Minnesota · Lake County
Ottertrack Lake Fishing guide
Ottertrack Lake covers 1,134 acres in Lake County, Minnesota, reaching 116 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 19 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 5 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeGood numbers5.3per gill net17"Typical27"Biggest
Lengths measured · 53 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 53 fish
2018Lengths measured · 57 fish
2006Lengths measured · 35 fish
1993Northern pikeJust a few1.2per gill net26"Typical33"Biggest
Lengths measured · 12 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 12 fish
2018Lengths measured · 19 fish
2006Lengths measured · 15 fish
1993No recent survey rating.
Last recorded in the 2006 survey and not seen since.
Rock bassOne of the best around12.8per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 51 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 51 fish
2018Lengths measured · 31 fish
2006Lengths measured · 24 fish
1993Rates 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 Ottertrack Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 19 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. On a lake that drops to 116 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows.
Smallmouth bass
- Spring
- Smallmouth are on shallow rock, gravel and sand where they spawn. At 19 ft of clarity, fish them deeper and lighter than usual.
- Early summer
- Smallmouth are post-spawn on rock points, gravel bars and the adjacent breaks.
- Summer
- Smallmouth are on rock humps, points and hard-bottom breaks. On a lake that drops to 116 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Smallmouth are bunched tight on deep rock, so find one and you have found the school.
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 | Smallmouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 27" | 14" | 33" |
| 2006 | 25" | 13" | 39" |
| 1993 | 22" | — | 39" |
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 · Live bait
Live-Bait (Lindy) Rig + Leech/Crawler
jumbo leech or half a nightcrawler
Walleye · Trolling
Leadcore Line + Crankbaits
4–5" mid-diving crankbait behind a long leadcore run
Smallmouth bass · Soft plastics
Drop Shot (Finesse Plastic)
4" finesse worm or 3" minnow-profile plastic
Smallmouth bass · Jigs & bladed
Tail Spinner
Compact lead body with a free-spinning blade on the tail
Northern pike · Soft plastics
Paddletail Swimbait on Jighead
4–5" paddletail swimbait on a ball-head swimbait jighead
Northern pike · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2025 survey
Temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements were collected from the deepest basin in Ottertrack Lake on July 30th, 2025. This was done to evaluate the quantity and quality of cold, oxygenated water (i.e., oxythermal habitat) available to Lake Trout, the most sensitive coldwater species present in this lake (Lake Whitefish and Cisco, also known as 'Tullibee', are also present). Lake Trout require a layer of oxythermal habitat that contains water temperatures below 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) and dissolved oxygen concentrations above 3.0 mg/L. Based on data collected from the deepest basin (maximum sampled depth was 78.7 feet), the water temperature decreased to 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) at 30.3 feet and the dissolved oxygen concentration decreased to 3.0 mg/L at 49.4 feet at the time of sampling. This layer in the water column was 19.1 feet, indicating oxythermal habitat for Lake Trout was present.
Further, the temperature at which dissolved oxygen decreased to 3.0 mg/L (i.e., TDO3, a single variable to characterize oxythermal habitat) was 4.6 degrees C (40.3 degrees F). TDO3 values cooler than 8.8 degrees C (47.8 degrees F) indicate that oxythermal conditions were suitable for Lake Trout at the time of the survey.
Read the full DNR narrative
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources during the period of maximum oxythermal stress (July 26th to Aug 24th) in 2024 also indicated suitable oxythermal habitat. When adequate oxythermal habitat is not available, Lake Trout are squeezed into unfavorable, warmer water conditions and experience higher levels of stress.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Ottertrack Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Ottertrack 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
- US Forest Service access (permit required): 5 rod portage from Little Knife Lake.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): 80 rod portage from Swamp Lake.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): 80 rod portage from Ester Lake.
- US Forest Service access (permit required): 50 rod portage from Gijikiki Lake.
DNR bathymetry
Ottertrack Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Rabbit Lake · 117 ac · 1.4 mi
- Ester Lake · 374 ac · 1.7 mi
- Ashdick Lake · 109 ac · 2 mi
- Gijikiki Lake · 113 ac · 2.1 mi
- Lunar Lake · 62 ac · 2.7 mi
- Link Lake · 38 ac · 2.9 mi
- Hanson Lake · 289 ac · 2.9 mi
- Cherry Lake · 153 ac · 3.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Ottertrack Lake?
Ottertrack Lake reaches 116 ft at its deepest point; about 22% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Ottertrack Lake?
Ottertrack Lake covers 1,134 acres with about 38.9 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Ottertrack Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Ottertrack Lake average 19 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Ottertrack Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, lake trout, rock bass.
Is Ottertrack Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Ottertrack Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Ottertrack Lake have a public access?
Yes. Ottertrack Lake has 4 public access sites, including a US Forest Service access (5 rod portage from Little Knife Lake.).
How big do walleye get in Ottertrack Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 27"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 1993.
When was Ottertrack Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Ottertrack Lake in 2025, the most recent of 5 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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