Fishing at Little Sauk Lake, Todd County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Little Sauk Lake sits in Todd County, out in Minnesota. It stands 1,234 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 294 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The outline measures near 3.6 miles, so local knowledge counts. On our Todd County list it sits near the top for size. Nearest town is Osakis, 8.1 miles off. It is 103 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Little Sauk Lake

  The deepest measured water here is close to 29 feet. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Todd County include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, northern pike and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Little Sauk Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 9°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Little Sauk Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Mud Lake is 1.2 miles off. Signs at Little Sauk Lake carry more weight than any list.