Otter Tail River (Red River) Depth Map & Fishing Spots (MN)

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Lake depth chart

Otter Tail River (Red River), MN

Max 55 ft

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Where to start

Fall shiner run window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Fall shiner runActive window

Typical here: Sep 1 – Oct 31 · colder nights and shortening days start the push in early September — shiners slide out of open water toward warmer shallows and run up the rivers; the Rainy River run off Lake of the Woods is the marquee version

adultdaylight for the jig bite; after dark the shiners stack under dock lights with walleyes and pike mixed right in — follow the bait, not the spot — millions of shiners move together and the predators ride with them; silver profile and flash matter

Concentrates hard but travels — the school (and the walleyes under it) can be off a river mouth one week and miles upriver the next.

Jig-and-minnow is the event's signature — a frozen emerald shiner on a 1/4 oz jig drifted along the run; silver jerkbaits and trolled crankbaits take the roaming fish; blade baits under the schools.

The event happens over river mouths and the first miles upriver, warming shallow shorelines, and rocky points where the displaced bait stacks

Next on this water

Fall frog migration · forageSep 25 – Nov 10 · in ~3 weeks

Spring crawfish emergence · forageApr 1 – Jun 15 · in ~7 months

Bluegill spawn (bream-bed bass) · forageMay 15 – Aug 10 · in ~9 months

Hex (giant mayfly) · mayflyJun 15 – Aug 15 · in ~10 months

Know the rules

Minnesota DNR fishing regulations Buy a license

Minnesota season openers

Southeast trout	Jan 1, 2026	Southeastern inland streams
Stream trout	Apr 11, 2026	Statewide inland streams
Fishing opener	May 9, 2026	Minnesota waters
Muskellunge	Jun 6, 2026	Minnesota waters
Fishing opener (2027)	May 15, 2027	Minnesota waters

From the MN DNR seasons page (2026-08-10). Special regulations override statewide rules on many waters.

Seasons, limits and license rules vary by water and change every year — always check the official rules before you fish.

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Otter Tail River (Red River)

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Otter Tail River (Red River) on the board.

Fishing Otter Tail River (Red River): what the data says

294-acre lake near Otter Tail County. The lake tops out around 55 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.

On the chart, Otter Tail River (Red River) draws 294 acres inside 7.9 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 3.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. Roughly 61% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Tip to tip the water measures near 2.9 mi with a 0.6-mi widest point. The water lies in Otter Tail County. For a second option, Jewett lies 3 mi northwest.

Cisco (Lake Herring) fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

When the water first warms, cisco (lake herring) slide up into 10 to 40 ft. By summer they slide out to 17 to 55 ft, and by winter most fish are in 17 to 55 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 47 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a vertical flutter spoon (small) or a drop-shot micro plastic rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	10 to 40 ft	dawn & dusk	Deep basin (47 ft)	Small silver spoon, Tiny swim jig (white)
Summer	17 to 55 ft	dawn	Deep basin (47 ft)	Vertical flutter spoon (small), Drop-shot micro plastic
Fall	5 to 25 ft	dusk & dawn	open water	Small casting spoon, Inline spinner (silver)
Winter	17 to 55 ft	dawn	Deep basin (47 ft)	Small jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + minnow head

Walleye fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Summer is a 15 to 35 ft game here, winter a 20 to 40 ft one. The chart's best answer is Main-lake point — point, 14 ft, prime for fall. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (14 ft)	1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig
Summer	15 to 35 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled)
Fall	12 to 40 ft	dusk & night	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow
Winter	20 to 40 ft	dusk & dawn	Deep basin (47 ft)	Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait

Yellow Perch fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

Spring yellow perch on Otter Tail River (Red River) hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm
Fall	12 to 35 ft	midday	Deep basin (47 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday & dawn	Deep basin (47 ft)	Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small)

Northern Pike fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

Spring puts northern pike in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 5 to 15 ft. Spring northern pike concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	#5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white)
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage
Fall	6 to 18 ft	midday & dawn	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait
Winter	5 to 15 ft	midday	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon

Largemouth Bass fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 20 ft, and winter fish settle into 15 to 35 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	dawn & dusk	Shallow bay flat (6 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	8 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	15 to 35 ft	midday	open water	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Rock Bass fishing at Otter Tail River (Red River)

When the water first warms, rock bass slide up into 2 to 10 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 12 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 14 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. Keep a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday & dawn	open water	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dusk	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	8 to 22 ft	midday	Main-lake point (14 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	12 to 30 ft	midday	Deep basin (47 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Otter Tail River (Red River) also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), pumpkinseed (2 to 10 ft in summer), brown bullhead (3 to 12 ft in summer), burbot (17 to 55 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

The chart marks 5 structure features on Otter Tail River (Red River); the deepest is Deep basin at about 47 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 47 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 14 ft
Secondary point: point, around 14 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft

Otter Tail River (Red River) stocking report

Date	Species	Count	Size
2024*	Walleye (fry)	276,000	—

* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-08-18.

Otter Tail River (Red River) fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Otter Tail River (Red River) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Otter Tail River (Red River)?

Otter Tail River (Red River) is about 55 ft (17 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Otter Tail River (Red River)?

Anglers target cisco (lake herring), walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass, rock bass, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, burbot, common carp on Otter Tail River (Red River).

Where is the best fishing spot on Otter Tail River (Red River)?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 47 ft of water that rates prime for cisco (lake herring) in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.

When is the best time to fish Otter Tail River (Red River)?

For cisco (lake herring), the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

Is Otter Tail River (Red River) stocked with fish?

Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Otter Tail River (Red River) was most recently stocked 2024 with 276,000 walleye (fry). The full stocking history is listed above.

What are the fishing regulations for Otter Tail River (Red River)?

Fishing on Otter Tail River (Red River) is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Jewett 3 mi · Fish 3 mi · Long 4 mi · Heilberger 4 mi · Kempfer 4 mi · Tonseth 4 mi · Long 4 mi · Mule 5 mi · Fogard 5 mi · Anderson 5 mi · West Lost 5 mi · Pleasant 5 mi

See how Otter Tail River (Red River) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Minnesota · best walleye lakes in Minnesota · best northern pike lakes in Minnesota · best crappie lakes in Minnesota

More water nearby: Otter Tail County fishing maps (156 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.