Minnesota · Anoka County
Otter Lake Fishing guide
Otter Lake sits in Anoka County, Minnesota, and covers 302 acres, reaching 21 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 12.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 8 times, most recently in 2019, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 7 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Northern pikeGood numbers12per gill net15"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 80 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 16 fish
2019Lengths measured · 64 fish
2013Lengths measured · 35 fish
2007Lengths measured · 182 fish
2002BluegillJust a few10.2per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 201 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 76 fish
2019Lengths measured · 125 fish
2013Lengths measured · 859 fish
2007Lengths measured · 26 fish
2002CrappieLast stocked 2024Just a few1per trap net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 13 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 11 fish
2019Lengths measured · 2 fish
2013Only 2 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 10 fish
2007Lengths measured · 3 fish
2002Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No 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 Otter Lake through the year
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 12.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Pike are on the outside weed edge and points.
- Summer
- Pike are on the deep weed edge and points near the coolest water they can find. With 99% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 12.3 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- 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 99% 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.
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 | Northern pike | Walleye | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 28" | 18" | 10" |
| 2013 | 30" | — | 7" |
| 2007 | 32" | — | 14" |
| 2002 | 35" | — | 3" |
| 1997 | 29" | — | — |
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:
Northern pike · Hardbaits
Weedless Spoon + Trailer (Silver Minnow)
3/8–1/2 oz weedless spoon
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Walleye · Trolling
Snap Weights + Stickbaits
4–5" suspending or slow-floating stickbait
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Swim Jig + Paddletail Trailer
3.5–4.5" paddletail trailer on a bullet-nosed swim jig
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Black Crappie | 1,419 adults |
| 2024 | Largemouth Bass | 48 adults |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,000,000 fry |
| 2022 | IOD | 500 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Largemouth Bass | 52 adults |
| 2016 | Walleye | 300,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2019 survey
Otter Lake is a 332 acre highly fertile lake assigned to lake class 39. The maximum depth is 21 feet but the vast majority of the lake is 15 feet or shallower. The lack of deep water habitat has resulted in this lake being historically susceptible to winter kills. An aeration system was installed in 2002 and is operated by Ramsey County. The fishery is primarily managed for Northern Pike and Bluegill. Although regular stockings do not occur, adult Largemouth Bass have been stocked on occasion and several stockings of Walleye fry have been conducted in the last decade.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Otter Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Otter 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
- Otter Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Otter Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Bald Eagle Lake · 1,049 ac · 1.2 mi
- Centerville Lake · 474 ac · 2.9 mi
- Reshanau Lake · 337 ac · 3.5 mi
- Pleasant Lake · 607 ac · 3.6 mi
- White Bear Lake · 2,428 ac · 4.1 mi
- Peltier Lake · 552 ac · 4.3 mi
- Turtle Lake · 450 ac · 5.1 mi
- Snail Lake · 158 ac · 5.5 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Otter Lake?
Otter Lake reaches 21 ft at its deepest point with a mean depth of 6 ft; about 99% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Otter Lake?
Otter Lake covers 302 acres with about 4.2 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Otter Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Otter Lake average 12.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Otter Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch.
Is Otter Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked black crappie and largemouth bass in 2024; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Otter Lake have a public access?
Yes. Otter Lake has one public access site: Otter Lake (trailer launch).
How big do northern pike get in Otter Lake?
The biggest northern pike measured in recent DNR surveys taped 30"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1997.
When was Otter Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Otter Lake in 2019, the most recent of 8 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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