Fishing McCloud Lake in Pope County, Minnesota

• Overview

  McCloud Lake stands in Pope County, Minnesota. The country here is pine and birch. Roughly 215 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Some 4.3 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Glenwood sits 8.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 104 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McCloud Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Pope County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, common carp and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of McCloud Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 9°F to 71°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on McCloud Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Grove Lake sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on McCloud Lake should be assumed from this page alone.