County Ditch Number Thirteen Fishing in Jackson County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Jackson County in Minnesota is where County Ditch Number Thirteen sits. This is mixed forest ground. Supplies mean a trip to Windom, 9 miles off. Mountain Lake is 11 miles and Jackson 11 miles. Within a short drive: Laurs Lake at about 2.9 miles, Lake Independence about 3.9 miles, Fish Lake at about 5.5 miles, Summit Lake about 6.8 miles and Parso Lake at about 7.1 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on County Ditch Number Thirteen

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name common carp, walleye, black bullhead, black crappie and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read County Ditch Number Thirteen before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. At County Ditch Number Thirteen the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Laurs Lake, 2.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about County Ditch Number Thirteen if anything is unclear.