Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Otter Tail County
The DNR has surveyed walleye in 126 lakes in Otter Tail County. Of those, 75 earn a grade on this site, and the top 10 are ranked below. Grades come from survey catch rates, fish size and trophy history, scored the same way for every lake on the live map.
Otter Tail Lake is first at A+. The DNR caught 10.4 walleye per gill net in the 2024 survey, and the biggest was 28 inches. Pelican Lake is second at A, with 13.8 walleye per gill net in the 2025 survey, and 9% of its walleye measured over 20 inches. Little Pine Lake is third at A, and its biggest walleye was 28 inches.
| # | 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 | Long Lake | A− | 767 | 9.9/net in gill nets | 20% | 26" | 1.5 lb | 2023 |
| 10 | North Lida Lake | A− | 5,523 | 4.1/net in gill nets | 9% | 27" | 1.5 lb | 2024 |
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 based on Minnesota DNR survey data: how many fish the DNR caught (scaled by lake size), how many reached quality size, and the biggest fish measured. Each lake's page has the numbers behind its grade. The table shows each lake's most recent survey year.