Lily Lake Fishing Guide, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lily Lake stands in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,325 feet. It measures about 71 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.2 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Nearest place of any size is Perham, 7.5 miles away. Frazee is 14 miles away, with New York Mills at 15 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lily Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 70°F and January near 6°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Lily Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bolton Lake, 1 mile out. For Lily Lake in particular, ask before you travel.