Maria Lake near Hawley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Maria Lake falls in Clay County, part of Minnesota. It stands 1,099 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 107 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. There is roughly 1.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It is among the larger waters listed here for Clay County. The closest town, Hawley, is 3 miles distant. Fargo is the closest city, 20 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Maria Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Clay County include bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, northern pike and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Maria Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 6°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Maria Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Silver Lake sits 2.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Maria Lake locally before you travel.