Fishing at Lee Lake, Clay County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Lee Lake falls inside Clay County. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. Roughly 142 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 2.6 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. On our Clay County list it sits near the top for size. Hawley is the closest place, 3.4 miles off. Beyond it, Glyndon at 16 miles and Barnesville at 17 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lee Lake

  Charted depth runs to roughly 41 feet at its lowest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Clay County include bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, northern pike and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Lee Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 6°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lee Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Perch Lake, 1.1 miles out. None of that is settled for Lee Lake in what we hold.