Ottertail Country
Otter Tail Country is home to over 1,000 lakes and streams. That's 10 percent of Minnesota's 10,000 beautiful lakes, and a great reason to go fishing, swimming, sailing, water skiing or just relaxing on the beach. If you're living here or just visiting us, area businesses offer many services that can enhance your enjoyment of nature's gifts.

Fishing Ottertail Waters

Otter Tail Country is a fisherman's paradise, even in winter! The area is home to Walleye, Northern Pike, Large and Small Mouth Bass, Black Crappies, and Bluegills just to name a few. Here are some hints for your next fishing trip, and remember to take a kid fishing - they are our future. Walleyes are Minnesota's most sought- after game fish. They are willing biters and excellent table fare. Try a jig and minnow during early season, leeches and nightcrawlers in summer. Try trolling with crankbaits in warm water. As fall arrives and the water cools, try large creek chubs. The state record walleye weighed 17 lb., 8oz. Northern Pike are aggressive biters and superb fighting fish. They like a variety of plugs and spoons, and bigger Northerns often bite on large chubs. This fish can provide great action, and many a slow fishing day has been saved by an interested Northern Pike. The State record Northern weighed in at 45lb., 12oz. Largemouth Bass fishing in Otter Tail Country is some of the best in the upper Midwest. These fish like live bait as well as many different crankbaits and plastic worms. They are often found in weeds, sometimes the thickest in the lake. The state record for Largemouth Bass is 8lb., 12 3/4oz. Smallmouth Bass are truly, pound for pound, the hardest fighting fish in our lakes. They are often found in lakes with the type of structure preferred by Walleyes - cool water with clean gravel or rock bottom. Live bait is a good choice for Smallmouth, or try a jig with a twister tail or a small crankbait. The state record Smallmouth was caught here and weighed 8lb. Panfish such as Crappies, Bluegill and Perch abound in nearly every lake in Otter Tail Country. Use lighter equipment, such as ultralight rods, and keep baits small for panfish. Panfish are great eating, and provide lots of fun and excitement when you want to take a group of youngsters fishing! Minnesota's record Black Crappie is 5lb. The record Bluegill is 2lb., 13oz. and the record Yellow Perch is 3lb., 4oz.

Activities around Ottertail Country
Otter Tail Country offers some of life's best treasures to be enjoyed in all seasons. All it takes is to get away from the television and computer and enjoy the wildlife and natural landscape that surrounds us. Our array of prairies, lakes, wetlands and forests provide a fantastic environment for a variety of migratory and year round birds, many of them fairly rare. These include the greater prairie chicken, trumpeter swan, bald eagle, upland sandpiper, marbled tanager,Wilson's phalarope and cerulean warbler just to name a few. Otter Tail Country is located within a major flyway for waterfowl and shorebirds and provides many wonderful wildlife watching opportunities in spring and fall. Maplewood State Park has over 70 nesting species of birds during the summer and the southern end of the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail draws many birders to Fergus Falls to explore this area's wetlands. And let's not forget the State bird, the common loon, a resident of many lakes. Even to a person that has lived a lifetime in Minnesota, the sight and sound of the loon is a pleasure not to be forgotten. Take time to discover our wildlife along the backroads of Otter Tail Country and enjoy an experience that will last a lifetime. Wintertime is also a unique experience in Minnesota. To help pass those cold days and long nights, travel our many established snowmobiling trails, cross country ski our state parks, or ice fish. All towns in Otter Tail Country have access to local trail systems with many of them well-connected to the rest of the State. If you are thinking of a place to sled this winter, think Otter Tail... think Mulberry Row!

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