Anderson Lake in Grant County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Anderson Lake, in Grant County. Elevation runs to 1,263 feet. About 18 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Grant County list holds plenty of bigger water. Elbow Lake lies 7.4 miles from the water. Beyond it, Fergus Falls at 20 miles and Alexandria at 25 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Grant County list common carp, largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Anderson Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 8°F for January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Anderson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Werson Lake, 0.7 miles out. What applies at Anderson Lake may have changed since it was mapped.