Coal Lake Fishing near Long Prairie, Minnesota

• Overview

  Coal Lake lies within the bounds of Todd County, Minnesota. The country here is mixed forest. At about 165 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Shoreline comes to about 2.6 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Todd County list. Long Prairie is the closest place, 9.1 miles off. Further out sit Staples (19 miles) and Little Falls (20 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Coal Lake

  The basin has been measured to about 29 feet. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Coal Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 70°F and January reads 8°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Coal Lake more years than not.

• 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. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Long Lake, 1.1 miles out. Nothing on Coal Lake should be assumed from this page alone.