Fishing at Clitty Lake, Sherburne County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Clitty Lake lies within the bounds of Sherburne County, Minnesota. It stands 965 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Sherburne County. For supplies, Becker is 1.6 miles out. Clearwater follows at 8 miles, then Monticello at 8.8 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Clitty Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Sherburne County cover bluegill, northern pike and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Clitty Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 72°F; by January the average is down near 11°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Anyone fishing Clitty Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Prairie Lake, 2.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Clitty Lake.