Minnesota · Otter Tail County
Tenmile Lake Fishing guide
Tenmile Lake covers 1,428 acres in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, reaching 51 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 9.9 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2025, with walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeExcellent numbers10.2per gill net17"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 108 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 108 fish
2024Lengths measured · 73 fish
2020Lengths measured · 214 fish
2016Lengths measured · 394 fish
2012Largemouth bassElite fishery163.7per hr (electrofishing)16"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 137 fish
Recent · 2021 + 2024Lengths measured · 68 fish
2024Lengths measured · 69 fish
2021Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 77 fish
2016Smallmouth bassPresent0.7per gill net18"Typical19"Biggest
Lengths measured · 10 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 10 fish
2024Lengths measured · 19 fish
2020Lengths measured · 19 fish
2016Lengths measured · 28 fish
2012Northern pikeOne of the best around16.6per gill net22"Typical30"Biggest
Lengths measured · 151 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 151 fish
2024Lengths measured · 59 fish
2020Lengths measured · 18 fish
2016Lengths measured · 9 fish
2012Only 9 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
BluegillFair numbers33per trap net6"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 504 fish
Recent · 2024 + 2025Lengths measured · 175 fish
2025Lengths measured · 329 fish
2024Lengths measured · 3 fish
2020Only 3 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
Lengths measured · 287 fish
2016Yellow perchGood numbers7.3per gill net5"Typical7"Biggest
Lengths measured · 67 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 67 fish
2024Lengths measured · 105 fish
2020Lengths measured · 119 fish
2016Lengths measured · 248 fish
2012Rock bassOne of the best around10.4per trap net5"Typical11"Biggest
Lengths measured · 209 fish
Recent · 2024Lengths measured · 209 fish
2024Lengths measured · 222 fish
2020Lengths measured · 63 fish
2016Lengths measured · 66 fish
2012Rates 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 Tenmile 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 51 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 51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25" | 19" | 30" |
| 2021 | — | 17" | — |
| 2020 | 23" | 18" | 31" |
| 2016 | 22" | 18" | 28" |
| 2012 | 24" | 19" | 27" |
| 2009 | 24" | 17" | 28" |
| 2006 | 26" | 17" | 29" |
| 2003 | 23" | 16" | 33" |
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 · 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
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
South Ten Mile Lake is located in southwestern Otter Tail County approximately five miles southwest of Dalton, MN. South Ten Mile Lake is a 1,411-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake that is part of the Pomme de Terre River Watershed. The Pomme de Terre River inlet is located along the north shoreline while the outlet is located along the south shoreline. The inlet is navigable by boat through a culvert into North Ten Mile Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth of South Ten Mile Lake is 51 feet; however, 42% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The Secchi disk reading during the 2024 survey was 11.1 feet. Previous Secchi disk readings have ranged from 4.0 to 14.5 feet.
The east and west shorelines of South Ten Mile Lake have been extensively developed. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A resort is located on the north shoreline. A DNR owned public access is located along the southeast shoreline. Shoreline development has recently increased in the southern portion of the lake. Common cattail and hardstem bulrush are prevalent along the shoreline of this bay. Large stands of hardstem bulrush are also located along the south, west, and east shorelines of the main lake basin. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms and 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. A cooperative shoreline stabilization project was completed in 1999. The DNR, in conjunction with the lake association and private landowners installed rock rip-rap to stabilize several areas of shoreline that were experiencing varying degrees of erosion.
Read the full DNR narrative
A spring trap netting survey was conducted in 2025 to collect data on the Bluegill population. This was the first survey specifically targeting Bluegill on South Ten Mile Lake. A moderate density Bluegill population exists, with quality fish present as well. Age data indicates that Bluegill recruitment has been inconsistent in recent years. Fish sampled ranged in size from 3.4 to 9.2 inches in length, with 59% of the Bluegills measuring 7.0 inches or greater. Bluegills attain an average length of 8.4 inches at seven years of age.
Anglers can maintain the quality of angling on South Ten Mile Lake 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.
South Ten Mile Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2017. 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
Tenmile Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Tenmile 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
- Ten Mile Lake (trailer launch)
DNR bathymetry
Tenmile Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- North Tenmile Lake · 654 ac · 2.2 mi
- Clear Lake · 399 ac · 2.6 mi
- Rose Lake · 108 ac · 5 mi
- Johnson Lake · 419 ac · 5.9 mi
- Sewell Lake · 369 ac · 6.7 mi
- Lightning Lake · 541 ac · 6.9 mi
- Swan Lake · 749 ac · 6.9 mi
- Pomme de Terre Lake · 1,816 ac · 8.1 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Tenmile Lake?
Tenmile Lake reaches 51 ft at its deepest point; about 42% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Tenmile Lake?
Tenmile Lake covers 1,428 acres with about 9.7 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Tenmile Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Tenmile Lake average 9.9 ft of visibility, middling clarity for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Tenmile Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2025) record walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rock bass.
Is Tenmile Lake stocked?
No stocking is on record for Tenmile Lake in the DNR's stocking database.
Does Tenmile Lake have a public access?
Yes. Tenmile Lake has one public access site: Ten Mile Lake (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Tenmile Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2003.
When was Tenmile Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Tenmile Lake in 2025, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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