Houghton County · Michigan

Otter Lake

Soundings in feet · 863 acres · deepest 29 ft

Today on the lake

Updated 9 Oct 2026, 2:57 am EDT. Get alerts for Otter Lake

WEATHEROvernight: mostly clear, 36°F, wind W 5 mph. Friday: sunny, 62°F, wind SE 0 to 5 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIREPrescribed burn Pinto RX, 27 acres, 16.1 mi away, began 6 Oct 2026. A planned fire set by land managers.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAECAUTION Satellite detected cyanobacteria across about 53% of the lake on 6 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

LAUNCHESOtter Lake: listed open. Michigan DNR record updated 3 Apr 2026.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

6 contours, 5 to 29 ft

051015202529feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

863 acres · deepest 29 ft (measured) · shoreline about 7.6 mi · clarity about 8 ft

Otter Lake is the 3rd largest of the 65 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Houghton County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the 17th deepest of the 29 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 33 of the other 45 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 7.6 miles along the state outline. About 71% of its area is deeper than 15 ft.

Ranks against Houghton County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Getting on the water

1 public access site on Otter Lake.

Otter Lake · Baraga State Park · Open

1 ramp lane · 6 trailer spaces · vault toilet · Recreation Passport required

Local boating rules, Houghton County

Michigan DNR boating access, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Otter Lake 31 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 9,900 walleye on 27 June 2025. Species stocked: smallmouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye.

31 stockings, 1979 to 2025, log scale

Latest: 27 Jun 2025: 9,900 walleye.

27 Jun 2025STOCKED9,900 walleye

27 Jun 2023STOCKED10,246 walleye

18 Jun 2021STOCKED9,850 walleye

27 Jun 2017STOCKED9,850 walleye

23 Jun 2015STOCKED8,670 walleye

5 Jun 2012STOCKED10,047 walleye

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1970: black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, golden shiner, johnny darter, lake herring, largemouth bass, northern logperch, northern pike, rock bass, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, white sucker, yellow perch. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 8 ft (Secchi depth 2.4 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 7.8 ft of 29 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Otter LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Otter Lake 31 times since 1979, most recently 9,900 walleye on 27 June 2025. None so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. In 2026 that happened on 3 Sep.Any lake in Houghton CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 3 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Otter Lake: 3 Sep.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Thirteenmile Lake36 ft deep · 9.9 mi · Houghton County

Stonington Lake24 ft deep · 10.7 mi · Houghton County

Lake Perrault38 ft deep · 11.0 mi · Houghton County

Toivola Lake (Northeas8 ft deep · 11.7 mi · Houghton County

Toivola Lake (South)19 ft deep · 11.8 mi · Houghton County

Toivola Lake (West)40 ft deep · 12.0 mi · Houghton County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Otter Lake?

Otter Lake is 29 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 863 acres.

Is there a public boat launch on Otter Lake?

Yes. 1 public access site is listed: Otter Lake.

Is Otter Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 31 times since 1979, most recently 9,900 walleye on 27 June 2025.

How much of Otter Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 79% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.