Ortonville area fisheries staff perform management, habitat and oversight work for 50 fishing lakes and 2,000 miles of rivers and streams near the headwaters of the Minnesota River in Traverse, Big Stone, western Lac Qui Parle, western Swift, western Yellow Medicine and northern Lincoln counties.
Popular area waters are Big Stone, Lac Qui Parle and Traverse lakes – shallow productive fisheries that produce abundant yellow perch, walleyes, northern pike and panfish.
- News & notices
New fishing resources
We've got new fishing resources for you the 2023 season. Check out the updated Ortonville area fishing outlook and the Ortonville area newsletter.Be safe on the ice
Variable temperatures make for variable ice conditions. Trust yourself, not others. Stay on shore until there's 4 inches of new, clear ice and follow ice safety precautions.- Fishing opportunities
Outlooks
Area lakes by county
Learn to fish
Fishing piers & boat ramps by county
- Resources
Where to go
If you want a quick look at where you might try fishing next, take a look at our fishing outlook, which we've updated for 2023.
For additional information, check our Ortonville area fisheries newsletter.
Hear from an expert
The Ortonville Area staff are happy to give presentations to school groups, sportsman's clubs or any local group interested in learning more about the aquatic environment. Anyone interested should contact the Ortonville office via email at [email protected] or telephone at 320-839-2656.
Popular fishing lakes
Survey information, lake maps and consumption advisories are available online for theses Ortonville area lakes.
Lake County Artichoke Big Stone Big Stone Big Stone Del Clark Yellow Medicine East Toqua Big Stone Hawks Nest Lincoln Hendricks Lincoln John Yellow Medicine Lac qui Parle Lac qui Parle Long Tom Big Stone - Lake management planning
Lakes scheduled for 2024
People who want to discuss the individual fisheries listed below must call or email this area fisheries office during February. Your observations and comments will be considered as updates begin on these fisheries lake management plans.
Comments from people interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries are a critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process. These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and guide the work fisheries biologists do each year.
Clicking lake links below take you to LakeFinder, where you can find various lake specific information, including past fisheries surveys. To submit input or learn more about each lake’s management plan, please contact this area office.
How you can help
Comments about preferred experiences, observations or general concerns about the fishery – rather than suggestions on how DNR might accomplish a specific goal or objective – are the most helpful kinds of input.
Some questions to consider when formulating input could include:
- What kind of fishing experience are you looking for?
- Are there fish habitat concerns you’d like to share?
- What species of fish are most important to you?
- Do you like catching fewer big fish or a lot of smaller fish?
Individuals as well as representatives of lake associations, outdoors groups, conservations organizations and local units of government are encouraged to comment.
- Talk with us
Ortonville staff
Slide text left for phones & emails
Name
Position
Phone
Email
Chris Domeier Area fisheries supervisor 320-839-2656 [email protected] Kyle Anderson Assistant area fisheries supervisor 320-839-2656 [email protected] BJ Bauer Fisheries specialist 320-839-2656 [email protected] Jeff Malzahn Fisheries technician 320-839-2656 [email protected] Danielle Hage Office administrative specialist 320-839-2656 [email protected]