Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Spitzer Lake Fishing guide
Spitzer Lake sits in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and covers 731 acres, reaching 33 ft at its deepest point. Average water clarity runs about 9.3 ft. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 5 times, most recently in 2018, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets. That survey is 8 years old now.
DNR survey data
Fish species
Largemouth bassGood numbers52.4per hr (electrofishing)14"Typical18"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2017 + 2018Lengths measured · 10 fish
2018Lengths measured · 28 fish
2017Lengths measured · 42 fish
2007Northern pikeGood numbers11.8per gill net20"Typical34"Biggest
Lengths measured · 114 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 114 fish
2018Lengths measured · 58 fish
2007BluegillFair numbers38.7per trap net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 809 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 809 fish
2018Lengths measured · 412 fish
2007CrappieJust a few0.8per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 27 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 27 fish
2018Lengths measured · 17 fish
2007Yellow perchFair numbers1.9per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 20 fish
Recent · 2018Lengths measured · 20 fish
2018Lengths measured · 7 fish
2007Only 7 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 Spitzer Lake through the year
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 86% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
Northern pike
- Spring
- Pike are in the shallow bays and along new weed growth.
- 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 86% 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.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike | Walleye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 18" | 34" | 25" |
| 2017 | 18" | — | — |
| 2007 | 19" | 33" | 27" |
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:
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Flipping/Punching Creature Bait
4" beaver/creature-style bait
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 · 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
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 | 3,000 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 631,000 fry |
| 2016 | Walleye | 631,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2018 survey
Spitzer Lake is a 728-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately five miles northwest of Urbank, MN. Spitzer Lake is part of the Pomme de Terre River Watershed. There are several intermittent, unnavigable inlets and outlets connected to Spitzer Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of mixed hardwood forests. The maximum depth is 33 feet; however, 87% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2018 lake survey was 13.1 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 5.1 to 13.1 feet. Periodic plankton and algae blooms during the summer months can influence secchi disk readings on this lake.
The majority of the shoreline remains undeveloped. A DNR concrete public water access is located off of County Road 38 along the south shoreline of the lake. Stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are scattered along the entire lakeshore. Emergent aquatic plants such as hardstem bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit.
Read the full DNR narrative
Spitzer Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in the fish community. The abundance of these species can be attributed to the diversity of suitable spawning habitat that is available.
A high-density Northern Pike population exists. Pike size structure has historically been poor. Pike ranged in length from 14.6 to 34.9 inches with an average length and weight of 21.2 inches and 2.2 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 23.5 inches at five years of age.
Data from an electrofishing assessment indicate that a balanced Largemouth Bass population exists. Age data indicate that Largemouth Bass reproduction is consistently good. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 6.1 to 18.9 inches with an average length and weight of 14.0 inches and 1.8 pounds. Bass attain an average length of 12.8 inches at four years of age.
The Bluegill population is abundant and age data indicate that Bluegill reproduction is consistently good; however, size structure is poor. Only 15% of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.6 inches at six years of age.
Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.
Spitzer Lake is not listed as an infested water. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native 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
Spitzer Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Spitzer 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
- Spitzer Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Spitzer Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Eagle Lake · 907 ac · 3.4 mi
- Middle Lake · 225 ac · 4.6 mi
- Lake Aaron · 610 ac · 5.7 mi
- Jolly Ann Lake · 326 ac · 6.4 mi
- Lake Moses · 824 ac · 6.5 mi
- Block Lake · 290 ac · 6.5 mi
- Clitherall Lake · 2,540 ac · 6.8 mi
- Ellingson Lake · 151 ac · 6.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Spitzer Lake?
Spitzer Lake reaches 33 ft at its deepest point; about 86% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Spitzer Lake?
Spitzer Lake covers 731 acres with about 20.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Spitzer Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Spitzer Lake average 9.3 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Spitzer Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2018) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, channel catfish.
Is Spitzer Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Spitzer Lake have a public access?
Yes. Spitzer Lake has one public access site: Spitzer Lake (trailer launch).
How big do largemouth bass get in Spitzer Lake?
The biggest largemouth bass measured in recent DNR surveys taped 18"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2007.
When was Spitzer Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Spitzer Lake in 2018, the most recent of 5 surveys on record. A survey that old is a starting point, not a current reading.
Page updated .
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