Block Lake

Otter Tail County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 56007900

DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Block Lake since 2016, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (132,000 fish).

• Block Lake has 10 DNR stocking records across 10 years (2016-2025): walleye (10).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 692,190 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 23 ft; surface area 290 acres, 132 littoral acres, 3.4 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 9.8 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, largemouth bass.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: May 6, 2022 (targeted survey).
• Otter Tail County, nearest town Urbank; DNR lake number (DOW) 56007900.

Depth map

Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey (get source); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.

Stocking history

¹ fish purchased and stocked by private citizens and sporting groups.

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2022

Catch per net (CPUE) is the DNR survey's count per gill net or trap net set; higher means more of that species were sampled, not a fishing forecast. Top species per gear shown; where we have no verified common name for a DNR code, the code itself is shown.

Block Lake is a 263-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in southeastern Otter Tail County approximately seven miles west of Parkers Prairie, MN. The immediate watershed is composed of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 23 feet; however, 50% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. Historical secchi disk readings have ranged from 2.0 to 9.8 feet. Water clarity can diminish on this lake during the summer months due to algae blooms. Shoreline development on Block Lake is moderate. A DNR owned concrete public water access is located off of County Road 6 along the north shoreline of the lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are prevalent in various locations throughout the lake. 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 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 cannot be removed without a DNR permit. A spring trapnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Black Crappie population. Catch and length data indicate that a moderately abundant Black Crappie population with a quality size structure exists in Block Lake. Black Crappies ranged in length from 3.4 to 12.9 inches with an average length of 7.8 inches. Forty percent of the Black Crappies were 10.0 inches or greater in length and 8% were 12.0 inches or greater in length. Black Crappies attain an average length of 10.7 inches at five 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 larger fish in the future. Block 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.

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, May 6, 2022.

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