Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Six Lake Fishing guide
Six Lake sits in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and covers 197 acres, reaching 140 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 18.3 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 7 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
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers2.4per gill net17"Typical23"Biggest
Lengths measured · 30 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 13 fish
2019Lengths measured · 17 fish
2013Lengths measured · 5 fish
2007Only 5 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 34 fish
2001Largemouth bassPresent4.3per gill net10"Typical15"Biggest
Lengths measured · 70 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 27 fish
2019Lengths measured · 43 fish
2013Lengths measured · 43 fish
2007Lengths measured · 24 fish
2001Northern pikeFair numbers8.5per gill net18"Typical35"Biggest
Lengths measured · 106 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 45 fish
2019Lengths measured · 61 fish
2013Lengths measured · 24 fish
2007Lengths measured · 35 fish
2001BluegillJust a few24.9per trap net6"Typical9"Biggest
Lengths measured · 302 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 71 fish
2019Lengths measured · 231 fish
2013Lengths measured · 518 fish
2007Lengths measured · 161 fish
2001CrappieJust a few2.2per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 35 fish
Recent · 2013 + 2019Lengths measured · 4 fish
2019Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 31 fish
2013Lengths measured · 8 fish
2007Only 8 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 27 fish
2001Rates 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 Six Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. At 18.3 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. On a lake that drops to 140 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.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth. At 18.3 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. On a lake that drops to 140 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Pike are on the last green weeds and the breaks beside them, feeding heavily as the water drops.
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 | Northern pike | Largemouth bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23" | 35" | 15" |
| 2013 | 23" | 31" | 15" |
| 2007 | 22" | 31" | 14" |
| 2001 | 27" | 31" | 11" |
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
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
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Free Rig
Creature bait or magnum finesse worm
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 340 fingerlings · 137 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 3,050 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 1,035 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,216 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 210 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2019 survey
Lake Six is a 188-acre oligotrophic (low fertility) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Vergas, MN. The immediate watershed is composed of mixed hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 140 feet; however, 34% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2019 survey was 17.8 feet. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 8.5 to 19.5 feet.
Lakeshore development is located primarily along the west and north shorelines. Homes and cabins compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public water access is located along the south shoreline. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent in various areas throughout the lake. These emergent aquatic plants provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms from wave erosion and can absorb and breakdown polluting chemicals. Emergent plants also provide spawning habitat for fish species such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their significant ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed from the lake without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye, Northern Pike, and Largemouth Bass are the dominant gamefish species in the fish community of Lake Six.
Walleyes ranged in length from 15.7 to 23.7 inches with an average length and weight of 18.4 inches and 2.1 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.9 inches at four years of age.
Northern Pike ranged in length from 9.5 to 35.4 inches with an average length and weight of 18.5 inches and 1.6 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 21.6 inches at five years of age.
Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6.3 to 15.8 inches with an average length and weight of 11.1 inches and 0.8 pounds. Largemouth Bass attain an average length of 11.9 inches at five years of age.
Anglers can maintain or improve the quality of fishing on Lake Six by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large fish while allowing the harvest of the more numerous, smaller fish for eating. Releasing medium to large fish ensures that the lake will have enough spawning aged fish and will also provide anglers with opportunities to catch larger fish in the future.
Lake Six is not listed as an infested water. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. Aquatic invasive species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Six Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Six 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
- Six Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Six Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Scalp Lake · 254 ac · 1 mi
- Eagle Lake · 320 ac · 2 mi
- Wimer Lake · 293 ac · 2.8 mi
- Rose Lake · 1,201 ac · 2.8 mi
- Acorn Lake · 154 ac · 2.9 mi
- Town Lake · 125 ac · 3.1 mi
- Johnson Lake · 183 ac · 3.3 mi
- Jim Lake · 101 ac · 3.8 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Six Lake?
Six Lake reaches 140 ft at its deepest point; about 33% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Six Lake?
Six Lake covers 197 acres with about 3.5 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Six Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Six Lake average 18.3 ft of visibility, clear water for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Six Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2019) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Six Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2017.
Does Six Lake have a public access?
Yes. Six Lake has one public access site: Six Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Six Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 23"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2001.
When was Six Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Six Lake in 2019, the most recent of 7 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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