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Fishing Report Ottertail Lake

MUSKYMAN1011
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MUSKYMAN1011 Community Regular

MUSKYMAN1011

Posted
Posted

Just curious as to what the fishing was like on Ottertail lake on opener weekend?

We had OK luck on Rush, 3 eyes and 2 pike. Mostly on Lindy Rigs.

Brian K

HOT SPOT Collaborator

HOT SPOT

Posted
Posted

SAT MORN WE GOT 4 SMALL EYES IN 16- 20 FT, FISHED FOR 1.5 HRS BUT SLOW WENT TO A SMALLER LAKE IN THE AFTER NOON AND GO 4 KEEPERS CASING SHORE LINE. THEY WERE DEFINATLY MILKING, LOOKED LIKE A GALLON OF MILK SPILT IN THE BOAT

MUSKYMAN1011 Community Regular

MUSKYMAN1011

Posted
  • Author
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How small were the eyes?

thanks

deacon Rising Star

deacon

Posted
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Shallow is where need to be on windy side of lake, makes tough fishing but you will catch fish.

GRAND DAD Proficient

GRAND DAD

Posted
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Well am glad some people caught fish I didn't I just got my one eye like always on OT.fished it from 5am to 10 am on opener

HOT SPOT Collaborator

HOT SPOT

Posted
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THE ONES WE GOT WERE ABOUT 12- 13IN BUT ON THE OTHER LAKE THEY WERE FROM 15-19.

HOW SHALLOW ON OT BECAUSE I TRYED LIKE 10 SPOTS FROM WEEDS, ROCKS TO BARS ON SUNDAY AND ONLY GOT ONE BUT I DID NOT FISH HARD, WAS JUST CRUISING AROUND LOOKING FOR FISH ON THE GRAPH, BUT I STUGGLE ON OT FOR SOME REASON, FOR ME I EITHER DO GOOD ARE DO BAD CANT PATTERN THEM ON OT

MUSKYMAN1011 Community Regular

MUSKYMAN1011

Posted
  • Author
Posted

HOT SPOT, the other lake, are you talking about walker?

What time of the Morning were you out there on Sunday?

Thanks

Bria

Rosco_B Contributor

Rosco_B

Posted
Posted

I ended up catching three walleyes on Ottertail over the weekend. One was small but the other two were pretty nice one was 20 inchs and the other was 27.5 inchs which was really nice. They both went back into the lake. All the fish we saw pulled in were in the 7-9ft water range. Also managed to pull in 4 nice perch which fried up nice Sat night for supper. Sounded like it was pretty slow on the lake over all.

yourresort Enthusiast

yourresort

Posted
Posted

I always judge the fishing by the guts in my freezer (I listen to the stories too, but the guts don't lie) It was a pretty slow opening weekend on Otter Tail. Most of our fishermen, (And we house some of the best for the opener.) seemed to struggle. Saturday wasn't a great day either. Sunday seemed to bring a little more action. Some had good luck on Walker on Sunday evening. All in all I ended up with more bags of Crappie guts than Walleye, and that means a slow opener for Otter Tail.

Today was a real tough day with winds pounding our shore, but it didn't stop one fisherman from sitting a few hours on the first break from the west end. He had to have some luck or he is one tough and not so smart individual. 4' white caps kept me inside.

I would guess the next couple of weeks should pick up nicely. The one common story I heard was the number of fish people were marking over the weekend. Good luck to all in the weeks to come.

HOT SPOT Collaborator

HOT SPOT

Posted
Posted

MUSKYMAN1011

WE FISHED ON OT FROM OH 8AM - 11OO ISH THEN WENT BACK TO FERGUS TOOK A NAP AND WENT OUT TO A SMALLER LAKE NEAR DALTON AROUND 6 PM, IT WAS FUN USED A #5 RAPALA AND IT YOU WERE 2 CRANKS AWAY FROM THE SHORE LINE NOTHIN SO THEY WERE SITTING IN ABOUT 1 FT OF WATER.

coop09 Explorer

coop09

Posted
Posted

Fished OT most of Saturday with no success other than perch. Took a nap, recooped and tried a few other lakes for the next two days and had pretty good success. All fish were cought in less than 10 feet of water. Water temps on OT were still around 40 degrees, so it will get better soon.

Mark Christianson Grand Master

Mark Christianson

Posted
Posted

Decent day for us on Saturday. Two of us got 12 walleyes and 15 perch. We kept 9 walleyes and 8 of the perch.

Its not nearly as good as we have done in years past, but I think it was good for the conditions we had. We fished from 8am to 1pm. And to stick it out to 1pm was tough with the rain. But the fish kept us interested. When we got back to the launch there was 1 truck. Unbelieveable on opening day on Ottertail to see a launch that empty.

16-20 ft is where we got our fish. Spottail shiners on a 4 lb lindy rig leader with a plain hook. A gauranteed way to get them wallys to bite year after year on opener.

MUSKYMAN1011 Community Regular

MUSKYMAN1011

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hey biglakebass, how big were the 9 Walleyes you kept?

Just curious?

thanks

Brian

Mark Christianson Grand Master

Mark Christianson

Posted
Posted

14-17 inches

MUSKYMAN1011 Community Regular

MUSKYMAN1011

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Biglakebass,

Did you have any luck on Sunday?

Thanks

Brian

deacon Rising Star

deacon

Posted
Posted

Last night bite was okay, caught fish as shallow as 2ft.

fishermatt Proficient

fishermatt

Posted
Posted

The BIG ones are DEEP on OT. Didn't mark anything til I got below 35 feet, that's where the piggies are hanging out. Did I mention I'm a Carp man? ; - )

Rosco_B Contributor

Rosco_B

Posted
Posted

Yes the walleyes are still deep they are still up in the rivers or else out in 12-30 feet of water it appears. The walleye tournament was out there this weekend and a lot of the fish were caught deeper than you would expect for this time of year. They were starting to get some up in 7-9 feet of water and I would expect it would starting heating up in the shallow water very soon. I saw water temps any where from 45-53 degrees.

slammer Experienced

slammer

Posted
Posted

How many boats were in the tourny?

slammer Experienced

slammer

Posted
Posted

Was out Friday nite looking for wallys in the shallows and current area with no luck. They have moved for sure. Hopefully a good bite will develope this next week. Anyone know if the shiners are running yet?

CHANCE Apprentice

CHANCE

Posted
Posted

There was about 85 teams in the tournament. Does anyone know which area of the lake they were fishing NE, NW, SE, SW?

B. Amish Veteran

B. Amish

Posted
Posted

there were boats everywhere.

butcher Rookie

butcher

Posted
Posted

Biglakebass,

Fished EB last weekend few i's but size was nice. all males. Are you still on EB?

def Contributor

def

Posted
Posted

We are going to be heading to Ottertail Lake in 2 weeks hopefully. The last 2 years the Lake has been high. Wondering how it is so far this year. Hope to get into some nice perch among other fish. We fish for what ever bites. Also what is Gas runing?

Mark Christianson Grand Master

Mark Christianson

Posted
Posted

Butcher,

yeah the parents still have a cabin on East Battle. Up near the boat launch.

Are you the guy over west of the launch??

Nothing like hijacking a thread. laugh

Rosco_B Contributor

Rosco_B

Posted
Posted

The lake levels seem fine. There is plenty of water to get in and out of any of the public landings. Gas is plenty high anywere from $3.50-$4.00 depending on which octane you buy.

I have not had very good luck on ottertail this summer so far. I havn't found lots walleyes up in the shallows like I have in past years. They seem to hanging out in the deeper water. Has anyone had this same issue? I was out yesterday and the water temp was between 57-62 degrees. I would think the eyes would be up in the shallows with the water finally warming up.

Zach Contributor

Zach

Posted
Posted

we had a lot of luck yesterday, but the eyes are still in deep water. the small ones seem to be biting before any of the keepers. still having fun though...anyone having any luck with any baits besides shiners? some guys were saning at the spillway so maybe they'll start picking up a little. heard that they've been tough to get a hold of as well as leeches this spring.

butcher Rookie

butcher

Posted
Posted

Biglakebass,

Yep, there use to be a TV tower by the cabin but took it down a couple weeks ago. No more land marker for at night. may fly hatch seems to turned off the I's. Have to try something different this weekend. Need to try Ottertail this summer and walker.

Butcher

HOT SPOT Collaborator

HOT SPOT

Posted
Posted

I went to a smaller lake in the otter tail area and caught 25-30 eyes on leeches last night water temp was 58-60 only kept 5 that were in the 15.5- 19.5 in range and all the rest were 13.5 - 15 with two over 20 that went back

Azenmstr Contributor

Azenmstr

Posted
Posted

Has anyone been out on their dock and noticed if the shiners are running? Will I be too early? too late? this weekend if I want to net some??

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