Otter Lake (Stearns County)
Stearns County, Minnesota - DNR stocking history, depth and survey data
Minnesota · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) · DOW 73001500
Otter Lake (Stearns County) has no DNR stocking rows in LakeFinder; this page carries its DNR depth, access and survey data.
- Otter Lake (Stearns County) shows no stocking records in Minnesota DNR LakeFinder as of .
- Maximum depth 51 ft, mean depth 24 ft; surface area 92 acres, 32 littoral acres, 1.9 miles of shoreline, per the DNR lake survey.
- Average water clarity (Secchi depth) 8.5 ft.
- Fish species DNR lists here: black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, and 1 more.
- 1 public access on the DNR list.
- Most recent DNR fish survey: (standard survey).
- Stearns County, nearest town Fairhaven; DNR lake number (DOW) 73001500.
Depth map
Bathymetric contours from the Minnesota DNR lake survey mapped 8/31/1972 (orig map); depths in feet. Simplified for the web; not for navigation.
Public accesses
| Type | Owner | Where |
|---|---|---|
| C | Minnesota DNR | A navigable channel from Clearwater Lake is the only means of public access. |
DNR fish survey, 2011
| Species | Gear | Catch per net | Total catch | Avg lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook stickleback | Survey seining | 886.00 | 2,658 | 0.00 |
| Largemouth bass | Survey seining | 2.00 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Bluegill | Survey seining | 1.33 | 4 | 0.00 |
| BKF | Survey seining | 0.33 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard electrofishing | 37.77 | 37 | 1.75 |
| Bluegill | Standard trap nets | 36.43 | 255 | 0.17 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard trap nets | 6.00 | 42 | 0.15 |
| Black crappie | Standard trap nets | 4.43 | 31 | 0.38 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard trap nets | 3.00 | 21 | 0.80 |
| Hybrid sunfish | Standard trap nets | 2.14 | 15 | 0.30 |
| Northern pike | Standard trap nets | 1.00 | 7 | 2.04 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard trap nets | 0.57 | 4 | 0.16 |
| Walleye | Standard trap nets | 0.43 | 3 | 1.86 |
| Northern pike | Standard gill nets | 6.83 | 41 | 2.09 |
| Bluegill | Standard gill nets | 5.67 | 34 | 0.17 |
| Yellow bullhead | Standard gill nets | 2.83 | 17 | 0.60 |
| Walleye | Standard gill nets | 2.17 | 13 | 3.34 |
| Black crappie | Standard gill nets | 0.50 | 3 | 0.27 |
| Largemouth bass | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 0.35 |
| Pumpkinseed | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 0.25 |
| White sucker | Standard gill nets | 0.33 | 2 | 2.16 |
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.
Otter Lake is a 96 acre lake located two miles east of Fairhaven in Stearns County. The lake has good water quality and extensive stands of cattail and bulrush. Public access is through a navigable channel from Clearwater Lake. Northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie are present in the lake. Otter Lake was surveyed in August 2011. Northern pike abundance was lower than the last survey in 2001, but typical for lakes similar to Otter. The average size was 20 inches and two pounds. The largest northern pike caught was 37.5 inches. Northern pike growth was similar to other lakes statewide. Northern pike grew 18 to 19 inches in three years. Fifteen percent of northern pike were longer than 24 inches. Largemouth bass were sampled by daytime electrofishing in May. The catch rate was average, but 49% of bass were greater than 15 inches. The average size was 14 inches and two pounds. The largest bass captured was 18 inches and growth was fast. Largemouth bass grew to 11 inches in three years. The walleye catch rate was lower than in 2001, but within the expected range for lakes similar to Otter. Walleye size was good; the average length was 21 inches and three pounds. The largest walleye caught was 28.5 inches. Growth was fast; walleye grew 15 to 17 inches in three years. Otter lake is not stocked, but walleye migrate from Clearwater Lake, which is stocked with walleye fry every other year. Black crappie numbers were higher than 2001 and higher than expected for lakes similar to Otter. The average size was half a pound and 8.5 inches. The largest crappie caught was 10.5 inches. Growth was fast. Black crappie grew to nine inches in three years . Bluegill numbers increased from 2001, but were in the expected range for similar lakes. The average size was six inches and 0.2 pounds. The largest bluegill captured was 8 inches. Growth was average and bluegill grew to seven inches in four years. No yellow perch were captured in 2011 or 2001. Other species caught in 2011 included: bowfin, green and hybrid sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, and yellow bullhead.
Minnesota DNR survey narrative, .
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