Fishing at Doerfler Lake, Wright County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Doerfler Lake belongs to Wright County. The bank is 991 feet above sea level. It measures about 90 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Minnesota listings. Nearest town is Howard Lake, 2.7 miles off. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 39 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Doerfler Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Wright County include largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Doerfler Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 11°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Time your trip to Doerfler Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Taylor Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Doerfler Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.