Sybil

Sybil Lake is a 706-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. Sybil Lake is connected to Loon Lake via an unnavigable inlet along the west shoreline. Sybil Lake is part of the Otter Tail River Watershed. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. Sybil Lake has a maximum depth of 74 feet; however, 60% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2025 survey was 15.0 feet. Previous secchi disk readings range from 10.8 to 18.0 feet. Moderate development exists along the shoreline of Sybil Lake. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development, and a resort is located on the east shoreline. A DNR owned public water access is located on the south shoreline of the lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel with some areas of rubble. Emergent vegetation (hardstem bulrush and common cattail) is located primarily in the southwest basin and along the eastern shoreline. These areas 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, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their important ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent angling this lake has to offer it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Sybil Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish-Walleye type of lake, and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species present. The Walleye population continues to be abundant. The 2020-year class is strong and should provide good Walleye angling for several years. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.7 to 23.8 inches with an average length and weight of 16.8 inches and 1.8 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 15.9 inches at four years of age. MN DNR Fisheries maintains the Walleye population at a viable level by stocking Walleye fingerlings on an every-other-year basis. The Sybil Lake Association supplements MN DNR stocking with periodic Walleye fingerling stocking. Northern Pike abundance is moderate. Northern Pike size structure has consistently remained poor. Pike ranged in length from 18.0 to 29.5 inches with an average length and weight of 21.3 inches and 2.0 pounds. Northern Pike reach an average length of 20.9 inches at three years of age. The Bluegill population is also moderately abundant, but size structure remains poor. Sixteen percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 7.5 inches at seven years of age. The Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass populations are abundant and possess quality size structures. Fifty-four percent of the Black Crappies were 10.0 inches or greater in length. Crappies reach an average length of 10.3 inches at five years of age. Largemouth Bass ranged in length from 8.1 to 17.5 inches with an average length and weight of 13.2 inches and 1.3 pounds. Largemouth Bass reach an average length of 14.2 inches at five years of age. The Minnesota state record Tullibee was caught from Sybil Lake in 2015. It weighed 5 pounds and 13 ounces. There are no special or experimental fish harvest regulations in effect for Sybil Lake. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that 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. Sybil Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2016. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native 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.

Sybil Lake is a 706-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. Sybil Lake is connected to Loon Lake via an unnavigable inlet along the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. Sybil Lake has a maximum depth of 74 feet; however, 60% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2021 survey was 16.3 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 10.8 to 18.0 feet. Moderate development exists along the shoreline of Sybil Lake. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned public access is located on the south shoreline of the lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel with some areas of rubble. Emergent vegetation (common cattails and hardstem bulrush) is located primarily in the southwest basin. These areas provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality in the lake. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their important ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent angling this lake has to offer it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Sybil Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish-Walleye type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Walleye, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species present. The Walleye population is abundant. Several strong year classes are present and should provide good Walleye angling for several years. Walleyes ranged in length from 10.2 to 23.9 inches with an average length and weight of 16.2 inches and 1.6 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 15.1 inches at four years of age. Northern Pike abundance is low to moderate. Northern Pike size structure has consistently remained poor. Pike ranged in length from 16.4 to 29.5 inches with an average length and weight of 20.0 inches and 1.1 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 21.6 inches at four years of age. The Bluegill population is moderately abundant. A quality size structure exists as 51% of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length, while 11% were 8.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 7.5 inches at seven years of age. The Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie populations have also been historically abundant with excellent size structures, consistently good reproduction, and average growth. The Minnesota state record Tullibee was caught from Sybil Lake in 2015. It weighed 5 pounds and 13 ounces. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that 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. Sybil Lake was listed as infested with zebra mussels in 2016. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native 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.

Sybil Lake is a 706-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in north-central Otter Tail County approximately four miles south of Vergas, MN. Sybil Lake is connected to Loon Lake via an unnavigable inlet along the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. Sybil Lake has a maximum depth of 74 feet; however, 60% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading was 14.1 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 10.8 to 18.0 feet. Moderate development exists along the shoreline of Sybil Lake. Homes and cottages compose the majority of the development. A DNR owned public access is located on the south shoreline of the lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel with some areas of rubble. Emergent vegetation (common cattails and hardstem bulrush) is located primarily in the southwest basin. These areas provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat and are critical for maintaining good water quality in the lake. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as Northern Pike, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their important ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. To maintain the excellent angling this lake has to offer it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. A moderate density Walleye population exists. Walleyes ranged in length from 7.7 to 27.0 inches with an average length and weight of 14.9 inches and 1.6 pounds. Walleyes attain an average length of 15.1 inches at four years of age. Northern Pike size structure has consistently remained poor. Pike ranged in length from 16.2 to 28.5 inches with an average length and weight of 20.0 inches and 1.7 pounds. Northern Pike attain an average length of 22.2 inches at four years of age. Bluegill abundance has remained stable over the recent series of surveys. Fifteen percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegills attain an average length of 6.9 inches at five years of age. Data from a spring electrofishing assessment indicate that a moderate density Largemouth Bass population exists. Largemouth Bass reproduction is consistently good. Bass ranged in length from 6.5 to 16.5 inches with an average length and weight of 12.2 inches and 1.2 pounds. Largemouth Bass attain an average length of 12.4 inches at four years of age. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large-size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that 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. Sybil Lake is listed as an infested water. The presence of zebra mussels was documented in 2016. Aquatic invasive species are threatening Minnesota waters. The non-native 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. Anglers are required to remove all visible plants, mud, and other prohibited invasive species and drain all water from their boat prior to leaving the water access.

Based on Minnesota DNR survey data, anglers target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Hybrid Sunfish, Black Crappie, and Rock Bass in Sybil. See the full species list above for catch rates, size structure, and quality scores.

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

Sybil has a maximum depth of 74 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Sybil is from 2025.

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