Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Star Lake
Best fishing times today, in local lake time.
Today
Good day
Next major bite
4:41–6:41 PM CT- Major bite (moon overhead): 4:10–6:10 AM
- Minor bite (moonset): 1:09–2:09 PM
- Major bite (moon underfoot): 4:41–6:41 PM
- Minor bite (moonrise): 9:19–10:19 PM
- Sunrise
- 8:02 AM
- Sunset
- 6:10 PM
- Moon
- Waning gibbous, 74%
Times in Central Time. Updated 7:57 AM CT.
Conditions
- Air
- 37°F
- Wind
- 5 mph E
- Sky
- Partly Sunny
- Pressure
- 30.29 inHgSteady (+0.3 hPa in 3 h)
National Weather Service hourly forecast; pressure from station KDTL at 6:55 AM CT.
7-day bite calendar
| Day | Rating | Major | Major | Minor | Minor | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 4:10–6:10 AM | 4:41–6:41 PM | 1:09–2:09 PM | 9:19–10:19 PM | Waning gibbous, 74% | |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5:12–7:12 AM | 5:41–7:41 PM | 1:51–2:51 PM | 10:39–11:39 PM | Waning gibbous, 63% | |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5:09–7:09 AM | 5:36–7:36 PM | 1:23–2:23 PM | 11:00 PM–12:00 AM | Last quarter, 52% | |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 6:02–8:02 AM | 6:27–8:27 PM | 1:47–2:47 PM | — | Waning crescent, 40% | |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 6:51–8:51 AM | 7:14–9:14 PM | 12:18–1:18 AM | 2:07–3:07 PM | Waning crescent, 30% | |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7:36–9:36 AM | 7:58–9:58 PM | 1:33–2:33 AM | 2:25–3:25 PM | Waning crescent, 20% | |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 8:20–10:20 AM | 8:42–10:42 PM | 2:45–3:45 AM | 2:42–3:42 PM | Waning crescent, 13% |
What's biting on Star Lake in October
Star Lake covers 4,486 acres and is 94 ft at its deepest. These are the sport fish DNR surveys found here, and what each typically does in October in Minnesota lakes.
- WalleyeFall walleye feed heavily on rocky points and breaklines; dusk and after dark are often best.
- Northern pikeFall pike feed heavily along the last green weeds and drop-offs.
- Largemouth bassBass gather near the remaining green weeds and drop-offs and feed before winter.
- CrappieFall crappies school tightly in deeper basins and feed actively.
- BluegillFall bluegill move toward deeper weed edges and feed actively.
- Yellow perchFall perch school on deep flats and feed heavily.
The DNR lists special fishing regulations for Star Lake; check them on its LakeFinder page before you go.
Season notes: Minnesota statewide inland seasons from the DNR's 2026–27 fishing regulations. Check current regulations.
Fish in Star Lake
Species found in Minnesota DNR fish surveys of Star Lake in the last 10 years or its latest survey (July 21, 2025).
- WalleyeSpawns over gravel and rock in the shallows soon after ice-out, peaking in 42–50°F water; in summer it holds deeper and feeds in the shallows at dawn and dusk.
- Northern pikeSpawns in flooded, weedy shallows right after ice-out and keeps feeding in cold water, so it bites from spring through ice season.
- Largemouth bassNests in shallow, firm-bottomed bays in late spring and spends summer in and along the weedbeds.
- Black crappieSpawns in May and June in shallow water in the mid-60s °F; schools roam open water and feed most at night, dawn and dusk.
- BluegillNests in colonies in firm-bottomed shallows from late May through much of summer, in 67–80°F water; bigger fish feed in open water.
- PumpkinseedNests in colonies from May well into summer, often beside bluegill, and feeds heavily on snails.
- Yellow perchSpawns in early spring, draping egg ribbons over weeds and brush, and bites eagerly on worms all year, including through the ice.
- Rock bassNests over gravel near rocks and logs in late spring and stays close to rocky cover all summer.
- Tullibee (cisco)A cold-water fish of deep, well-oxygenated lakes that spawns in the shallows in late fall.
Also found
- Black bullhead
- Bowfin (dogfish)
- Brown bullhead
- Common carp
- Green sunfish
- Hybrid sunfish
- White sucker
- Yellow bullhead
Lake facts
- Area
- 4,486 acres
- Max depth
- 94 ft
- County
- Otter Tail County
- Nearest town
- Dent
- DNR lake ID
- 56038500
Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder (retrieved October 30, 2026).
Nearby lakes
- Dead Lake4 mi
- Marion Lake8 mi
- North Lida Lake8 mi
- Crystal Lake9 mi
- Otter Tail Lake11 mi
- Lake Lizzie12 mi