Jim Lake
Otter Tail County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 56036400
DNR records show 5 stocking entries at Jim Lake since 2017, most recently walleye fry in 2025 (58,000 fish).
- Jim Lake has 5 DNR stocking records across 5 years (2017-2025): walleye (5).
- The most-stocked species by count is walleye: 290,000 fish on record.
- Maximum depth 27 ft; surface area 100 acres, 58 littoral acres, 1.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 9.0 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Otter Tail County, nearest town Vergas; DNR lake number (DOW) 56036400.
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Size | Number | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | fry | 58,000 | 0.5 |
| 2023 | Walleye | fry | 58,000 | 0.5 |
| 2021 | Walleye | fry | 58,000 | 0.5 |
| 2019 | Walleye | fry | 58,000 | 0.5 |
| 2017 | Walleye | fry | 58,000 | 0.5 |
Field note · Minnesota stocks by year, not by truck day: walleye fry go in within weeks of ice-out, fingerlings and yearlings mostly in fall, and stream trout in spring and fall. A row here means the fish went in during that year; DNR adds the year's rows after the fact, so the current year can look empty until winter.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| earthen ramp | TOW |
DNR fish survey, 2013
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 34.33 | 309 | 0.23 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 32.56 | 293 | 0.21 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 10.44 | 94 | 0.81 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 10.11 | 91 | 0.42 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 2.33 | 21 | 0.51 |
| Golden shiner | Standard trap nets | 0.56 | 5 | 0.06 |
| Brown bullhead | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 1.36 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 0.33 | 3 | 0.87 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 19.00 | 57 | 1.82 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 7.00 | 21 | 0.08 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 2.67 | 8 | 0.94 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 1.00 | 3 | 3.72 |
| Yellow perch | Standard gill nets | 0.67 | 2 | 0.18 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 3.09 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 1 | 0.25 |
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.
Jim Lake is a 99-acre moderately fertile lake located in north-central Otter Tail County, approximately four miles east of the city of Vergas, MN. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of mixed hardwoods. Jim Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet; however, 59% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading was 10.0 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 7.0 - 9.3 feet. Little development exists around the lake. A partially developed township owned public access is located on the northwest shoreline. Sandy soils can at times make access difficult and parking is very limited. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and muck. Hardstem bulrush, cattails, and wild rice exist at several locations around the lake. These emergent aquatic plants provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish species such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Panfish. They also are important nursery areas for all species of fish. They protect shorelines from erosion and can actually absorb and break down pollutants. Because of their ecological importance emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. Jim Lake is subject to partial winterkills; however, none has been reported since the winter of 1986-1987. Lack of winterkill has allowed the fish populations to expand. Jim Lake contains populations of Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Black Crappie, Bluegill and Bullhead. A high-density Northern Pike population exists that exceeds the normal range for lakes of this type. The population increase is likely in response to high water levels and lack of winter kill in recent years. Since 1994, Northern Pike abundance has been on a steady increase. Northern Pike ranged in length from 15.6 to 35.8 inches with a mean length and weight of 20.2 inches and 1.8 pounds. Only 4% of the pike exceeded 24.0 inches in length. Only one Walleye was sampled. This is the first time that the Walleye abundance hasn't exceeded the normal range. Walleye abundance is likely limited by predation from the high-density Black Crappie population and Northern Pike populations. Black Crappie were sampled for the first time in 2000. Black Crappie abundance has steadily increased and is now well above the normal range. Age data indicate that Black Crappie reproduction is consistently good. Twenty-three percent of the Black Crappies were 10.0 inches or greater in length. Black Crappies attain an average length of 9.9 inches at five years of age. Bluegill…
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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Stocking rows, depths, accesses and survey figures are Minnesota DNR LakeFinder data as of 2026-09-02. Regulations, slot limits and special rules are on the DNR page linked above, not here.
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