Briggs Lake Fishing near Elbow Lake, Minnesota

• Overview

  Briggs Lake is a Grant County water, Minnesota side. It stands 1,168 feet above sea level. Around 34 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. On size it sits at the modest end of our Grant County list. Elbow Lake is the closest town at 7.5 miles. After that come Fergus Falls at 15 miles and Parkers Prairie at 28 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Briggs Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Grant County records list common carp, largemouth bass and walleye among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Briggs Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 7°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Briggs Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Pelican Creek Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Hagen Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Briggs Lake.