Johnson Lake

How big is Johnson Lake?

How deep is Johnson Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Johnson Lake?

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Are there boat launches on Johnson Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Johnson Lake?

Johnson Lake is a 338-acre eutrophic (fertile) lake located in south-central Otter Tail County approximately two miles east of Dalton, MN. Johnson Lake is part of the Pomme de Terre River Watershed. There is an inlet from a wetland along the north shoreline but there is no outlet. Land use in the immediate watershed is primarily agricultural. The maximum depth of Johnson Lake is 32 feet; however, 49% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. Benchmark information indicated that the lake water level is presently higher than normal. The secchi disk reading was 9.0 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 3.5 to 9.6 feet. Periodic plankton-algae blooms throughout the summer months can decrease water clarity in this lake.
The majority of the shoreline on Johnson Lake remains undeveloped. The shoreline is primarily composed of agricultural and marsh land. Several cabins are located along the northeast shoreline. A public water access is also located along the northeast shoreline off of County Road 12. Large stands of hardstem bulrush are scattered along various shorelines of the lake and on several midlake sunken islands. Common cattail is also prevalent in several bays and along several areas of shoreline. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattail 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 an important nursery area for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit.
Johnson 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, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in Johnson Lake.
Walleyes ranged in length from 14.8 to 25.8 inches with an average length and weight of 21.2 inches and 3.7 pounds. Walleyes exhibit fast growth with an average length of 15.6 inches at three years of age.
Northern Pike abundance has remained stable in recent surveys. Age data indicate that Northern Pike reproduction is consistently good. Northern Pike ranged in length from 20.4 to 32.8 inches with an average length and weight of 24.7 inches and 3.3 pounds. Pike also exhibit fast growth with an average length of 24.5 inches at four years of age.
Data from a spring electrofishing assessment indicate that an abundant Largemouth Bass population with a good size structure exists. Bass ranged in length from 9.0 to 19.9 inches with an average length and weight of 15.9 inches and 2.4 pounds. Bass attain an average length of 14.5 inches at four years of age.
The long-term trend has been a decline in Bluegill abundance. Fourteen percent of the Bluegills were 7.0 inches or greater in length. Bluegill growth is fast with an average length of 6.5 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.

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