North Lida Lake is a 5,564-acre mesotrophic (moderately fertile) lake located in northwestern Otter Tail County approximately five miles east of Pelican Rapids, MN. North Lida Lake is connected to South Lida Lake by a navigable culvert under State Highway 108 along the south shoreline. North Lida Lake is also connected to Lizzie Lake via a non-navigable culvert under County Road 4. The immediate watershed is composed primarily of agricultural land interspersed with hardwood woodlots. The maximum depth is 58 feet; however, 43% of the lake is 15 feet or less in depth. The secchi disk reading during the 2009 lake survey was 9.8 feet. Previous secchi disk readings have ranged from 6.0 to 9.5 feet. A majority of the shoreline on North Lida Lake has been developed. Homes, cottages, and resorts compose the development. The 1995 lake survey referenced 471 homes/cottages and nine resorts. A DNR owned concrete public water access is located off of County Road 4 along the north shoreline. Large stands of hardstem bulrush are scattered throughout the lake. Emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and are critical for maintaining good water quality. They protect shorelines and lake bottoms, and can actually absorb and break down polluting chemicals. Emergent plants provide spawning areas for fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. They also serve as important nursery areas for all species of fish. Because of their ecological value, emergent plants may not be removed without a DNR permit. North Lida Lake is a popular angling lake and is one of the best all-around angling lakes in Otter Tail County. Walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, black crappie, and bluegill are the dominant gamefish species in North Lida Lake. Data from recent lake surveys indicate that these species are abundant and have good size distributions as well. The walleye test-net catch rate was within the expected range for similar lakes. Walleye ranged in length from 8.2 to 26.2 inches with an average length and weight of 16.3 inches and 1.6 pounds. Age and catch data indicate that the 2006 year class isl strong and should provide consistently good walleye angling for several years. Walleye reach an average length of 14.1 inches at four years of age. Northern pike population characteristics have demonstrated stability over the recent series of surveys. Pike abundance has remained at a moderate density and natural reproduction has continued to be consistently good. Pike ranged in length from 10.7 to 33.8 inches with an average length and weight of 19.3 inches and 1.8 pounds. Pike reach an average length of 22.3 inches at four years of age. Age and catch data indicate that a balanced smallmouth bass population exists. Smallmouth bass ranged in length from 7.1 to 16.1 inches with an average length and weight of 11.9 inches and 1.1 pounds. Age and length data indicate that reproduction is consistently good. Data from a spring trapnetting assessment indicate that the black crappie population is very abundant and has a good size distribution. Crappies ranged in length from 8.0 to 12.4 inches with an average length of 10.3. Nineteen percent of the sample was 11.0 inches or greater in length. The DNR and the Lida Lakes Association have been involved in several cooperative projects designed to improve and protect water quality and fish habitat. In 1998, a shoreline stabilization project was completed. Rock rip-rap was used to stabilize several areas of shoreline that were experiencing varying degrees of erosion. In 1997, 160 smallmouth bass nesting structures were constructed and placed in North Lida Lake. These structures help smallmouth bass reproduce more successfully. Harvest regulations for walleye and black crappie have been implemented on North Lida Lake. The walleye regulation is a 17 to 26 inch protected slot limit with one fish over 26 inches allowed. The black crappie regulation is an 11-inch minimum size limit. The intent of these regulations is to improve the size structures of the respective populations. Anglers can also maintain the quality of angling by practicing selective harvest. Selective harvest encourages the release of medium to large size fish while allowing the harvest of more abundant smaller fish for table fare. Releasing the medium to large fish will ensure that the lake will have enough spawning age fish on an annual basis and will provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish in the future.
Lake Lida is a very sandy lake located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Lida Township, Minnesota is named after the lake and is centered directly over it. The lake is approximately 6 miles long from north to south, and is a maximum of 4 miles wide from east to west from the widest point. 'South Lake Lida' is located directly south of the main lake, separated only by a land bridge. Almost adjacent to the north of Lake Lida are comparatively sized Lake Lizzie and smaller Lake Crystal.