Plan your next trip with local lake details, species, access points, and guide services.
4,730 acres • max depth 76 ft
Access: Public boat landing with ramp. Boat and pontoon rentals available at Whispering Pines Resort.
Special regulations: Crappie daily limit 5. Sunfish daily limit 10. (Effective March 1, 2025)
Highlights: Largest lake near Perham. Premier walleye destination with excellent smallmouth bass fishing.
2,080 acres • max depth 63 ft
Access: Public boat access with ramp at Paul Miller Park. Boat rentals at Char-Mac Resort.
Special regulations: Special regulations: Walleye 18-26 inches must be immediately released (only 1 over 26" allowed). Crappie daily limit 5. Sunfish daily limit 10.
Highlights: Clear water, great structure. Known for quality walleye and panfish.
7,545 acres • max depth 65 ft
Access: Multiple public accesses. Guide services available via PT's Guide Service.
Highlights: 33rd largest lake in Minnesota. Three major basins with 36.3 miles of shoreline plus 4 miles of island shoreline. Classified as Natural Environment Lake (1975). Mean depth 9.5 ft with 83% littoral zone — excellent panfish and walleye.
4,721 acres • max depth 94 ft
Access: Public boat access.
Highlights: Star-shaped lake with three arms. Mesotrophic with 12-14 ft water clarity. Popular with guide services.
13,728 acres • max depth 120 ft
Access: Multiple public accesses. Short drive east of Perham.
Highlights: Largest lake in Otter Tail County and Minnesota's 10th-largest inland lake. Trophy walleye and muskie destination. 57% of lake is 15 ft or less.
670 acres • max depth 65 ft
Access: Public boat access.
Highlights: Clear water, good structure for walleye and bass.
Phone: 218-639-7020
Lakes served: Little Pine, Big Pine, Star, Ottertail, Little McDonald
Specialties: Walleyes, crappie, sunfish
Trip pricing: 4-hour and 8-hour trips. Morning 7am-12pm, afternoon 12-5pm. All equipment provided. Winter ice fishing with heated fish house rentals.
Phone: 218-639-2052
Lakes served: Big Pine, Ottertail, Rush, Dead Lake
Specialties: Walleye, panfish
Trip pricing: 4-hour trips $350-$400 (2-4 people). 8-hour trips $550-$675. Lund boats with modern electronics.
Specialties: Trophy panfish throughout Otter Tail County. Year-round.
Trip pricing: Specializes in big crappie, sunfish, and bluegill.
Specialties: Panfish, tullibee, burbot in Becker and Otter Tail Counties.
Trip pricing: Winter trips and limited summer availability.
Fish shallow weeds with light jigs (1/16–1/8 oz) tipped with sucker minnows, redtail chubs, or leeches under slip bobbers. Perham-area lakes are diverse — clear, shallow, and off-colored options all within a short drive.
Crappie and sunfish are plentiful across Big Pine, Little Pine, and Dead Lake. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or plastics work well. Look for weed edges and brush piles in 6–12 feet.
Spring for walleye and panfish opener. Summer for bass (topwater and plastics). Fall for northern pike. Winter ice fishing for crappie and perch — heated fish houses available through local guide services.
Winter ice fishing is popular on all area lakes. Heated fish house rentals available through Lakes Guide Service. Ice typically forms in November-December and lasts through March.
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