Otter Lake near New London: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Otter Lake is one of the Kandiyohi County listings for Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,217 feet. The water covers some 32 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Kandiyohi County. The nearest place of any size is New London, 5.7 miles away. Paynesville is 7 miles away, with Spicer at 8.4 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Otter Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Kandiyohi County list walleye, northern pike and common carp. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Otter Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Otter Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Long Lake is 1.6 miles off. Ask locally about Otter Lake if anything is unclear.