Ottertail Lake Fishing Reports

[bassbozo]

Just wonderng if the eelpout have started biting for any of you Ottertail fisherman out there. I haven't caught and yet. Just wondering if the bite has started and if so how deep.

Thanks

[bassbozo]

I don't know. I enjoy catching them and they are good eating but no one seems to know if they are biting....or they aren't telling...

[fishyslayer]

good eating? Are they as good as carp?

[bassbozo]

They may be and ugly fish but Eelpout are really good eating. Youd be surprised!

[fishyslayer]

How do you clean them let alone cook them?

[DEADhead]

just cut the backstraps out along the spine, like a deer

[poutpro]

Yep, cut back straps, boil in water, dip in butter.

[eyefever]

My old man pan fries them in batter just like any other fish. I've only had it once and I think it's better than any other fish I've had, maybe it was just something different. He said not to freeze them, they taste really different.

[jimmygrip]

What is the ice situation on Ottertail?

[ChuckN]

Where there is ice, reports indicate relatively thin and inconsistent.

Northern/east end had ice, central part of the lake looked like a lot of open water, and I didn't see the south/western end.

[Eric Osborn]

Any body have any up to date info on Ottertail hoping to get out on Saturday AM.

[portageman]

Hey Jimmygrip:

Ottertail will ice up before you can walk up to fix a computer on the 3rd floor.

[P Floyd DSoM]

I spoke with one of the guides that has rental houses on OT and he's putting houses out of the Rivera access in the next day or two

[fishin58]

Great info, any word on Amor?

[nels824]

Was out of Amor this weekend and a lot of variations in ice, I'd say on the average 4"-8" mostly good clear ice in the area i was, that's not to say the whole area is like that so be carefull out there. There was a perm that was put out on the break some time thurs. or fri. Watched one guy put his out on sun. I walked out sat. took the sled on sun.

[JimBuck]

How is ottertail coming along? Looking at fishing it next weekend for some eyes.

[Gissert]

Satellite images from december 6 still showed a couple open water areas. The images from yesterday look like it was all frozen now, but there was some cloud and haze cover too.

proceede with caution

[Eric Osborn]

Where is the game farm hump area? I seen a big house by the river by the riveria access last weekend.

[GRAND DAD]

Ya i wonder to I plan on putting one of my houses out this weekend my self.

[GRAND DAD]

Thanks, ya I think am holding off putting my house out there this weekend looks like a lot of snow is heading our way this weekend.

[fishermatt]

Gissert, would you please post the link you use to view those satellite images?

I would say the South/West part of the lake has the best ice. Driving across the middle should not be attempted. The fish can be in 5-50 feet right now, so the shorelines should be just as good as the humps.

[Gissert]

Try this, I think this is the Dec 6 image. It shows the open spots on Ottertail, WBL, and Eagle. Very cool site.

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/ind...resolution=250m

[fishermatt]

Thanks! Very cool site indeed. I checked the 9th, and it appears to be locked up as of then.

I don't need to be ratcheting up the old pucker factor any more than necessary, and seeing that helps to know where not to go.

[nels824]

Was there many perms put out this week?

How's the snow?

[usmcjsy]

Anyone been on Ottertail today...? I was hoping to put a perm out there this Friday in the Amor area. Anyone know of any perms out or know the ice conditions a heads up is appreciated.

Thanks

Jeremy

[B. Amish]

there was a foot of ice out there on Saturday the 13th. lots of houses out and people moving around all over. lots of people were driving vehicles out too.

haven't been out since the snow. but with a foot of snow blowing around, i'd imagine that there are some nasty big drifts.

[HOT SPOT]

I went off of amor on the 13 and there was 3 vehicals at the park. I took the 4 Wheeler out and found anywhere from 13 in to 2.5 in NOT JOKING, it wasnt a very big spot. I no that theres a lot better ice off of pelican bay. Every where I dilled a hole there was anywhere from 10 - 13 in. I no one thing I would bew carefull if you plan on going out from amor. and I no it would be tuff to get a house doen the hill their.

Found some fish but alot of them Small, got the nicer ones deeper

than one would think.

Has anybody been out with the snow?

[fishin58]

Thanks so much for the report, hotspot. Have to pack the wheeler for a while.

[HOT SPOT]

ill give another one tomarrow i plan on sneeking out around 3 would like to bring my house but i think theres going to be to much snow hope i can get the shanty out this year. Im getting sick of portable fishing

[kobear]

Looked really rough off Pelican Bay yesterday. Vehicles stuck in the access lot since pre-storm, a Pickup stuck out on the lake, and a guy on a 4-wheeler stuck in a drift on the lake. Lots of substantial drifts out there to make things difficult, looks like sleds are the best option right now. A decent number of houses along the first break out and to the SW no one really out along ways.