Ash Lake in Lincoln County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ash Lake is a Lincoln County water, Minnesota side. It stands 1,713 feet above sea level. It measures about 141 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 1.8 miles keeps the choices simple. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lincoln County. Nearest town is Tyler, 13 miles off. Sioux Falls is the closest city, 65 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ash Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Lincoln County records list common carp, yellow perch and walleye among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Ash Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 11°F for January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Ash Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lake Shaokatan at 3.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Ash Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.