Lightning Lake Fishing Guide, Grant County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lightning Lake is one of the Grant County waters in Minnesota. The bank gives way to rolling bush. At 524 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The margin runs to about 4.1 miles in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Grant County list. The town to know is Elbow Lake, 7.3 miles out. Further out sit Fergus Falls (15 miles) and Wheaton (27 miles). Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lightning Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Grant County include common carp, largemouth bass and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lightning Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 8°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Lightning Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Pletan Lake at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Lightning Lake is worth confirming on the day.