Wright

Wright Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Wright Lake is connected to Hoot Lake via a navigable inlet along the north shoreline that is a portion of the Otter Tail River. The city water plant is located at the outlet along the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of residential areas and agricultural land. The maximum depth of Wright Lake is 32 feet; however, 52% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading was 7.5 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 7.5 to 9.6 feet. The north and east shorelines of Wright Lake have been extensively developed with year-round homes. Wright Lake can be accessed from Hoot Lake via a navigable channel between the lakes. A city owned public water access is located on the south shoreline of Hoot Lake. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Wild rice is prevalent around the entire shoreline of the lake. Small stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are scattered along various shorelines. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and wild rice provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. 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 angling and water quality that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Wright Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in the fish community. Northern Pike ranged in length from 20.0 to 24.3 inches with an average length and weight of 22.6 inches and 2.4 pounds. Pike attain an average length of 23.7 inches at age-IV. Thirty-five percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegill growth rates are good with an average length of 7.2 inches at four years of age. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass were not sampled in this survey. Data from past electrofishing assessments indicate that these species are abundant and have good size structures. There is a catch and release regulation for Smallmouth Bass on the Otter Tail River and its impoundments which includes Wright Lake. Walleyes ranged in length from 13.4 to 18.6 inches with a mean length and weight of 15.9 inches and 1.3 pounds. Three Lake Sturgeon were sampled. This is the first survey in which Lake Sturgeon have been sampled in Wright Lake. Lake Sturgeon enter Wright Lake by downstream movement from Otter Tail Lake where a Lake Sturgeon re-introduction plan was implemented in 2002. 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. 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.

Wright Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Wright Lake is connected to Hoot Lake via a navigable inlet along the north shoreline that is a portion of the Otter Tail River. The city water plant is located at the outlet along the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of residential areas and agricultural land. The maximum depth of Wright Lake is 32 feet; however, 52% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2011 lake survey was 8.0 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 7.5 to 9.6 feet. The north and east shorelines of Wright Lake have been extensively developed with year-round homes. Wright Lake can be accessed from Hoot Lake where a city owned public water access exists on the south shoreline. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Wild rice is prevalent around the entire shoreline of the lake. Small stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are scattered along various shorelines. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and wild rice provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. 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 angling and water quality that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Wright Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in the fish community. Data collected from a spring electrofishing assessment indicate that Wright Lake has good largemouth bass and smallmouth bass populations. Largemouth bass ranged in length from 14.8 to 16.4 inches with a mean length and weight of 15.5 inches and 2.0 pounds. Smallmouth bass ranged in length from 8.9 to 18.2 inches with a mean length and weight of 13.8 inches and 1.6 pounds. Age and length data from recent surveys indicates that bluegill reproduction is inconsistent and as a result, bluegill abundance and size structure fluctuates. In this survey, only five percent of the bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length compared to 26% in the previous survey. Bluegill growth rates are good with an average length of 6.7 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. 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.

Wright Lake is a 63-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located within the city limits of Fergus Falls, MN. Wright Lake is connected to Hoot Lake via a navigable inlet along the north shoreline that is a portion of the Otter Tail River. The city water plant is located at the outlet along the west shoreline. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of residential areas and agricultural land. The maximum depth of Wright Lake is 32 feet; however, 52% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2006 lake survey was 9.9 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 7.5 to 9.6 feet. The MN DNR has classified Minnesota's lakes into 43 different lake classes based on physical and chemical characteristics. Wright Lake is included in lake class 33; other area lakes in the same classification include Anderson, Heilberger, Long, Bear, and Jim. The north and east shorelines of Wright Lake have been extensively developed with year-round homes. Wright Lake can be accessed from Hoot Lake where a city owned public water access exists on the south shoreline. Shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and gravel. Wild rice is prevalent around the entire shoreline of the lake. Small stands of hardstem bulrush and common cattail are scattered along various shorelines. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and wild rice provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. 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 angling and water quality that this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Wright Lake can be ecologically classified as a bass-panfish type of lake and this is reflected in the assemblage of the fish community. Northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and bluegill are the dominanat gamefish species in the fish community. The prolificacy of these species can be attributed to the abundance of suitable spawning habitat that is available. The northern pike gill net catch rate of 2.5 is below the expected range for similar lakes. Northern pike ranged in length from 16.1 to 28.9 inches with a mean length and weight of 21.0 inches and 1.9 pounds. Data collected from a spring electrofishing assessment indicate that Wright Lake has good largemouth bass and smallmouth bass populations. Largemouth bass ranged in length from 3.2 to 17.4 inches with a mean length of 14.2 inches, while smallmouth bass ranged in length from 5.9 to 19.8 inches with a mean length of 13.5 inches. The previous electrofishing assessment in 2001 did not sample smallmouth bass. The bluegill trap net catch rate went from a historic low in 2001 (11.4 per net) to a historic high in 2006 (51.3 per net) and exceeds the expected range for similar lakes. Twenty-six percent of the bluegills sampled were at least 7.0 inches in length. Age and length data from recent survey indicates that bluegill recruitment is inconsistent and as a result, bluegill size structure fluctuates. The walleye gill net catch rate was within the expected range for similar lakes. Historically, walleye abundance has been low in Wright Lake. Walleye ranged in length from 15.4 to 19.7 inches with a mean length of 17.5 inches. The DNR stocks walleye fingerlings into Wright Lake on a biennial basis to supplement limited natural reproduction. 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. 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.

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

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

Wright has a maximum depth of 32 feet, per Minnesota DNR data.

The most recent Minnesota DNR survey data for the main sport fish in Wright is from 2016. Surveys this old should be treated with some caution — fish populations change over time.

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