Fishing at Belgum Lake, Pope County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Belgum Lake in the Pope County part of Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,250 feet. At about 63 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, Starbuck, is 8.7 miles away. The big place round here is Fargo, 98 miles distant. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Belgum Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Pope County include largemouth bass, common carp, northern pike and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Belgum Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 9°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Expect Belgum Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Irgens Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Confirm access to Belgum Lake locally before you travel.