Clitherall Lake Fishing near Parkers Prairie, Minnesota

• Overview

  Clitherall Lake falls in Otter Tail County, part of Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,329 feet. This is big water, about 3.9 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. Some 14 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Otter Tail County list it sits near the top for size. Parkers Prairie sits 18 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Fergus Falls is 20 miles and New York Mills 23 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Clitherall Lake

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 78 feet. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Otter Tail County cover largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Clitherall Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 70°F and January near 7°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Clitherall Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Lake Lundeberg, 2.2 miles away. Rules at Clitherall Lake are worth checking on the day.