Hoot Lake

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

Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 56078200

DNR records show 10 stocking entries at Hoot Lake since 2017, most recently walleye adults in 2025 (19 fish).

• Hoot Lake has 10 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): walleye (10).
• The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 8,563 fish on record.
• Maximum depth 20 ft; surface area 161 acres, 63 littoral acres, 2.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
• Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 9.7 ft.
• Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake sturgeon, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, and 4 more.
• 1 public access on the DNR list.
• Most recent DNR fish survey: July 7, 2025 (standard survey).
• Otter Tail County, nearest town Fergus Falls; DNR lake number (DOW) 56078200.

Stocking history

Public accesses

DNR fish survey, 2025

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.

Hoot Lake is a 155-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in southwest Otter Tail County. Hoot Lake is located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Hoot Lake is part of the Otter Tail River chain of lakes. The Otter Tail River enters the lake along the northeast shoreline and outlets to Wright Lake along the south shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of residential areas except for a small area north of the lake, which is composed of mixed hardwoods and pasture. Hoot Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet; however, 41% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading was 12.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 7.5 to 11.0 feet. A large majority of the shoreline of Hoot Lake is developed with homes. Godel City Park is located along the south shoreline and includes such amenities as a fishing pier, walking trail, picnic shelter, and a playground. A concrete public water access is also located within the park. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand, gravel, and rubble. Hardstem bulrush and wild rice are prevalent around the entire shoreline of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and wild rice provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms and can 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. Hoot Lake can be ecologically classified as a Bass-Panfish-Walleye type of lake, and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern Pike, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Walleye, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat within the lake and the river connected to it. Northern Pike abundance is moderate. The Northern Pike population has a quality size structure with a length range from 18.5 to 30.1 inches with an average length and weight of 24.3 inches and 3.3 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 25.5 inches at four years of age. Catch data from a spring electrofishing survey indicate that Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass are very abundant. Age data indicate that…

Minnesota DNR survey narrative, July 7, 2025.

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