Curtis Lake near Cottonwood: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Yellow Medicine County end of Minnesota holds Curtis Lake. The bank is 1,043 feet above sea level. There is roughly 5.6 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. On our Yellow Medicine County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest place of any size is Cottonwood, 9.8 miles away. Beyond it, Granite Falls at 16 miles and Marshall at 18 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Curtis Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Yellow Medicine County: yellow perch, walleye, black bullhead and black crappie. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Curtis Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 12°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Curtis Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Part of this sits inside or beside Posen Wildlife Management Area, so read the notices. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Tyson Lake is 3.5 miles off. Treat access at Curtis Lake as something to verify.