North Tenmile Lake Fishing Guide, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Otter Tail County, Minnesota, is where North Tenmile Lake sits. The bank gives way to mixed forest. About 737 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. It ranks high for size among our Otter Tail County listings. Fergus Falls is the closest place, 10 miles off. It is 63 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on North Tenmile Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On North Tenmile Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 7°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. North Tenmile Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Ten Mile WPA covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Alkali Lake, 1.3 miles away. Signs at North Tenmile Lake carry more weight than any list.