Clausen Lake Fishing Guide, Polk County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Within Polk County, Minnesota, you have Clausen Lake. It lies 1,194 feet above sea level. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Polk County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Fosston sits 12 miles out. It is 67 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Clausen Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Polk County include yellow perch, brown bullhead and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Clausen Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Clausen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Oak Lake sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Clausen Lake locally before you travel.