Fifth Lake Fishing near Little Rock, Minnesota

• Overview

  Fifth Lake is one of the Clearwater County waters in Minnesota. It sits in mixed forest country. Surface area is around 35 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Head to Little Rock, 9.6 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Red Lake at 14 miles and Redby at 19 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Fifth Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Clearwater County list bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Fifth Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 3°F to 67°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Fifth Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Fourth Lake is 1.1 miles off. Check the position at Fifth Lake before loading the car.