Little Lake Osakis Fishing Guide, Todd County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Todd County end of Minnesota holds Little Lake Osakis. It stands 1,309 feet above sea level. Roughly 112 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The edge runs 1.5 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Osakis is the closest town at 7.8 miles. It is 105 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Little Lake Osakis

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, northern pike and yellow perch. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Little Lake Osakis is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 70°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Little Lake Osakis.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Beim Lake, 0.8 miles away. Treat access at Little Lake Osakis as something to verify.