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Our Docks & Lifts are in and ready and waiting for boats, Oh! they are also waiting for more water. The water level is similar to last fall, maybe 1 or 2 inches higher? We need rain!!!

I put our new rental (1850 fishhawk w/150 yamaha) in for its Otter Tail Lake maiden voyage at the west access last week. The ramp had enough (not much extra) water to float the boat off. The water had good depth out from the docks, but as you headed out onto the lake it stayed 2' for a long way.

Tips on this Access are to stay on the South shore gradually moving away from shore as you approach the first few cabins. Then head more North to open water. Have patience, you will get to deeper water.

Fact: 1/2 of Otter Tail Lakes' ~14,000 acres is less than 7' deep. But that also means that there is 7,000 acres deeper than 7'

How are the other accesses???

------------------
Paul Ness
Three Seasons Lodge on Otter Tail Lake

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No offense yourresort, but a quick search of the DNR Lake Finder Site yielded the following information: Ottertail Lake size= 13725 acres. Littoral area (the area under 15 feet) = 6468. This means that 47% of Ottertail lake is under 15 feet, not under 7 feet. Sorry to dispute your fact, just making sure correct information is out there. Have a great opener!

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Back to the access questions.

How are the other launches looking?
I usually put in on the launch just south of town. Last year that was a bear on opener. This year should be interesting.

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Hey Paul!!!!
What's the rental rate for the 1850 Fishhawk?? By the day? By the week?

Thanks!
Jason

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Last time I was in the Otter Tail area, I checked on the Pelican Bay access. At that time (a week ago or so), it hadn't been repaired from the ice heaves. The concrete was piled up...there was no way a boat was gonna launch there. Even if the ramp was fixed, it looked awfully shallow. I don't think I'd be launching my boat there, and my boat isn't that big.

I did have someone from the area tell me that they (DNR?) were out 'digging out' around at least one of the other OT accesses to address the boat launching issue, but I haven't been able to confirm this.

A lot of other lakes in the area looked like pretty shallow accesses, too...the access at Marion and Big McDonald looked like they'd be pretty tough to get a boat launched.

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If anyone has any info regarding the Pelican Bay axcess, it would be appriciated. I need to know if it's ok to launch a boat or not.

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Paul,

Thanks for the reply...found the rates!!! I would love to give you a status report on the landing areas, but I'm afraid the fact that I'm 3 and 1/2 hours away kind of puts the kabosh on that. Will be up there for a week in late June though...have the days numbered on my calendar at work....

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I'm only about 25 minutes away...if the muse is with me, maybe I'll take a drive and check it out in the next couple of days. I will post what I find out...

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I always launch at Riveria, and I'll be bringing a push pole and some waders along. Last fall the boat would get hung up behind the big hole that gets made from gassing boats onto trailers, and have to be pushed out with the pole. I haven't put my boat in yet, so don't know for sure. just getting some rain which should help a bit at least.
If you got a Tyee and 5 guys, you might need to all walk out about 50 feet til you can get into the boat!!

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I haven't put my boat in at Riveria yet, so don't know for sure, but I'll be bringing a push pole and some waders just to be safe! Last fall the boat would go aground behind the hole made by boats gassing onto the trailers.

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There were guys launching at the Pelican Bay access this past Sunday. One was a 20 ft. fiberglass cruiser and he got it in - barely! Your best bet for bigger boats is the SW access off co. rd. 72.

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I second CabinBoy's response. Was up last weekend and saw several "good sized" boats being put in at the SW access. Good luck this weekend to everyone!!

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We always launch at the access just east of Zorbaz where the river outlet and bridge are. How is that access looking??? Thanks!!!

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I sure hope we don't spend the morning driving around the lake looking for a place to get the boat in.

Cripes!!!!

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HOF- The SW access is the one by Zorbaz & is the one referred to above!

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Thanks SEWalleye.....I was kind of wondering if they were one in the same.

Good fishing to all this weekend!!!

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Put my 18' boat in for the summer last Saturday using the Pelican Bay / Sportsman's access. Only one side of the ramp was ready for use. I'm sure the O.T Rod & Gun Club will be workig to get the other half ready by this weekend. It's shallow! It stays shallow (~ 2') a long ways out into the lake - take it easy & slow - there are occasional rocks.

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Yeah...the Pelican Bay access looked good this evening (other than the strong wind coming in from the SW). The ramp is in good shape, but it is shallow. Some of the other lake accesses looked better than I thought earlier, too.

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