Otter Tail Beach Resort
Battle Lake
Call for current rates
Otter Tail Lake covers about 13,700 acres in west-central Minnesota and is up to 120 feet deep, the largest lake in Otter Tail County. The Otter Tail River runs through it, and the small city of Ottertail sits at the east end; most resorts have Battle Lake mailing addresses.
It is a family cabin-resort lake. Walleye, bass, pike and panfish draw anglers, and a few resorts rent ice houses in winter.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Most resorts here rent cabins by the week in summer, with boats; a few stay open for ice fishing.
3 places to stay
South shore
Resorts off Highway 78 on the south side of the lake.
The Lodge on Otter Tail Lake
Battle Lake
Call for current rates
Vacationland Resort
Battle Lake
From $175 / night · year not stated
2 places to stay
West & north-west shore
Barky's and Holly's on the west and north-west shore.
Barky's Resort
Battle Lake
Call for current rates
Holly's Resort
Battle Lake
From $230–$435 / night · 2027
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottertail Tail Guide Service (Don Coury)Ottertail | Call | – | walleye, crappie, sunfish |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Vacationland and Barky's publish ice-house or access figures, without a year.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barky's ResortBattle Lake | $350/day for 2023 Ice Castle Limited Edition or 2024 Ice Castle Trophy Hunter (year not stated) | both houses have 6 holes, bunks for 4 adults, indoor bathroom, generator, satellite TV, oven, Vexilar; $350/day | ice road plowed on arrival; location given after reservation |
| The Lodge on Otter Tail LakeBattle Lake | Yes | – | |
| Vacationland ResortBattle Lake | House Five (8x16 Ice Castle, 6 holes, no bathroom or stove): $225/night/day | 8x21 Ice Castle (8 holes, sleeps 4-6) $425/night; 8x16 Ice Castle (6 holes, sleeps 4) $350/night; year not stated on page | private access and plowed roads; no transport service listed |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 1, 2027Every fish house must be off the ice by midnight.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations.
V. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches.
- Northern pike (North-central Zone): 10 in possession, not more than 2 over 26 inches; release every pike from 22 through 26 inches.
- Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only from March 1 to May 22, then 6 combined bass from May 23, 2026. Smallmouth go back to catch-and-release from September 14.
- Crappie 10, sunfish 20, perch 20 a day and 40 in possession.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 1, 2027.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons and the North-central pike zone). Otter Tail Lake has no special regulation in the 2026 booklet. Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VI. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How big is Otter Tail Lake?
About 13,700 acres (sources range from 13,728 to 14,022) and up to 120 feet deep.
Is there a fishing guide on Otter Tail Lake?
Ottertail Tail Guide Service (Don Coury) lists trips on the lake from $350 on Guidesly. Several Otter Tail County guides fish the area but don't name the lake.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Otter Tail Lake (33786905486), formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0; OtterTailLakeRiverInlet, Bloodshedder (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 3.0.
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