Little Pine

Little Pine Lake is a 1,969-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northeastern Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Perham, MN. Little Pine Lake is a part of the Otter Tail River Watershed and is connected to Big Pine Lake via the Otter Tail River. The Otter Tail River inlet is located along the west shoreline of the lake while the outlet is located along the southeast shoreline. The Otter Tail River is navigable by boat upstream of Little Pine Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots; however, there has recently been an increase in residential development. The maximum depth of Little Pine Lake is 63 feet; however, thirty-five percent of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 5.5 to 18.5 feet. The shoreline of Little Pine Lake has been extensively developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off of County Road 8 along the southeast shoreline of the lake. A city owned (Perham) concrete public access is located off of County Road 51 along the west shoreline of the lake. Remnant stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are located in the area near the Otter Tail River inlet. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Little Pine Lake is a popular angling lake during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. The lake has a reputation as one of the premier Walleye fishing lakes in Otter Tail County. Northern Pike are also abundant and have an excellent size distribution as well. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat that is available. A reduced daily bag limit regulation for sunfish (10 per day) and crappie (5 per day) was implemented in 2025. The objective of the regulation is to maintain or improve the abundances and size structure of the Bluegill and Black Crappie populations. A special spring trap netting survey was conducted to collect baseline data on the Bluegill population, which will be used for regulation evaluation purposes in future surveys. The Bluegill population is low-density and has a quality size structure. Age data indicate that Bluegill reproduction is likely inconsistent. Twenty-one percent of the Bluegill sample was 7.0 inches or greater in length, while 18% was 8.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 8.3 inches at seven years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of angling in Little Pine Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future. Little Pine Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2020. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native fish species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.

Little Pine Lake is a 1,969-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northeastern Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Perham, MN. Little Pine Lake is a part of the Otter Tail River Watershed and is connected to Big Pine Lake via the Otter Tail River. The Otter Tail River inlet is located along the west shoreline of the lake while the outlet is located along the southeast shoreline. The Otter Tail River is navigable by boat upstream of Little Pine Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots; however, there has recently been an increase in residential development. The maximum depth of Little Pine Lake is 63 feet; however, thirty-five percent of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2023 survey was 10.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 5.5 to 18.5 feet. The shoreline of Little Pine Lake has been extensively developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off of County Road 8 along the southeast shoreline of the lake. A city owned (Perham) concrete public access is located off of County Road 51 along the west shoreline of the lake. Remnant stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are located in the area near the Otter Tail River inlet. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Little Pine Lake is a popular angling lake during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. The lake has a reputation as one of the premier Walleye fishing lakes in Otter Tail County. Northern Pike are also abundant and have an excellent size distribution as well. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat that is available. A special gillnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Walleye and Northern Pike populations. Walleye abundance has historically been high in Little Pine Lake. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.5 to 21.9 inches with an average length and weight of 14.6 inches and 1.1 pounds. Age and catch data indicate that the 2020 year class is very strong and should provide excellent Walleye angling for several years. Age and catch data from recent lake surveys also indicate that Walleye natural reproduction is substantial enough to consistently sustain the Walleye population at or above DNR management objectives. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.9 inches at four years of age. An experimental Walleye regulation was implemented on May 10, 2003. The regulation is an 18.0 to 26.0 protected slot limit with one Walleye over 26.0 inches allowed in possession. The intent of this regulation is to improve the size structure of the Walleye population in Little Pine Lake. Northern Pike ranged in length from 17.5 to 35.0 inches with an average length and weight of 22.4 inches and 2.5 pounds. Pike exhibit fast growth rates with an average length of 25.0 inches at four years of age. Lake Sturgeon were sampled for the first time in Little Pine Lake during the 2023 survey. A Lake Sturgeon restoration plan for the Otter Tail River system began in 2002. Data from various surveys throughout the river system indicate that the restoration plan has been successful thus far. The DNR controlled Otter Tail River outlet dam was removed in 2023 and replaced with a rock-rapids structure. This will allow water levels to be maintained at historical levels and will also allow for the passage of fish species both upstream and downstream of Little Pine Lake. Anglers can maintain the quality of angling in Little Pine Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future. Little Pine Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2020. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native fish species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.

Little Pine Lake is a 1,969-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northeastern Otter Tail County approximately two miles north of Perham, MN. Little Pine Lake is a part of the Otter Tail River Watershed and is connected to Big Pine Lake via the Otter Tail River. The Otter Tail River inlet is located along the west shoreline of the lake while the outlet is located along the southeast shoreline. The Otter Tail River is navigable by boat upstream of Little Pine Lake. A Minnesota DNR controlled dam at the outlet impedes navigability downstream to Big Pine Lake. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots; however, there has recently been an increase in residential development. The maximum depth of Little Pine Lake is 63 feet; however, thirty-five percent of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2021 survey was 9.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings ranged from 5.5 to 18.5 feet. The shoreline of Little Pine Lake has been extensively developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned concrete public access is located off of County Road 8 along the southeast shoreline of the lake. A city owned (Perham) concrete public access is located off of County Road 51 along the west shoreline of the lake. Remnant stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are located in the area near the Otter Tail River inlet. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent water quality and angling that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Little Pine Lake is a popular angling lake during both the open water and ice fishing seasons. The lake has a reputation as one of the premier Walleye fishing lakes in Otter Tail County. Northern Pike are also abundant and have an excellent size distribution as well. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat that is available. A special gillnetting survey was conducted to analyze the Walleye, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch populations. Walleye abundance has historically been high in Little Pine Lake. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.4 to 28.7 inches with an average length and weight of 15.0 inches and 1.3 pounds. Age and catch data indicate that the 2018 year class is very strong and should provide excellent Walleye angling for several years. Age and catch data from recent lake surveys also indicate that Walleye natural reproduction is substantial enough to consistently sustain the Walleye population at or above DNR management objectives. Walleyes attain an average length of 14.1 inches at four years of age. An experimental Walleye regulation was implemented on May 10, 2003. The regulation is an 18.0 to 26.0 protected slot limit with one Walleye over 26.0 inches allowed in possession. The intent of this regulation is to improve the size structure of the Walleye population in Little Pine Lake. Northern Pike ranged in length from 14.8 to 37.2 inches with an average length and weight of 23.2 inches and 2.9 pounds. Pike exhibit fast growth rates with an average length of 26.4 inches at five years of age. Historical catch and length data indicate that Yellow Perch abundance and size structure fluctuates. Six percent of the perch in this survey were 8.0 inches or greater in length. Anglers can maintain the quality of angling in Little Pine Lake by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of the more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future. Little Pine Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2020. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native fish species can potentially harm water quality, water recreation, aquatic habitat, native species, and fish populations. Anglers can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species by following watercraft transportation laws.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Rock Bass, Walleye, Green Sunfish, Northern Pike, and Bluegill in Little Pine. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Little Pine has a maximum depth of 63 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Little Pine is from 2023.

Yes — Little Pine has confirmed zebra mussel. Clean, drain, and dry your equipment to avoid spreading invasives to other waters.