Fishing at Mallard Lake, Becker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Mallard Lake is a Becker County water, Minnesota side. It lies 1,506 feet above sea level. It measures about 123 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Around 2.3 miles of margin, front to back. Detroit Lakes lies 22 miles from the water. Frazee is 25 miles away, with Mahnomen at 25 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Mallard Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 67°F at the top of summer and 4°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mallard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Many Point Lake is 1.3 miles distant. For Mallard Lake in particular, ask before you travel.