
3"8"

Lengths measured · 58 fish

Recent · 2022
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 58 fish

2022
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 827 fish

2016
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 99 fish

2011
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 249 fish

2006
2"4"6"8"
Crappie
Present
4.8per gill net
8"Typical
11"Biggest
7"11"

Lengths measured · 29 fish

Recent · 2022
4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 29 fish

2022
4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 38 fish

2016
4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 62 fish

2011
4"6"8"10"12"13"

Lengths measured · 89 fish

2006
4"6"8"10"12"13"
Yellow perch
Good numbers
10.7per gill net
6"Typical
9"Biggest
5"9"

Lengths measured · 64 fish

Recent · 2022
4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 64 fish

2022
4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 46 fish

2016
4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 69 fish

2011
4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 172 fish

2006
4"6"8"10"
Rock bass
Excellent numbers
5.5per gill net
7"Typical
9"Biggest
5"9"

Lengths measured · 33 fish

Recent · 2022
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 33 fish

2022
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 70 fish

2016
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 101 fish

2011
3"4"6"8"10"

Lengths measured · 241 fish

2006
3"4"6"8"10"

Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear — which is why the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, the page shows presence and size only. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey. You can read every number on this page without an app or an account.

DNR stocking records

Stocking history

YearSpeciesStocked
2025Walleye10,500 fingerlings
2024Walleye6,047 fingerlings · 124 yearlings
2023Walleye3,700 fingerlings
2022Walleye13,614 fingerlings
2021Walleye586 adults
2020Walleye2,800 fingerlings · 1,457 yearlings
2019Walleye5,000 fingerlings
2018Walleye9,598 fingerlings · 84 yearlings
2017Walleye6,250 fingerlings
2016Walleye2,456 fingerlings · 560 yearlings · 696 adults

Recent reports

First Silver Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on First Silver 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.

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Otter Tail County reports

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for First Silver Lake?

The Minnesota DNR has not published bathymetry for First Silver Lake, so this page carries the survey record instead: species, catch rates and stocking history.

What fish are in First Silver Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2022) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.

Is First Silver Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.

When was First Silver Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed First Silver Lake in 2022, the most recent of 9 surveys on record.

Survey numbers are the Minnesota DNR's. How this site reads them →

Page updated .