Height of Land

Height of Land Lake is a 3,795-acre lake located in central Becker County 15 miles east of Detroit Lakes. It is sometimes subject to low dissolved oxygen levels during the winter. The most severe winterkill occurred in 1996, eliminating most of the Walleye and panfish populations. Anglers reported dead fish following the 2022-2023 winter. A targeted fisheries survey was completed in May 2023 to assess the severity of the winterkill. Dead fish of all species were observed while surveying. Five trap nets were used to sample Height of Land Lake. Bullheads were the most abundant species captured, but Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, hybrid sunfish, Northern Pike, and White Sucker were also captured. Northern Pike had an average length of 17 inches. Walleye were reintroduced during 2023. Angling opportunities for Northern Pike are still available and maybe an occasional crappie, but it will likely take a several years to have quality fishing for other species.

Height of Land Lake is a 3,795-acre lake located in central Becker County 15 miles east of the city of Detroit Lakes. Height of Land possesses a moderately developed shoreline, primarily along its southern shore. The lake is designated as moderately productive and is occasionally subject to low dissolved oxygen levels during the winter, with the last severe winterkill occurring in 1996. Height of Land Lake's fishery provides angling opportunities for Walleye, Northern Pike, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and other species. A standard fisheries survey was completed on Height of Land Lake in June 2021. Stocking sustains the Walleye fishery in Height of Land Lake as spawning habitat is very limited. Walleye fry are stocked during odd-numbered years, when surplus fry are available, or following winterkill events. Catch rates of Walleye have fluctuated in Height of Land Lake, ranging from one to about 11 Walleye per net. The average catch rate of Walleye in 2021 was roughly three per net. Walleye sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 11.7 to 26.1 inches, averaging 16.1 inches long. Catch rates of Northern Pike in gill nets increased dramatically in Height of Land Lake in 1986 but have since declined. The average catch rate of Northern Pike in 2021 was about 13 pike per gill net. Northern Pike sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 9.3 to 34.5 inches, averaging 17.2 inches long. Pike between 13 and 18 inches accounted for 64% of sampled pike, characteristic of a population dominated by small-sized fish. Yellow Perch catch rates have declined in Height of Land Lake, paralleling the timeline of increased Northern Pike catches. On average, about seven Yellow Perch were caught per gill net in 2021. Sampled Yellow Perch ranged in length from 4.9 to 11.4 inches, averaging 6.8 inches long. Past surveys documented very low catch rates of Bluegill in Height of Land Lake, likely a result of periodic winterkills. Catch rates have since increased and the average catch rate of Bluegill in 2021 was almost 13 per trap net. Bluegill sampled in 2021 ranged in length from 4.9 to 9.3 inches and averaged 7.8 inches. Age structures show that Bluegill do not reach eight inches until around seven years old. Beginning March 1, 2021, a special sunfish regulation (10 fish daily bag limit) was implemented on Height of Land Lake as part of the Quality Sunfish Initiative, a statewide effort to maintain the opportunity to catch large sunfish by reducing harvest limits. Only 25 Black Crappie were caught during the 2021 standard survey. Sampled Black Crappie ranged in length from 3.9 to 12.6 inches. A total of 11 Largemouth Bass were also caught, ranging in length from nine to 19 inches. Additional species sampled in the 2021 survey included Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Yellow Bullhead, hybrid sunfish, Pumpkinseed, Bowfin, and White Sucker. Shoreline owners can help to maintain or improve water quality and fish habitat in Height of Land Lake by maintaining shoreline buffer zones and leaving stands of native aquatic vegetation intact. Anglers and recreationalists can protect Height of Land Lake's fishery by doing their best to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species and by releasing larger fish/harvesting smaller fish (specifically Northern Pike and Bluegill).

This assessment was conducted in June 2015 to assess the fish population within Height of Land Lake. Height of Land Lake is a large (3,520 acre) shallow lake located in central Becker County. The lake is relatively lightly developed, and much of the north shore is included in the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Height of Land is in lake class 41. Lakes of this class are relatively large, shallow, productive, and subject to periodic winterkills. Other class 41 lakes in the surrounding area include Rock, Shell, Wolf, and Tamarac. Height of Land Lake experienced a severe winterkill in 1996, while less severe, partial winterkills occurred in 1986, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2014. Height of Land Lake has experienced changes in its fish community in response to the severe winterkill events, and recovered naturally following the partial winterkills. The severe winterkill in 1996 mostly eliminated Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and panfish populations. Walleye fry and fingerlings, Bluegill, Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass adult broodstock were stocked in spring of 1996. Test netting is done following each partial kill to assess the severity of the winterkill, and to help determine if it is necessary to stock broodstock of any species. Walleye fry are stocked during odd-numbered years, and also during even-numbered years after a severe winterkill. There is a modest level of natural reproduction of Walleye within the lake, and combined with fry stocking, the Walleye population in Height of Land Lake has fluctuated within the normal range for lakes of similar characteristics. In 2015, the Walleye catch rate (3.9 per gill net) was just slightly below the historical average for Height of Land Lake (4.7 per gill net). Walleyes sampled in 2015 were slightly smaller than those sampled five years prior, with an average length of 14.9 inches and an average weight of 1.3 pounds. Walleyes from seven different ages were sampled. Northern Pike sampled in 2015 were generally abundant and small, with an average length of 18.4 inches, and an average weight of 1.3 pounds. Yellow Perch abundance has been on a downward trend since the 1986 survey, but it remains within the normal range of lakes with similar characteristics. As well as being a primary forage species for Walleye and Northern Pike, Yellow Perch are a popular angling target in Height of Land Lake. The average size of Yellow Perch increased slightly from the previous survey, and is 6.9 inches. Few perch larger than 10 inches were found in 2015, unlike some past reports. Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass numbers have historically been low in Height of Land Lake, but are within the normal range for lakes of similar characteristics. During the 2015 survey, a historically high number of Bluegills were sampled. While average size is small at 6.1 inches, a small proportion of the sample exceeded eight inches. Bluegills grow rapidly in Height of Land Lake, and fish under age five years old should continue to provide good fishing within the next couple of years if no winterkill occurs. Yellow, Black, and Brown Bullheads are all found in Height of Land Lake. While Black and Brown Bullhead catch rates are low, Yellow Bullheads were sampled at a historical high in 2015. Commercial Fish Removal was permitted during 2015 for Bullheads, removing 300 pounds of Bullheads for human use. Bullheads removed were under 0.5 pounds each. Before flowing through Height of Land Lake, the Otter Tail River begins at Elbow Lake and flows south through several lakes such as Little Bemidji, Many Point, and Round Lake. Tullibee, Lake Sturgeon, and Muskellunge all exist in these upstream lakes either naturally or through stocking. Therefore, not surprisingly, recent assessments have also documented Tullibee, Lake Sturgeon, and Muskellunge within Height of Land Lake. Tullibee were documented in 1975 and 2010, but not sampled during this assessment. Lake Sturgeon were sampled in this assessment (two fish captured) and in 2005 (one fish captured). In addition, one Muskellunge was documented during a separate assessment in 2015. Although fish must travel downstream through the Otter Tail River over 15 river miles, through three shallow, heavily vegetated lakes within Tamarack National Wildlife Refuge before reaching Height of Land Lake, it is likely the documented presence of Muskellunge and Lake Sturgeon are a result of fish moving downstream through the Otter Tail River. While no angler reports of Lake Sturgeon or Muskellunge have been recorded, it is possible that anglers may encounter these species in the future. Documented movement of multiple fish species through the Ottertail River emphasizes the importance of habitat preservation within this system. With continuing shoreline and watershed development, this diverse, productive, and valuable fishery will need help on several fronts to be sustained. Anglers can help to maintain balance in fish populations by voluntarily releasing a portion of medium and large fish and keeping smaller ones for eating. This is particularly true for Northern Pike and Bluegill. Shoreline owners and other watershed dwellers can help to maintain or improve water quality and fish habitat by leaving shoreline buffer zones, by leaving stands of native aquatic vegetation intact, by taking precautions to prevent invasive species introductions, and by using wise land management practices.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Hybrid Sunfish, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Walleye, and Pumpkinseed in Height of Land. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

Minnesota DNR records list public access for Height of Land. Check the DNR LakeFinder page for the launch type and directions before you go.

Height of Land has a maximum depth of 21 feet and a mean depth of 7.6 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Height of Land is from 2021.

No invasive species are on record for Height of Land in Minnesota DNR data. Always clean, drain, and dry your equipment to help keep it that way.