Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Iverson Lake Fishing guide
Iverson Lake sits in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and covers 68 acres, reaching 18 ft at its deepest point. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 1 time, most recently in 1985, with walleye and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 41 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
The DNR last surveyed Iverson Lake in 1985. Ratings need a survey from the last 20 years, so this page lists the species from that older record without numbers.
- Walleye
- Bluegill
How to fish Iverson 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. With 91% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Bluegill
- Spring
- Bluegill are on the beds in firm-bottomed shallows, in colonies of dozens. On a clear lake those colonies sit deeper than you expect.
- Early summer
- Bluegill are off the beds and onto the weed edges and brush, the biggest ones pulling out first.
- Summer
- Bluegill are on the deep weedline of a stratified lake, sliding out as the surface starts back down. With 91% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Bluegill are back up onto the flats and into the last green weeds, feeding hard while the shallows still hold heat. A 18-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
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
Bluegill · Live bait
Clip-On Bobber + Worm
half to whole garden nightcrawler
Bluegill · Soft plastics
Tungsten Jig + Micro Plastic
1–1.5" micro plastic
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Walleye | 200,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 1985 survey
Bluegill catch per trap net lift increased from 34.3 per net in the 1982 survey to 690.0 per net. Average weight per bluegill decreased from 0.22 lb. in 1982 to .09 lb.
Walleye fry stocking has been very successful. The 1981 and 1983 year classes were well represented in the sample. Average weight of walleye was just under 2 pounds/fish.
Iverson Lake is utilized by the public during the winter months. Limited use takes place during the open water season.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Iverson Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Iverson 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
- Public access: ACCESS CAN BE GAINED THROUGH THE MnDOT REST AREA LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF THE LAKE.
DNR bathymetry
Iverson Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Swan Lake · 749 ac · 2 mi
- Pebble Lake · 195 ac · 2.1 mi
- Dayton Hollow Reservoir · 227 ac · 3.9 mi
- Rose Lake · 108 ac · 4.1 mi
- Wall Lake · 727 ac · 4.9 mi
- Wright Lake · 67 ac · 5 mi
- Orwell Lake · 608 ac · 5.6 mi
- Hoot Lake · 161 ac · 5.6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Iverson Lake?
Iverson Lake reaches 18 ft at its deepest point; about 91% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Iverson Lake?
Iverson Lake covers 68 acres with about 1.6 miles of shoreline.
What fish are in Iverson Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 1985) record walleye, bluegill.
Is Iverson Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2016.
Does Iverson Lake have a public access?
Yes. Iverson Lake has one public access site: Public access (ACCESS CAN BE GAINED THROUGH THE MnDOT REST AREA LOCATED ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF THE LAKE.).
When was Iverson Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Iverson Lake in 1985. That is more than 20 years ago, so this page lists species without ratings.
Page updated .
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