Otter Lake

How big is Otter Lake?

How deep is Otter Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Otter Lake?

What are the closest cities to Otter Lake?

Are there boat launches on Otter Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Otter Lake?

Otter (including Campbell Lake to the north) is a moderate sized reservoir (642 acres) located in the City of Hutchinson in McLeod County. Otter has approximately fourteen miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of nine feet, but much of the shallow basin is closer to five feet in depth. There are two City Parks (Masonic West River and Roberts) that both have cement boat ramps with ample boat/trailer parking. A fishing pier is available in the eastern arm of the reservoir and numerous shore fishing opportunities are available to anglers. The reservoir's fish populations occasionally suffer from winterkill. Abundances of those species that are intolerant of low oxygen levels such as Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Channel Catfish, can vary greatly from year to year depending on the severity of the latest winterkill event, time that has passed, and river levels that allow movement and recolonization. Other species are usually affected to a lesser degree, but can be significantly impacted during extremely severe winters. Partial winterkills occurred in 2022 and 2023. Fish from the South Fork of the Crow River are able to immigrate into Otter Reservoir from both upstream and downstream following winterkill events to repopulate the system. Winter anglers are reminded to be extra careful while ice fishing on Otter Reservoir, as flowing water from the South Fork of the Crow River can lead to thin ice conditions in various parts of the shallow basin. Summer boat anglers should also be aware of the numerous shallow rock hazards that are present.

Fall Nighttime Electrofishing was used to assess Otter Reservoir's Walleye population in 2023. The electrofishing catch indicated that fair numbers of Walleye were present this year. Walleye were 6 to 19 inches long. The majority of the Walleye sampled (63%) were young of the year, and they averaged 8 inches in length.

People can have significant impacts on lakes and the fish populations they support. Over harvest, lakeshore development, removal of shoreline vegetation, and introductions of invasive species can all adversely affect fish populations. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are typically moved from infested to non-infested waters by anglers, boaters and lakeshore owners, and can adversely impact lakes and fish populations. To avoid spreading AIS, lake users are required to remove all aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and drain all lake water from their boat and bait buckets before leaving the lake. If you suspect an infestation of an invasive species in this lake, save a specimen and report it to a local DNR office. Additional information on all of these topics can be found on the DNR website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) or by contacting the Hutchinson Area Fisheries office.

What is the average air temp for Otter Lake?