Cup Lake Fishing in Big Stone County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cup Lake is a Big Stone County water, in Minnesota. It stands 1,155 feet above sea level. It measures about 60 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Nearest place of any size is Ortonville, 13 miles away. For a city, Fargo is 98 miles off. Within a short drive: Campbell Slough at 1.2 miles, North Rothwell Lake roughly 1.5 miles, Eli Lake at 1.7 miles, Lake Leo roughly 3 miles and Lannon Lake at 4.6 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cup Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Big Stone County include common carp, yellow perch, walleye, black bullhead and orangespotted sunfish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Cup Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cup Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Campbell Slough at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Cup Lake are worth checking on the day.