Iverson Lake in Otter Tail County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Iverson Lake lies in Otter Tail County, in Minnesota. The bank is 1,171 feet above sea level. At about 100 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 4.1 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Supplies mean a trip to Fergus Falls, 4.4 miles off. Fargo is the closest city, 57 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Iverson Lake

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 20 feet. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Iverson Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 7°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Iverson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Chautauqua Lake is 1.6 miles distant. Treat Iverson Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.