Matson Lake in Polk County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Matson Lake sits in Polk County, out in Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. Surface area is around 27 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Supplies mean a trip to Fosston, 14 miles off. For a city, Fargo is 59 miles off. Round about: Rindahl Lake at 2 miles, Maltrud Lake within 2.1 miles, Crooked Lake at 2.2 miles, Tee Lake within 2.4 miles and Union Lake at 2.7 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Matson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. 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. Records held for Polk County cover yellow perch, brown bullhead, white sucker and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Matson Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 68°F, while January sits near 4°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Matson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the pike, wire up and throw larger lures along the weed edges. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Rindahl Lake is 2 miles distant. Where Matson Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.