The 2000 spring and fall samples on Otter Lake showed a good population in place. The heaviest individual weighed 13 lbs., which was 3 lbs. Numbers were somewhat disappointing since we collected 153 fish in our 1999 surveys. Boby condition was considered average, and growth rates appeared above average when compared to Lake Pittsfield, and Lake Jacksonville in central Illinois. This fishery would be classified as above average to this date.
Otter Lake has one boat ramp and charges an access fee.
Due to the elevated water temperatures, and abundance of threadfin shad in this cooling lake, the hybrid stripers grow fast, but are apparently short lived. We rarely see any fish over 6 lbs. in weight. The lake is stocked yearly with 19,000 two inch stripers. During the 2000 fisheries survey, we collected 14 fish with an average weight of 3.32 lbs. The largest fish that we observed was in the 5 lb. weight range which is typical for this lake.