Fishing Mary Lake in Todd County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Mary Lake is listed under Todd County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,204 feet above sea level. Roughly 126 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. You are looking at roughly 4.4 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. 9.6 miles away sits Melrose, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 88 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Mary Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Todd County include largemouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Mary Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 71°F and January near 9°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mary Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Schreiers Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Mary Lake.