fishing reports 2020 Ottertail-Battle Lake-Perham-Fergus Falls area Fishing Reports

[bak2MN]

MN Jay welcome to the site I have a camper on Big Pine 1st year. Only been on the water twice and have not found anything but rock bass and small perch. Would any of you guys be willing to give a little more of a general area to start? If not on the site a email?

[Bellfisher]

Almost every single one of our walleyes came on the east end of the weedbed. Drove out to seven feet of water and drifted back towards the resort on the west side. Once we found the pod of walleyes that were feeding we stayed right on top of them.

Threw out a marker once in a while for an aiming point on our drifts, but that usually attracted a half dozen boats or so and made it harder to stay on the spot.

[NDwalleyemaster]

Since there has not been any reports since the 13th I am guessing that folks are to busy catching fish. I would think more people would post up on here about the bite around there. I will post that a smaller lake around there has been producing a few eyes. I will be able to post more after this weekend.

[TylerS]

Well, can't complain about the weather Saturday, but sure can complain about the fishing!

Went out from the east side of OT since it was blowing pretty good from that direction, thus making the west side nearly unfishable. Caught a fat, 28 inch northern off the first break in 22 FOW within the first five minutes, but that was it. Had a helluva time trying to stay on the dropoff battling the wind. Trailed leaches on 5-foot snells. The wife caught two dink perch, and that was it for five hours of fishing. Note: the mayfly hatch has begun. There weren't a ton on land yet, but I imagine they'll be in full force within the next week or so. My hypothesis is that the eyes are gorging on fly nymphs, so the bite may be tough for a while yet. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted...

[MN_Jay]

Fished big pine on sunday in the wind. Anchored in 6 ft of water pitching jigs and shiners. Pulled about 12 walleye in 2 hours, water was cloudy enough that we were even catching fish vertical jigging.

[bak2MN]

The wife and I caught 2 on Sat late morn on big pine. Mine was 11.5 hers was 20.5. Yes I know it always happens that way! we were in 15 to 17 ft water with crawlers.

[clKiekhafer]

This was our first time fishing on Marion and the first in the area. We did quite well despite our lack of knowledge. We caught plenty of northerns with some in the upper 20's. They made for a nice Sunday fish fry. The walleye action was decent with the largest at 21.5", all others were in the 14-18" range. The bass were hopping in the boat and proved to be quite entertaining. My wife even got into the Wacky-style of fishing. Didn't get into any large crappies or sunnies. We had a very good time and the lake had plenty of structure to keep it interesting.

Chet

[Mlaker3]

Fished Ottertail on Friday 7/8, picked up walleyes mid morning in 7-8 ft of water on top of some of the flats trolling spinners/leeches. Was surprised they were out there that shallow that late in the day but couln't find them elsewhere so gave it a try. Did need some wind as the bite dropped off when the wind died.

[UMC]

Was at ottertail last week. 80-90 degrees everyday with light winds, probably the nicest weather for lounging at the lake that we've had in the 20+ years we've been going. Water must have been almost 2 feet higher than last year. Didn't fish much during the day but it was slow as it usually is for me; never really been able to figure it out although we did catch a couple walleyes on spinners/crawlers in 10-15 feet. The night crank bite was decent in 7-10 feet. Kept 5 one night between 2 of us in about an hour and the other nights we'd get 2 or 3 in about the same time frame. Almost all 14-15 inchers although a couple pushed 20". Bite seemed short lived - from about sunset until about 10:15 - once it got really dark I don't think we caught anything all week. Mosquitoes weren't bad out on the lake even with the light winds. Lots of bugs, but not many skeeters. Can't say I fished too hard with the gorgeous weather but we did better than some years.

[centralmnguy]

Any reports from this past week for the area? Heading that way tomorrow to fish Big Pine, Ottertail & maybe Rush.

Thanks

[lakesbison]

spent 4 hours on ottertail tonight, beautiful night.

only caught 4 between the 2 of us, and 1 25 incher that was returned.

cranking in 8-10 feet, wasnt great, but oh well, its august 10th.

[lakesbison]

pretty slow only caught 5-6 walleyes on ottertail in 7ft sunday. SLOW

[carpmanjake]

The girlfriend and i ripped a few lips in fergus over the weekend!

she caught her very first smallie!

and that wasnt the only nice smallie of the trip!

and the release

a nice cat

until next time fergus! i will be back soon

[Gissert]

Nice!

[carpmanjake]

thanks! we are already planning to go back this weekend!

[pushbutton]

Glad to see your back in the game Jake! Great couple of posts!

[carpmanjake]

a couple nice ones from today

[reinhard1]

nice smallies Jake. they do put up a tough fight. good luck.

[carpmanjake]

nice smallies Jake. they do put up a tough fight. good luck.

oh ya! especially on a ML rod and 6lb test.

heading back with fayth today or tomorrow. depending on how things work

[Chad Peterson]

Looks like a nice day in Fergus. The smallies look healthy too.

Sniffer

[icefishingdude]

-September 8th Report- Big Pine & Long Lake

Spent some time working "humps" on the South side of Big Pine with no success...was dragging jigs with minnows. Lake had a serious algae bloom going on, water looked like split-pea soup. Finally found the fish in the weeds, 6-10 ft deep on the North side...switched to trolling blades and spinners. 3 Pike, an eater 'eye, and a few rock bass in about 40 mins....

Moved over to Long Lake by Vergas mid-day...worked a few sunken islands w/ little success...went to the shallows in the evening and caught a pile of sunnies. Had to do something to get some action...overall hard day to find eyes....but that was before the temps started droping in the evenings...

[carpmanjake]

a few fergus chunks

a very unique smallie. beautiful markings, with a deformed, very arched spine.

[Dave S]

Those are some nice looking smallies Jake. Wish I would have gotten up to the Fergus area more this summer.

[carpmanjake]

Those are some nice looking smallies Jake. Wish I would have gotten up to the Fergus area more this summer.

me too. but the fast 3 times up there we have done great with the smallies!

[hockeybc69]

Wont be so great for smallies if you keep posting pics like that continuously. LOL....

[carpmanjake]

Wont be so great for smallies if you keep posting pics like that continuously. LOL....

they arent as easy to catch as it looks, so im not too worried. lol

ive got a semi secret technique down that i can almost guarantee no one else uses. and all other techniques ive tried will produce 1 maybe 2 fish like that a trip.

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

Great pictures Jake, c'mon hockeybc69 anyone who visits this site with any frequency knows that Jake can catch a fish in an asphalt parking lot. This kids got a talent for fishing and photographing his catch. Keep it up the good work Jake!!!

[lakesbison]

caught 5 crappies off my dock tonight. .didnt think i'd find them on dead lake this time of year. YUMMM!!

[lakesbison]

No one giving out any reports huh?

houses are all out on ottertail, walleyes are biting, good luck!

[nels824]

Went out of Amor on Sunday afternoon, 7 inches of ice and nothing really biting. The ice was moving and making a lot of noise, kind of freaky