Fishing Aas Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Otter Tail County, Aas Lake is a Minnesota water. The ground round it is rolling bush. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Otter Tail County standards. Start from Fergus Falls, 6.5 miles down the road. Beyond it, Pelican Rapids at 20 miles and Elbow Lake at 21 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Aas Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Otter Tail County records list largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Aas Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 7°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Aas Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Lake Aunie, 0.6 miles away. Check the position on Aas Lake before loading the car.