Cornell Lake Fishing near Clearwater, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Cornell Lake falls inside Wright County. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. The water covers some 28 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Most waters listed here for Wright County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Clearwater, 4.8 miles away. After that come Annandale at 6.9 miles and Maple Lake at 8.8 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Cornell Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Wright County include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Cornell Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 10°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Cornell Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Suconnix Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Nixon Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Cornell Lake if anything is unclear.