Dempsey Lake in Todd County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Dempsey Lake belongs to Todd County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,240 feet up. Surface area runs to about 18 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Todd County. Staples at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Fargo, 106 miles distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Dempsey Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Todd County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The shape of Dempsey Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 69°F and January near 8°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Dempsey Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. The water borders Long Prairie River Wildlife Management Area, North Unit, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Turtle Lake sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Dempsey Lake is worth confirming on the day.