Fishing East Lost Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, this is East Lost Lake. Height above sea level is 1,306 feet. This is sizeable water at about 913 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Otter Tail County list. The nearest town is Fergus Falls, 15 miles away. Fargo is the closest city, 60 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on East Lost Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Otter Tail County records list largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take East Lost Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 70°F; by January the average is down near 6°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on East Lost Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Deer Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about East Lost Lake if anything is unclear.