Fishing Report 9-16-20
By Erik Osberg
Otter Tail Lake is the largest lake in Otter Tail County, MN. It is roughly 14,000 acres and can be intimidating to even the most experienced angler. The lake is sometimes referred to as a walleye factory, but there are other species to target on this body of water as well. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you head out for a day of fishing on Otter Tail.
Walleye
There is a ton of structure on Otter Tail Lake, and a ton of places for walleyes to be. One of the most effective presentations to cover water is a bottom bouncer, spinner rig and nightcrawler. This week, a three ounce bottom bouncer was critical to catching fish. The heavier weight allows you to maintain contact with the bottom in depths ranging from 15 feet of water to 30+ feet of water. The color, size and shape of the spinner rig doesn’t always matter. Walleyes in Otter Tail are usually feeding on perch, so matching that prey is a good idea. My other favorite colors include gold, (hammered or not) and silver. I usually try to run the set up at 1.1-1.3 mph. You can use a whole nightcrawler or you can pinch off the last couple inches. Just make sure the crawler stays clean. Check it often.
Northern Pike
Otter Tail Lake has some very healthy northern pike. There is a good number of fish in the 30-40 inch range. If the walleyes aren’t cooperating, or if you are just looking to mix things up, don’t be afraid to target these toothy critters. Most of the time, the pike are relating to shallower water and weeds. Over the weekend, the Heart O Lakes High School Fishing League Championship was held on Otter Tail. The student angler in my boat was able to land a 32.5 & a 35 inch pike. He was casting a black spinner bait into a weed edge in 10-13 feet of water. Be sure to check the Minnesota DNR regulations for pike, there are special rules for keeping pike on Otter Tail Lake.
Bass
Otter Tail Lake has both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Much like pike, largemouth can be found relating to weeds. Crank baits, spinner baits & plastic worms are a few of our favorite lures to use. The smallmouth population seems to be improving year after year. There are some rather large rock piles on some of the flats on Otter Tail.
I assume that most anglers fishing on Otter Tail Lake are hoping to catch walleyes. Just remember that there are other fun fish to catch in the lake as well. If the walleyes aren’t cooperating, don’t be afraid to try something new. Who knows, you might even stumble into some walleyes and they might be in a place you never expected.
