Adjoining the city of Ottertail, it is a part of the Otter Tail River chain of lakes.

[2] A prominent feature of Otter Tail is the "point" which essentially divides the lake into eastern and western halves.

[3] Otter Tail lake is ringed with a tall, mostly deciduous tree line.

In general, the tree line goes back around 300 yards from the shore and acts as a windbreak, keeping the shoreline calm compared to the center of the lake.

Ottertail Lake is also the home of the Reel Country Classic, a two-day fishing tournament that has taken place every May since 2005.