Minnesota › Best lakes › Largemouth Bass › Otter Tail County MN · ranked by public data
Best Largemouth Bass Lakes by DNR Survey System and Lake-Scale Opportunity in Otter Tail County, Minnesota 43 Otter Tail County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence for largemouth bass; 43 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria, out of 443 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within spring spawning mn class 31 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1
1 90.0 system score
354 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Annie Battle Lake available
90.0 within-system score · 62,597.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 176.63 fish/hour · 2019 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 90.0/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 62,597.7 (176.63 fish/hour × 354 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 176.63 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2019 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 2 87.8 system score
529 acres Otter Tail County, MN
First Silver Lake limited
87.8 within-system score · 87,778.5 lake-scale opportunity index · 165.82 fish/hour · 2006 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 87.8/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 87,778.5 (165.82 fish/hour × 529 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 165.82 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2006 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 3 59.7 system score
419 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Johnson Lake limited
59.7 within-system score · 41,326.4 lake-scale opportunity index · 98.69 fish/hour · 2015 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 59.7/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 41,326.4 (98.69 fish/hour × 419 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 98.69 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2015 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 4 17.7 system score
166 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Donalds Lake limited
17.7 within-system score · 10,598.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 64.04 fish/hour · 2005 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 17.7/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 10,598.6 (64.04 fish/hour × 166 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 64.04 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2005 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 5 10.0 system score
161 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Hoot Lake limited
10.0 within-system score · 6,174.1 lake-scale opportunity index · 38.27 fish/hour · 2025 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 10.0/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 6,174.1 (38.27 fish/hour × 161 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 38.27 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2025 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 6 8.0 system score
169 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Boedigheimer Lake available
8.0 within-system score · 8,086.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 47.74 fish/hour · 2005 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 8.0/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 8,086.2 (47.74 fish/hour × 169 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 47.74 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2005 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 31 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 31 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset Ranked within spring spawning mn class 25 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1
1 95.4 system score
561 acres Otter Tail County, MN
East Spirit Lake limited
95.4 within-system score · 81,155.2 lake-scale opportunity index · 144.69 fish/hour · 2013 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 95.4/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 81,155.2 (144.69 fish/hour × 561 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 144.69 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2013 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 25 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 25 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 2 55.9 system score
317 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Beers Lake available
55.9 within-system score · 37,506 lake-scale opportunity index · 118.17 fish/hour · 2007 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 55.9/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 37,506 (118.17 fish/hour × 317 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 118.17 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2007 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 25 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 25 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 3 51.1 system score
188 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Elbow Lake limited
51.1 within-system score · 25,993.7 lake-scale opportunity index · 138 fish/hour · 2017 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 51.1/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 25,993.7 (138 fish/hour × 188 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 138 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2017 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 25 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 25 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset 4 33.5 system score
326 acres Otter Tail County, MN
Jolly Ann Lake limited
33.5 within-system score · 24,098.6 lake-scale opportunity index · 73.87 fish/hour · 2025 DNR survey
How this within-system rank was determined Within-system score: 33.5/100 Lake scale (55%): opportunity index 24,098.6 (73.87 fish/hour × 326 acres; not a fish count) Survey rate (35%): 73.87 fish/hour Survey recency (10%): 2025 Survey method: Minnesota DNR standard night bass electrofishing, lake class 25 Compared only with Minnesota DNR lake class 25 standard night bass electrofishing surveys DNR abundance label: not covered by this ranking dataset DNR fisheries survey evidence: Recorded in DNR fisheries survey (largemouth bass) Species fishing reports: not covered by this ranking dataset Stocking history: not covered by this ranking dataset Rank Lake County Acres System score Primary score signal Survey measurement Metric year DNR status Largemouth Bass stocking 5 Lake Franklin Otter Tail 1,088 0.0 index 19,547.6 17.97 fish/hour 1999 No record — Ranked within spring spawning mn class 27 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1 1 Lake Jewett Otter Tail 747 100.0 index 886,383.6 1186.21 fish/hour 2022 No record — 2 Big McDonald Lake Otter Tail 992 39.1 index 210,845.3 212.61 fish/hour 2017 No record — 3 Blanche Lake Otter Tail 1,296 18.8 index 119,069.1 91.88 fish/hour 2010 No record — 4 Crystal Lake Otter Tail 1,413 6.7 index 48,251.9 34.15 fish/hour 2018 No record — Ranked within spring spawning mn class 32 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1 1 Bass Lake Otter Tail 311 100.0 index 54,463.9 175.17 fish/hour 2014 No record — 2 Anna Lake Otter Tail 598 62.8 index 51,252.9 85.68 fish/hour 2014 No record — 3 East Lost Lake Otter Tail 483 42.6 index 39,033.8 80.74 fish/hour 2014 No record — 4 Fiske Lake Otter Tail 254 5.1 index 24,004.1 94.56 fish/hour 2010 No record — Ranked within spring spawning mn class 28 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1 1 German Lake Otter Tail 77 100.0 index 10,872.7 140.93 fish/hour 2010 No record — 2 Fladmark Lake Otter Tail 59 0.0 index 5,428.4 91.48 fish/hour 2005 No record — Ranked within spring spawning mn class 42 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — ranks restart at 1 1 Fish Lake Otter Tail 489 90.0 index 61,133.2 124.93 fish/hour 2012 No record — 2 Lake Adley Otter Tail 241 10.0 index 9,790.8 40.7 fish/hour 2025 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 22 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — East Battle Lake Otter Tail 1,978 — — 83.68 fish/hour 2005 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 23 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Lake Ethel Otter Tail 191 — — 100.55 fish/hour 2003 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 29 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Deer Lake Otter Tail 447 — — 140.98 fish/hour 2014 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 33 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Heilberger Lake Otter Tail 221 — — 162.04 fish/hour 2008 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 34 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Ellingson Lake Otter Tail 151 — — 30.11 fish/hour 2006 No record — Comparable spring spawning mn class 40 standard night bass electrofishing catch per effort (fish per hour) — one lake recorded, no peer rank — Fish Lake Otter Tail 1,078 — — 184.36 fish/hour 2019 No record — Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical — Anderson Lake Otter Tail 89 — — — — No record — — Bear Lake Otter Tail 198 — — — — No record — — Big Pine Lake Otter Tail 4,728 — — — — No record — — Block Lake Otter Tail 290 — — — — No record — — Buchanan Lake Otter Tail 964 — — — — No record — — Clear Lake Otter Tail 399 — — — — No record — — Clitherall Lake Otter Tail 2,540 — — — — No record — — Dead Lake Otter Tail 7,546 — — — — No record — — Devils Lake Otter Tail 355 — — — — No record — — Eagle Lake Otter Tail 907 — — — — No record — — East Leaf Lake Otter Tail 423 — — — — No record — — East Silent Lake Otter Tail 324 — — — — No record — — Little McDonald Lake Otter Tail 1,316 — — — — No record — — Little Pine Lake Otter Tail 2,080 — — — — No record —
Methodology
How this list is built County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 35% survey rate, and 10% recency. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide largemouth bass ranking .
FAQ
Otter Tail County largemouth bass fishing FAQ Which largemouth bass lakes receive a numeric county rank? 23 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Otter Tail County.
How many Otter Tail County lakes have largemouth bass? 43 Otter Tail County lakes have exact-water DNR survey evidence. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder fisheries surveys, lake classes, morphology, and public-access records. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.