First Lake near Fosston: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  First Lake is one of the Polk County waters in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,286 feet. Surface area runs to about 2 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Polk County standards. The nearest town is Fosston, 0.6 miles away. It is 69 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on First Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Polk County records list yellow perch, brown bullhead, white sucker, northern pike and black bullhead among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of First Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 3°F in January up to 68°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. First Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Second Lake is 0.2 miles off. For First Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.