Fishing at Little Tamarack Lake, Becker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Little Tamarack Lake, in Becker County. It stands 1,549 feet above sea level. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Becker County standards. You are 17 miles from Detroit Lakes. Fargo sits 50 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Tamarack Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Becker County, recorded fish include bluegill, largemouth bass and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Little Tamarack Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 4°F to 68°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Little Tamarack Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Big Tamarack Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Little Tamarack Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.