Lake Sturgeon: A Welcomed Species

What’s that critter in the photo?  A sturgeon!  Cool!

Lake Sturgeon were re-introduced into the Ottertail Lake and river system about 12 years ago.  They are a great addition to the lakes residing along the Ottertail River.  Even though most of the stocking occurred close to Ottertail Lake, the sturgeon have been making their way up and down the Ottertail River and now can been seen “breaching” the surface on most lakes between West Lost and Big Pine Lake.

A question I get asked often is whether or not sturgeon are “good?”  Or “why were they planted in Ottertail Lake?”  The best answer I have for those questions is that they are a welcomed species (they are not predators so they don’t eat walleye or other game fish). They eat clams, snails, crayfish, aquatic insect larvae and will even eat Zebra Mussels—I love these fish!  Lake Sturgeon can live to be 100 years old. In my opinion, they positively contribute to the diversity of fish species in the lakes on the Ottertail River system.

A week ago, an angler aboard my boat had a 60 inch on, but we lost it at the landing net (my net was too small!).  All of the sturgeon that I’ve seen caught on Ottertail Lakes Country’s lakes are accidental catches, which is great fun.  You just never know what you’re going to catch on the lakes here!  They really add to our already-great fisheries in Otter Tail Lakes Country!  If you catch one, quickly take a photo and release it as soon as you can.  Sturgeon are a catch-and-release only species—you cannot keep them.  Please read up on your MN fishing regulations for more information if you’re interested (click here to view the 2017 Minnesota Fishing Regulations).