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Johnson Lake

St. Olaf, Minnesota — Otter Tail County.

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335Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 82552852).

Location & fast facts

Where Johnson Lake is in Minnesota

The red circle marks Johnson Lake.

Fast facts

About Johnson Lake

  • County: Otter Tail
  • Town: St. Olaf
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 150 mi from Minneapolis and 184 mi from Duluth, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in Minnesota

Official Minnesota DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill and Yellow perch
  • Camping. 9 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official lake survey (Minnesota DNR)

32 ftMaximum depth
419Acres (state figure)

Fish species found in Minnesota DNR lake surveys: Black bullhead, Black crappie, Bluegill, Brown bullhead, Largemouth bass, Yellow bullhead, Yellow perch.

Average depth not published.

Shallow (littoral) area: 165 of 419 acres

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources LakeFinder record for Johnson Lake (DOW 56039300), with lake survey reports, depth maps and stocking history. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.

Lake map

Johnson Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Johnson Lake Public Water Access Site (Boat launch)1½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Johnson Lake Public Water Access Site
    Boat launch · St. Olaf

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 82552852), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Johnson Lake

We found 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Johnson Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

3 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Minnesota

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (46.1732, -95.8577). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Johnson Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Johnson Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Johnson Lake Public Water Access SiteSt. OlafDNR Division of Parks and TrailsTrailer launch · Concrete slab ramp · dock12 trailer—Fishing, Boating46.1808, -95.8470

    Minnesota DNR public water access sites (Minnesota Geospatial Commons)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Johnson Lake

    How big is Johnson Lake?

    Johnson Lake covers about 335 acres in St. Olaf, Minnesota (Otter Tail County).

    How deep is Johnson Lake?

    The maximum recorded depth is 32 feet, according to the Minnesota DNR LakeFinder.

    What fish are in Johnson Lake?

    Minnesota DNR LakeFinder lists Largemouth bass, Black crappie, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Black bullhead, Brown bullhead and Yellow bullhead.

    Is there a public boat launch on Johnson Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Johnson Lake Public Water Access Site. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Johnson Lake?

    Yes. We list 9 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.

    What towns are on Johnson Lake?

    Johnson Lake touches St. Olaf in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Johnson Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Minnesota lakes & ponds · All waters in St. Olaf