Walleye Fishing has been Good Around Otter Tail County

Otter Tail Lakes Country is ready for fishing,  and its ice is improving every day due to the very cold temperatures.

Some folks are venturing out on the ice in vehicles, but most anglers are quite satisfied with ATV travel or walking.  As usual, if you haven’t been out on the ice yet this season, or if you’re fishing a different lake, walk out on the ice and drill a couple holes to make sure the ice is right for you.   As for the fishing?  It’s been strong around lakes country.  Panfish have been active near weeds on flats, or are found lingering near weed lines and are suspended over deep water.  Use small tear-drop jigs tipped with wax worms and also try super-small spoon style lures (treble hooked lures) tipped with wax worms.  Walleye fishing has been good around Otter Tail County, especially on the larger-class lakes.  Walleye have been feeding mid day this week, with spurts of fast catching at the end of the day/sunset.  It’s not uncommon to have good mid-day walleye action during the new-moon phase.  Northern are active all around the county.  Spear fishermen are seeing high numbers of active cruising pike, and anglers of all sorts seem to be catching mid-sized northern throughout the day.  I’m still seeing good walleye catches—even though it’s getting later into the season and I’m still seeing walleye taking pretty large baits like 5 inch suckers etc.  Spoons and jigging lures are still catching walleye, but set-lines with tipped with large minnows seem to out fish the fancy lures now, which is normal for mid-January.  Stay safe on the ice, and good luck on the lakes.

By, Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service