Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Stalker Lake Fishing guide
Stalker Lake covers 1,357 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, reaching 95 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 6.4 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 11 times, most recently in 2022, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Fair numbers3.8per gill net19"Typical24"Biggest
Lengths measured · 34 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 34 fish
2022Lengths measured · 26 fish
2018Lengths measured · 27 fish
2014Lengths measured · 33 fish
2010Northern pikeJust a few3.1per gill net22"Typical29"Biggest
Lengths measured · 28 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 28 fish
2022Lengths measured · 37 fish
2018Lengths measured · 20 fish
2014Lengths measured · 42 fish
2010BluegillPresent1.6per gill net4"Typical6"Biggest
Lengths measured · 14 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 14 fish
2022Lengths measured · 596 fish
2018Lengths measured · 411 fish
2014Lengths measured · 350 fish
2010Yellow perchFair numbers4.2per gill net6"Typical8"Biggest
Lengths measured · 38 fish
Recent · 2022Lengths measured · 38 fish
2022Lengths measured · 54 fish
2018Lengths measured · 80 fish
2014Lengths measured · 9 fish
2010Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
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 Stalker 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. On a lake that drops to 95 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.
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. On a lake that drops to 95 ft, check the deep edge of that structure too.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze.
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 | Largemouth bass | Northern pike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 24" | 18" | 29" |
| 2018 | 25" | 20" | 29" |
| 2014 | 22" | 20" | 33" |
| 2010 | 25" | 19" | 34" |
| 2006 | 27" | 17" | 37" |
| 2002 | 21" | 18" | 26" |
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
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Topwater Popper
2.5–3" concave-face popper
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
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.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 9,645 fingerlings · 4 adults |
| 2024 | Walleye | 10,320 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 8,340 fingerlings |
| 2022 | Walleye | 9,750 fingerlings |
| 2021 | Walleye | 4,704 fingerlings |
| 2020 | Walleye | 11,780 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 13,682 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Walleye | 4,086 yearlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 6,045 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 733 adults |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2022 survey
Stalker Lake is a 1,280-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in southwestern Otter Tail County, approximately seven miles southeast of Underwood, MN. Stalker Lake is part of the Pomme de Terre River Watershed. The Pomme de Terre River outlet is located along the southwest shoreline of the lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of hardwood forest interspersed with areas of agricultural land. Stalker Lake has a maximum depth of 95 feet; however, 45% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The morphometry of Stalker Lake is unique; numerous humps and bars exist throughout the lake. The secchi disk reading during the 2022 lake survey was 7.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 3.5 to 7.9 feet.
The shoreline of Stalker Lake is moderately developed. A DNR owned concrete public water access is located along the southwest shoreline. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Large stands of hardstem bulrush, common cattail, and wild rice are prevalent throughout the entire lake. Emergent aquatic plants 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. 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
A special gillnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Walleye and Northern Pike populations.
Walleye abundance increased slightly from the previous three surveys. Walleyes ranged in length from 9.5 to 24.6 inches with an average length and weight of 17.5 inches and 2.1 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.9 inches at three years of age.
A moderate density Northern Pike population exists and age data indicate that Northern Pike reproduction is consistently good. Pike ranged in length from 17.4 to 29.6 inches with an average length and weight of 22.6 inches and 2.5 pounds. Pike attain an average length of 23.6 inches at four years of age.
Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium and 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 opportunities to catch more large fish in the future.
Stalker Lake was listed as infested with flowering rush in 2018. 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
Stalker Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Stalker 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
- Stalker Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Stalker Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Long Lake · 395 ac · 2 mi
- Johnson Lake · 419 ac · 2.7 mi
- Fiske Lake · 254 ac · 4.1 mi
- German Lake · 77 ac · 4.3 mi
- Sewell Lake · 369 ac · 4.5 mi
- Jolly Ann Lake · 326 ac · 5.1 mi
- South Turtle Lake · 837 ac · 5.4 mi
- Clear Lake · 399 ac · 6 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Stalker Lake?
Stalker Lake reaches 95 ft at its deepest point; about 42% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Stalker Lake?
Stalker Lake covers 1,357 acres with about 8.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Stalker Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Stalker Lake average 6.4 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Stalker Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2022) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Stalker Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Stalker Lake have a public access?
Yes. Stalker Lake has one public access site: Stalker Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Stalker Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 24"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was Stalker Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Stalker Lake in 2022, the most recent of 11 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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