East Nelson Lake Fishing near Staples, Minnesota

• Overview

  East Nelson Lake is a Morrison County water, Minnesota side. The bank gives way to mixed forest. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Morrison County list. 8.9 miles away sits Staples, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 110 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on East Nelson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Morrison County cover largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of East Nelson Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 69°F and January near 8°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. East Nelson Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. West Nelson Lake, 1.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to East Nelson Lake locally before you travel.