Tamarack Lake

How big is Tamarack Lake?

How deep is Tamarack Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Tamarack Lake?

Yes! There are fishing guides and charters for Tamarack Lake and/or the surrounding area.

Are there boat launches on Tamarack Lake?

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Are there places to eat and drink near Tamarack Lake?

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Tamarac Lake is located in northwestern Otter Tail County approximately ten miles north of Pelican Rapids, MN. Tamarac Lake is a 392-acre eutrophic (highly fertile) lake that is within the Otter Tail River watershed. The maximum depth of Tamarac Lake is 11 feet. The secchi disk reading during the 2005 lake survey was 7.0 feet. Tamarac Lake was susceptible to periodic winterkill; however, an aeration system has been installed and operated annually since 2003-2004 to help minimize winterkill. Tamarac Lake is included in lake class 42 of the MN DNR lake classification scheme. Tamarac Lake is located within the DNRs Fergus Falls Management Area. Tamarac Lake is managed as a warm-water gamefish lake. The majority of the shoreline of Tamarac Lake is developed. A state owned public access is located off of State Highway 34 along the south shoreline of the lake. The shoal water substrates consist primarily of sand and muck. The only marsh areas on the lake are located in two small bays along the west shore of the lake. Hardstem bulrush stands are located in the middle of the lake and along the northeast shore. Cattails are scattered around the entire 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 water quality and angling this lake has to offer, it is imperative to preserve the quality of the aquatic habitat. Northern pike abundance increased substantially since the 2001 survey, and exceeds the upper limit of the expected range for lake class 42. Northern pike reproduction appears to be consistently good. Northern pike ranged in length from 12.4 to 40.1 inches with an average length of 23.1 inches. Pike attain an average length of 23.6 inches at six years of age which is below average compared to other class 42 lakes in the Fergus Falls Management Area. The population of black and yellow bullheads in Tamarack Lake has substantially increased since the last survey in 2001. The catch rates are well above the normal catch rates for lakes of this type. The mean length of black and yellow bullheads in the sample was 5.7 and 7.2 inches, respectively. Bluegill were not sampled in the 2005 survey. The long-term trend has been a decline in bluegill abundance. Data indicate that bluegill reproduction is inconsistent in Tamarack Lake. In an effort to reestablish the bluegill population, the Tamarac Lake Association purchased and stocked 200 adult bluegill in 2005. Adult bluegill were last stocked by the DNR after a winterkill in 1997. The black crappie catch rate declined slightly from the 2001 assessment and is currently below the normal range for lakes of this type. Black crappies were not sampled in the 1967 initial survey. A summer kill of black crappie occurred in 2005 and likely was the result of columnaris disease. Yellow perch abundance increased slightly since 2001 and falls within the normal range for lake class 42. The mean length of the perch in the gill net sample was 6.1 inches. Historically, the yellow perch population in Tamarack Lake has been low but the catch rate in the past two surveys have been the highest ever recorded. Two walleye were represented in the gill net sample during this survey. No walleye were sampled in the 2001 survey. The catch rate in 1996 was also very low. Since 1997, the lake has been stocked with 392,000 walleye fry on a biennial basis; however, none of these stockings has produced a year class. Due to the installation of an aeration system, management for walleye on Tamarac Lake will change from stocking walleye fry to stocking large walleye fingerlings or carry-over walleye on a biennial basis starting in 2007. The Tamarac Lake Association stocked 1,500 walleye fingerlings in 2005.

What is the average air temp for Tamarack Lake?

Are there any state parks near Tamarack Lake?