Fishing at Jolly Ann Lake, Grant County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Jolly Ann Lake in Grant County, Minnesota. It stands 1,240 feet above sea level. At 295 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. There is roughly 4.7 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It is among the larger waters listed here for Grant County. Elbow Lake at 15 miles is the nearest place to stop. Fergus Falls is 17 miles and Parkers Prairie 21 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Jolly Ann Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Grant County include common carp, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Jolly Ann Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 8°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Jolly Ann Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Torgerson Lake sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Jolly Ann Lake is worth confirming on the day.