Pro Tip: Try Different Depth Zones

Hello Summer fishermen!  

Things have been hot!  The water is very warm (upper 70’s) and the clarity is a well summer-time-stained color on most lakes. Water clarity like this inhibits light penetration, which promotes good day-time fishing opportunities!  In fact, the best fishing is when the sun is shining around mid-day.  

While walleye can be a challenge right now, they are certainly catch-able throughout Otter Tail County. They can be found near weeds, on deep rocks and sand, or on shallow flats. If one lake is being difficult, remember: just change lakes. Different lakes function differently in Otter Tail Lakes Country, so be ready to try different depth zones on different lakes.  A lot of walleye spend the summer in shallow water (12 feet or less). Don’t let the weather fool you & go deep just because it’s hot – the fish are not seeking out cooler water to hang out in. The fish continue to function as feeding animals and, therefore, are going to be located wherever the food may be.    

Panfish can be found from 9-25 feet across the county. Just drag night drawers around and you should be able to locate schools of nice blue gills without much effort. Northern pike can still be found near weeds; just troll crank baits over and around cabbage stands on the edge of shallow, weedy flats and near deep water.  Bass continue to bite very well across lakes country.  Otter Tail County is full of bass and summer is the time fish for them. Cast plastics, spinner baits, or top water.  Fish them on the slop, over weeds, on points, islands and rocks—they seem to be about everywhere.

Keep fishing Otter Tail County—our mid-summer fishing is very good.  Good luck on the lakes this week.  

Ross Hagemeister, meisterguideservice.com.