Otter

Otter Lake is a small, shallow, undeveloped lake located approximately ten miles north of the community of Hovland off the Arrowhead Trail. For many years the lake was managed for Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie. A partial winterkill in the late 1970s eliminated the Largemouth Bass population. That was followed by a surge in Yellow Perch abundance and a gradual decline in the Black Crappie population. Northern Pike were introduced in the 1980s with the intent of reducing Yellow Perch abundance to a level that might allow Black Crappie abundance to rebound. Although Yellow Perch abundance declined after Northern Pike became established, the Black Crappie population did not recover despite additional stocking efforts in 1999 and 2002. The 2008 lake management plan for Otter Lake called for a change in management species, and introductory Walleye fry stocking was done annually, 2008-2011, then reduced to two consecutive years of every four starting in 2014. The goal was to establish a Walleye population with a minimum gill net catch of 5.0 fish/set. This survey was the last of three scheduled in the 2008 lake management plan to determine whether Walleye stocking had been successful, and to monitor the lake for Walleye natural reproduction. Standard survey results from 2014 and 2018 indicated that Walleye stocking was initially successful in Otter Lake. In both surveys, Walleye gill net and standard trap net catch rates were considered average or better for this type of lake. Fry stocked year classes were represented in each survey, although a substantial proportion of the fish sampled in 2018 were aged to natural (unstocked) year classes. Results from the 2022 survey were similar to those observed in 2018. The Walleye gill net catch surpassed the catch goal set for the population for the second consecutive survey. The number of Walleye sampled in standard trap nets was above average compared to catch rates from other lakes of this type but similar to prior survey results from Otter Lake. A majority of the Walleye sampled in this survey ranged from 14-18 inches, while the largest walleye measured just over 20 inches. Natural reproduction accounted for over 60% of the Walleyes captured in the survey, while recent year classes supplemented with fry stocking (2018 and 2019) did not appear particularly abundant. Results from this survey offer additional confirmation that Walleye stocking in Otter Lake was successful at producing a population that could meet the catch goal set for the lake. The increasing contributions of naturally produced Walleye also indicates that fry stocking may no longer be necessary to maintain a population capable of meeting this goal. The stocking program and objectives for Otter Lake will be reviewed further in winter 2024 when the current lake management plan is scheduled to be revised. Northern Pike gill net catches have increased in each survey since 2014. The 2022 Northern Pike catch was once again above the normal range for this type of lake. The quality of the population remained low, with most of the fish taken measuring 22 inches or less. Very few Yellow Perch were sampled in gill nets in 2022, and none were collected in 0.25-inch-mesh trap nets. No other forage fish have been sampled to date in Otter Lake. Low Yellow Perch abundance may increase Walleye and Northern Pike dependence on the invertebrate forage base and limit their ability to attain larger sizes.

For many years Otter Lake was successfully managed for Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass. A partial winterkill in the late 1970s eliminated the Largemouth Bass. That was followed by a surge in Yellow Perch abundance and a gradual decline in the Black Crappie population. Efforts to control Yellow Perch abundance by direct removal (a failure), and then by introducing Northern Pike (a success), failed to restore the crappie population. Stocking of Black Crappie also failed. The 2008 lake management plan called for a change in management species, and introductory Walleye stocking was done annually, 2008-2011. The goal was to establish a Walleye population with a minimum gill net catch of 5.0 fish/set. This was the second of three surveys scheduled in the 2008 lake management plan to determine whether Walleye stocking had been successful, and to monitor the lake for Walleye natural reproduction that might make further stocking unnecessary. Walleye were fairly abundant in Otter Lake in 2018, although few, if any, really large fish were present. The 2018 Walleye gill net catch met the goal established for the species in the 2008 plan, and was at the upper end of the normal range for lakes of this type. The Walleye trap net catch was also high. The Walleye catch did not include any fish over 20 inches in length; however, numbers of fish in the 14-18-inch size range were fairly high. Stocked year classes accounted for 26 of the 48 Walleye sampled; however, significant natural year classes were also produced. Young-of-year (YOY) Walleye taken in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets in 2018 may have been the result of stocking done that spring, or natural reproduction. The catch (1.67 YOY/set) was above average for a lake in this area. Despite the apparent lack of Yellow Perch, Walleye growth had been above average. Fish reached a mean length of 15.8 inches at the end of their fourth year, compared to an area mean of 13.9 inches. On the basis of results of recent surveys, it is safe to say that Walleye stocking was successful, in that Walleye have survived and a population meeting the catch goal has been established. We cannot yet say whether continued stocking is necessary; however, evidence of significant natural reproduction in this survey suggests that it may not be. Northern Pike remained abundant in Otter Lake in 2018, with a gill net catch that was above the normal range for this type of lake. However, most of the fish taken were under 22 inches in length. From the lengths of the fish that were captured it appeared that at least four year classes had contributed to the Northern Pike catch. Northern Pike and Walleye introductions appeared to have almost eliminated Yellow Perch in this lake. As a result, forage for Walleye and Northern Pike appeared very limited. No Yellow Perch were taken in standard gill or trap net sets, and only a handful (including YOY fish) were collected in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets in 2018 No minnows were taken. Walleye were probably living mainly on invertebrate forage, which would limit their ability to reach larger sizes. Northern Pike probably preyed mainly on each other, and on Walleye.

For many years Otter Lake was one of very few lakes in this area successfully managed for black crappie. A partial winterkill in the late 1970s, followed by a surge in yellow perch abundance, led to the gradual decline in the black crappie population. Efforts to control yellow perch abundance by direct removal, and then by introducing northern pike, failed to restore the crappie population. Stocking of black crappie also failed. The 2008 lake management plan called for a change in management species, and introductory walleye stocking was done annually, in 2008-2011. The goal was to establish a walleye population with a minimum gill net catch of 5.0 fish/set. This was the first of three surveys or assessments scheduled in the 2008 lake management plan to determine whether walleye stocking had been successful, and to monitor the lake for walleye natural reproduction that might make further stocking unnecessary. The goal for the walleye population was nearly met in 2014. Walleye were fairly abundant, and some nice-sized fish were present. It appeared that there had been at least some survival of each of the 2008-2011 stockings, with each of those year classes contributing to the 2014 catch. In addition, two older walleye that could not be accounted for by stocking were taken, and one younger fish that may have been produced naturally was sampled. The 2007 assessment of this lake collected one small walleye, indicating that a few walleye had been introduced by some means prior to introductory stocking in 2008, and making the presence of some older, pre-stocking, fish at least plausible. Growth of young walleye collected in 2014 had been relatively fast; they reached a mean length of 16.0 inches by the end of their fourth year, compared to an area average of 14.3 inches. Several hundred young-of-year (YOY) walleye were collected in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets. It was likely that those fish were the result of fry stocking in 2014, although some contribution from natural reproduction was possible since some mature walleye were present from earlier stockings. Although YOY walleye were abundant in July, they were in poor condition, and survival over the rest of the summer, and through the winter, may have been unusually low. Northern pike were fairly abundant, but small. The northern pike gill net catch was within the normal range for a lake of this class, but the mean weight for fish taken in gill nets was below normal. No gill net sampling has been done in this lake since northern pike were introduced, so changes in their abundance or size cannot be identified. Four year classes, all naturally produced, contributed to the northern pike catch, with no fish older than four years of age taken. Growth of young northern pike had been faster than average; fish reached a mean length of 15.4 inches by the end of their second year, compared to an area mean of 12.5 inches. Yellow perch abundance appears to have dropped significantly since northern pike, and then walleye, were introduced. The 2014 gill net catch was well below the normal range for this type of lake, and was far lower than catches observed in this lake in the 1970s. Despite good growth observed for walleye and northern pike, their yellow perch forage base appeared to have been very limited. No minnows or other forage species were sampled in 0.25-in-mesh trap nets. No black crappie were taken in any of the sampling gears used in this survey. If any were still present, their numbers must have been very low. White sucker, which have been found in this lake in some past assessments, were also not found in 2014. Water quality and habitat in Otter Lake in 2014 appeared to have been typical of a pristine lake in a forested watershed. No exotic or invasic aquatic species were found during this survey. Aquatic vegetation was diverse, but not abundant. Crayfish were common, but only native species were collected. Spawning habitat appeared to have been adequate for walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, and black crappie.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Walleye, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie in Otter. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Otter has a maximum depth of 11 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Otter is from 2022.

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