Fishing Bullhead Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Bullhead Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,339 feet. With some 64 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 2.7 miles in total. The nearest place of any size is Parkers Prairie, 15 miles away. Further out sit New York Mills (21 miles) and Fergus Falls (22 miles). No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Bullhead Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Bullhead Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 7°F at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Bullhead Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Bredeson Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Signs at Bullhead Lake carry more weight than any list.