Minnesota Fishing Guide

Middle

Otter Tail County, Minnesota — DOW #56025200

42 Surveys

Special Regulations for Middle

This lake has regulations that differ from statewide defaults. Always check before fishing.

Invasive Species Alert

Middle has confirmed populations of:

Clean, drain, and dry all equipment before moving to another water body. It's the law in Minnesota.

225.02
Acres
56 ft
Max Depth
0
5
Fish Species
8
Local Guides

DNR Fish Surveys

Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data from Minnesota DNR fish population assessments on Middle. Green = above normal range. Red = below normal.

Black Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.1 (below normal) 0.3 – 3.2 0.86 lb 1
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 5.7 (normal) 0.8 – 7.7 0.82 lb 34

Brown Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.1 (below normal) 0.4 – 2.1 0.90 lb 1
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 0.2 (below normal) 0.5 – 2.5 1.83 lb 1
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 0.3 (below normal) 0.4 – 2.1 1.64 lb 3

Green Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.1 (below normal) 0.3 – 2.3 0.13 lb 1
2022-06-09 Special trap nets 0.2 — 0.06 lb 1

Yellow Bullhead

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 5.7 (normal) 1.0 – 10.5 0.36 lb 34
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 11.9 (above normal) 1.3 – 9.8 0.34 lb 107
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 6.0 (normal) 1.0 – 10.5 0.49 lb 36
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 7.6 (normal) 1.3 – 9.8 0.58 lb 68

Northern Pike

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 6.8 (normal) 3.5 – 10.5 2.46 lb 41
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 0.6 — 1.43 lb 5
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 2.8 (below normal) 3.5 – 10.5 2.30 lb 17

Largemouth Bass

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard electrofishing 98.1 — 0.99 lb 66
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 0.7 (normal) 0.3 – 1.7 0.85 lb 4
2000-07-31 Special trap nets 0.6 — 2.65 lb 37
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 1.9 (above normal) 0.3 – 1.3 0.44 lb 17
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 0.7 (normal) 0.3 – 1.3 1.21 lb 6
2008-06-09 Standard electrofishing 53.7 — 1.17 lb 35
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 1.2 (normal) 0.3 – 1.7 0.86 lb 7
2024-05-17 Standard electrofishing 222.9 — 1.20 lb 113
2018-06-01 Standard electrofishing 143.2 — 0.80 lb 130

Hybrid Sunfish

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 0.2 — — 1
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 5.0 — 0.22 lb 45
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 8.1 — 0.41 lb 73
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 0.3 — 0.43 lb 2
2022-06-09 Special trap nets 5.2 — 0.36 lb 26

Bluegill

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 8.2 — 0.21 lb 49
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 22.0 (normal) 6.1 – 46.6 0.15 lb 198
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 38.0 (normal) 6.1 – 46.6 0.22 lb 342
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 1.7 — 0.36 lb 10
2022-06-09 Special trap nets 29.0 — 0.35 lb 145

Pumpkinseed

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Standard gill nets 0.8 — 0.27 lb 5
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 4.3 (normal) 2.0 – 8.5 0.16 lb 39
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 2.0 (normal) 2.0 – 8.5 0.40 lb 18
2022-06-09 Special trap nets 0.6 — 0.25 lb 3

Black Crappie

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2000-07-31 Special trap nets 0.8 — 0.39 lb 51
2000-07-31 Standard trap nets 2.6 (normal) 0.7 – 3.4 0.46 lb 23
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 0.8 (normal) 0.6 – 3.5 0.27 lb 5
2008-06-09 Standard trap nets 5.2 (above normal) 0.7 – 3.4 0.53 lb 47

Walleye

Date Gear CPUE Normal Range Avg Weight Total Catch
2008-06-09 Standard gill nets 0.3 (below normal) 1.3 – 5.0 2.82 lb 2

Depth Maps & Lake Info

View on MN DNR LakeFinder

Map & Directions

Get Directions

Showing 14 nearby bait & tackle shops on the map.

Nearby Bait & Tackle

Ben's Bait Shop

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 864-5596

★ 4.6

Carr's Lake Country Super Market

Ottertail, MN

(218) 367-2550

★ 4.4

Dunham's Sports

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 739-5708

★ 4.1

Elizabeth General Store

Elizabeth, MN

(218) 739-2132

★ 4.3

Flagman Products

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 671-2640

JK-Outdoors

Fergus Falls, MN

(218) 739-5299

★ 5

Lakeland General Store

Pelican Rapids, MN

(218) 863-5703

★ 4.8

Lakes Community Coop - Ottertail Oasis

Ottertail, MN

(218) 367-3626

★ 4

Nearby Marinas

265th St. RV & Boat Storage

Henning, MN

(218) 210-8874

★ 4.8

Advanced Docks & Lifts

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 495-2811

★ 4.3

Aqua Marine & Storage

Dent, MN

(218) 457-2325

★ 4.9

Ark & Spark

Underwood, MN

(218) 864-5969

★ 4.6

Battle Lake Boat Works

Battle Lake, MN

(218) 864-5567

★ 3.8

Delagoon Park

Fergus Falls, MN

★ 4.4

Resorts & Lodges Near Middle

Plan your stay — fishing resorts and lodges near Middle.

Legacy Lakeside Resort & Event Center
Fishing Resort Clitherall

(218) 321-3150
MN Tru North
Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 346-5253
Paul Lake Resort
Fishing Resort Perham

(218) 234-9001
Shoreside at Rush
Fishing Resort Ottertail

(218) 234-2319

View all 888 Minnesota resorts →

Fish Species

Species known to inhabit Middle. Click any species for a full fishing guide.

BluegillGreen SunfishHybrid SunfishLargemouth BassPumpkinseed

Fishing Guides Near Middle

Gene's Sport Shop
Fishing Guide

(218) 346-3355
Lock Jaw Guide Service
Fishing Guide

(218) 640-0158
Minnesota Experience
Fishing Guide

(218) 770-8032
North Country Bowfishing
Fishing Guide
Pit Properties LLC
Fishing Guide

(218) 205-5358
RED HOOKS FISHING ADVENTURES
Red Hooks Fishing Adventures
Fishing Guide

(218) 370-9006

View all 8 guides →

Other Lakes in Otter Tail County

Adley

240.56 acres

Alice

46.96 acres

Anderson

88.82 acres

Anna

598.19 acres

Annie Battle

354.4 acres

Bass

33.86 acres

Plan Your Trip to Middle

Data sourced from Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife. Last verified: March 19, 2026. Learn how we maintain this data.