Silver Lake

How big is Silver Lake?

How deep is Silver Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Silver Lake?

What are the closest cities to Silver Lake?

Are there boat launches on Silver Lake?

Show Boat Launches

Are there places to eat and drink near Silver Lake?

Show Places to Eat and Drink

Silver Lake is located in central Otter Tail County just north of Battle Lake, MN. Silver Lake is a 547-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake that is within the Otter Tail River watershed. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of homes/cabins except for the eastern shoreline of the lake, which consists of mixed hardwood and wetland cover. The maximum depth of Silver Lake is 43 feet; however, 42% of the lake is less than 15 feet in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2001 lake survey was 12.2 feet, which indicates excellent water clarity. Periodic plankton/algae blooms throughout the summer months can influence secchi disk readings. Silver Lake is included in lake class 31 of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources lake classification scheme. Silver Lake is located within the DNRs Fergus Falls Management Area. Silver Lake is ecologically classified and managed as a walleye-centrarchid type of lake. The majority of the shoreline of Silver Lake is developed. The 1996 resurvey identified 99 homes/cottages on the lake. A state owned public access is located off of a township road along the north shoreline of the lake. The shoal water substrates consist of sand, gravel, and rubble. A couple of hardstem bulrush beds remain in the lake and represent very critical spawning habitat. They are located along the east shore and off the point in the southwest portion of the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush and cattails 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. 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 within this lake it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Northern pike abundance increased slightly since the 1996 survey, but remains below the expected range for class 31 lakes. Northern pike abundance is likely limited by the lack of suitable spawning habitat. Pike ranged in length from 19.9 to 33.9 inches with a mean length and weight of 25.6 inches and 4.0 pounds. Pike attain a mean length of 25.7 inches at five years of age. Growth rate estimates exceed average northern pike growth rates for class 31 lakes in the Fergus Falls Management Area. Rock bass abundance significantly increased since the last survey in 1996 and the catch rate was the highest recorded on Silver Lake. The catch rate has been steadily increasing since 1987 when the abundance was low. Length distribution data indicate that rock bass natural reproduction is occurring annually. The bluegill test-net catch rate was higher than the previous lake surveys and within the normal range for class 31 lakes. Data indicate bluegill reproduction to be variable in Silver Lake. Forty-two percent of the bluegills in the trap net sample were 7.0 inches or greater in length. The mean length of bluegills in the trap net sample was 6.3 inches. Bluegill growth rates are excellent as they attain a mean length of 8.2 inches at seven years of age. Walleye abundance substantially increased since the 1996 survey and was the highest catch rate ever recorded on Silver Lake. Age data from recent population assessments indicate that walleye natural reproduction is very limited since most skip years in the stocking sequence have resulted in weak or missing year classes. This suggests that fingerling stocking has successfully increased walleye abundance by supplementing limited natural reproduction. The 1996 year class appears to be especially strong. The average length and weight of walleye was 17.2 inches and 2.0 pounds. Walleye reach an average length of 14.1 inches at three years of age, which exceeds mean walleye growth rates for class 31 lakes in the Fergus Falls Management Area. Anglers can maintain the quality of fishing in Silver 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.

What is the average air temp for Silver Lake?

Are there any state parks near Silver Lake?