Lewis Lake Fishing near Alexandria, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lewis Lake sits in Douglas County, out in Minnesota. It sits at 1,375 feet above sea level. With some 68 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On size it sits at the modest end of our Douglas County list. Alexandria lies 11 miles from the water. Starbuck follows at 14 miles, then Glenwood at 14 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lewis Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Lewis Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Lewis Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Little Lake Oscar, 0.8 miles away. Rules at Lewis Lake are worth checking on the day.