Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Otter Tail County
126 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Otter Tail County; 76 cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake. The top 10 are ranked here.
Otter Tail Lake leads at grade A+, with 10.4 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2024 survey and a 28-inch fish the biggest measured. Pelican Lake is next at A, 13.8 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2025 survey, 9% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Little Pine Lake rounds out the top three at A, a 28-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Otter Tail Lake | A+ | 14,079 | 10.4/net in gill nets | 10% | 28" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 2 | Pelican Lake | A | 3,962 | 13.8/net in gill nets | 9% | 28" | 1.2 lb | 2025 |
| 3 | Little Pine Lake | A | 2,080 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 11% | 28" | 1.2 lb | 2024 |
| 4 | Big Pine Lake | A | 4,728 | 13.6/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 1.1 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Little McDonald Lake | A | 1,316 | 8.6/net in gill nets | 34% | 28" | 2.2 lb | 2020 |
| 6 | Dead Lake | A− | 7,546 | 6/net in gill nets | 7% | 26" | 1.3 lb | 2024 |
| 7 | Fish Lake | A− | 1,078 | 11.2/net in gill nets | 21% | 26" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 8 | Tenmile Lake | A− | 1,428 | 10.2/net in gill nets | 13% | 25" | 1.8 lb | 2025 |
| 9 | Star Lake | A− | 4,486 | 6.6/net in gill nets | 12% | 24" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Long Lake | A− | 767 | 9.9/net in gill nets | 20% | 26" | 1.5 lb | 2023 |
Also ranked in Otter Tail County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Smallmouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.