Minnesota · DNR survey data

Hoot Lake

Hoot Lake covers 161 acres in Otter Tail County, running to 20 feet, last surveyed by the DNR in 2025. 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
Fair numbers
2.2per gill net
21"Typical
26"Biggest
7"26"

Lengths measured · 13 fish

Recent · 2025
7"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 13 fish

2025
7"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 36 fish

2016
7"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 49 fish

2011
7"10"15"20"25"26"

Lengths measured · 10 fish

2006
7"10"15"20"25"26"
Largemouth bass
Fair numbers
38.3per hr (electrofishing)
11"Typical
19"Biggest
3"19"

Lengths measured · 40 fish

Recent · 2025
2"5"10"15"19"

Lengths measured · 40 fish

2025
2"5"10"15"19"

Lengths measured · 48 fish

2016
2"5"10"15"19"

Lengths measured · 18 fish

2011
2"5"10"15"19"

Lengths measured · 47 fish

2006
2"5"10"15"19"
Smallmouth bass
Good numbers
39.4per hr (electrofishing)
17"Typical
20"Biggest
6"20"

Lengths measured · 34 fish

Recent · 2025
5"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 34 fish

2025
5"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 55 fish

2016
5"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 50 fish

2011
5"10"15"20"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

2006
5"10"15"20"
Northern pike
Fair numbers
9.3per gill net
24"Typical
30"Biggest
14"30"

Lengths measured · 60 fish

Recent · 2025
8"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 60 fish

2025
8"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 49 fish

2016
8"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 14 fish

2011
8"10"15"20"25"30"31"

Lengths measured · 17 fish

2006
8"10"15"20"25"30"31"
Muskellunge
Present (last recorded 2006)

Last recorded in the 2006 survey and not seen since.

Bluegill
Good numbers
56.3per trap net
6"Typical
8"Biggest
3"8"

Lengths measured · 546 fish

Recent · 2025
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 546 fish

2025
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 370 fish

2016
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 100 fish

2011
2"4"6"8"

Lengths measured · 462 fish

2006
2"4"6"8"
Crappie
Just a few
0.9per trap net
Typical
10"Biggest
Yellow perch
Excellent numbers
19.7per gill net
6"Typical
7"Biggest
5"7"

Lengths measured · 118 fish

Recent · 2025
4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 118 fish

2025
4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 27 fish

2016
4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 290 fish

2011
4"6"8"9"

Lengths measured · 480 fish

2006
4"6"8"9"
Lake sturgeon
Present

Present in recent DNR surveys.

Rock bass
Just a few
0.3per trap net
Typical
8"Biggest

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
2025Walleye85 fingerlings · 1,430 yearlings · 19 adults
2023Walleye1,667 fingerlings · 160 yearlings
2021Walleye84 fingerlings · 176 adults
2019Walleye3,954 fingerlings
2017Walleye396 fingerlings · 592 adults

Recent reports

Hoot Lake fishing reports

Recent reports on Hoot 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

Public water access

Getting on the water

Within 30 miles

Nearby lakes

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Is there a depth map for Hoot Lake?

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

What fish are in Hoot Lake?

The most recent DNR survey (2025) recorded walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, lake sturgeon, rock bass.

Does Hoot Lake have a public access?

Yes. Hoot Lake has 2 public access sites, including Hoot Lake (trailer launch).

Is Hoot Lake stocked?

Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.

When was Hoot Lake last surveyed?

The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Hoot Lake in 2025, the most recent of 6 surveys on record.

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

Page updated .