ottertail walleyes

[feeshing]

went out tonight and caught some decent walleyes. any one else catching.

[onthejob2]

Heading up this weekend, hope to be catching them then!! Any hints or tips you'd like to share?

[HOF#13]

I was up at Ottertail all last week fishing. Here was my post in another thread..."Returned home on Saturday from my week at Ottertail. So, here is my unprofessional report for the week. Fished a lot of the mid-lake humps from 20' to 30' with limited success. Trolled spinners / crawlers and used lindy rigs tipped with leaches. The late evening / night bite seemed better for us. We trolled shad raps on the flats between 5' and 10' and had fair success. We caught a lot of little 10" walleyes, with the keepers being around 14" to 16". The biggest walleye we caught was 19"."

[Northsider]

I've always had luck with shad raps on OT, but want to know how to go after them on the midlake humps.I'm on the northside so that explains my name.At the humps that come up to 30 ft should I be using 2oz botton bouncer or should it be heavier?What about the weights on humps that come up to 20ft and what midlake depth hump are the best.OT lake,I beleive is the best in the state and am lucky enough to be able to go up there every weekend.I'm surprised that over the last 10 year that the fishing pressure is still low.Most people on the lake use it for recreational and don't even think about fishing this great lake ,ok by me.

Chuck

[mojoputter]

HOF,

What was the lake level like..?up or down..?

[deacon]

I use 1.5 or 2oz bottom bouncer but do not like fishing below 30ft.

Lake is definitely going down fast. Good thing I only have a 16ft boat with 40Hp tiller.

All the 612ers and Fargo boys with their 18ft lund and 150hp probably are going to start having a tough time at the landing.

[Northsider]

Thanks for the 411, but which boat landing has the best water depth? The 2 on the north side alway seem to be about the same.I'll be back up tonite for another weekend.But first off to cabela's which is like 2 miles away.

Chuck

[fishermatt]

Bring an oar or paddle with you if launching anything bigger than a 16 foot boat on OT, or you will chew up your prop on the rocks. My 1700 pro angler DLX bottomed out at the Riveria access and I had to push it with a paddle to get off the sand bar off the end of the dock.

[HOF#13]

Like the other's said the water level is LOW ! ! ! Lowest I can remeber it being in quite some time. You just about can't lenghten the dock too much or move the boat lift out too far. She's shallow.

[floating minnow]

In the spring the water at the end of the dock came almost to my chest, now it's at my knees.

[Northsider]

Since the dams where replaced the water level hasn't been the same.Thats why I switch to a fishing model pontoon this year so water levels won't effect me as much.

[island guy]

I had to pick up some stuff at the local marine dealer. He said Ottertail has been a real money maker for him with the larger boats. Props, lower units, ect. One boat there had a nice slit in the bottom from Ottertail. I have seen it lower but not for years. I guess taking care is the name of the game.

[Gissert]

Hopefully it will rise some now. The radar plots show pretty good coverage of rain last night, with more expected today.

[wally_gator]

I was out on ottertail last friday night, and launched at the pelican bay access, I have a 16ft lund, and wouldn't have wanted to try launching anything bigger. The right side of the dock seemed to be the side to use, as there was a pretty good sized hole from where people were power loading there... I used the left side and was able to crank up my boat by hand, so someone else could use the other side to land their 1900 IFS, (They only had a little trouble with spinning the wheels on the truck pulling out, but they got out without too much trouble)... PS caught a few walleyes right at dusk pulling glass-raps just off the big break straight out from the landing!!

[ssaamm]

Our family vacationed at Moe's Ottertail Beach Resort for years by the Balmoral golf course. Once in a while we would catch a few smallmouth-- nothing very big. Do you lucky ones who hit Ottertail more often pick up a stray smallie while walleye fishing? If so, any size? Going to be up there for a night or two next week. We figured lindy-rigging off the weed lines or find some humps during the day and crankbaits in the evenings. Any reports would be great. Thanks

[Northsider]

A month ago I was on the north side and we landed 3 smallies.There was 1-16 and 2-15 inchers.I talk to the dnr guy that was on the lake taking a survey and ask him about them.He said that the population was small but that they were tring to get structure for them in the lake.They were all released of course with a smile.

[feeshing]

#5 or #7 shad raps in the flats in about 7ft of water

[ssaamm]

Caught ours earlier in the trolling at night in 8-10ft near deeper water in the Amor point area. No whoppers but some action. Daytime was tougher. Smaller fish and plenty of perch off weedline Lindy rigging and jigging. Good luck!