Melby Lake in Grant County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Grant County end of Minnesota holds Melby Lake. The country round it is rolling bush from end to end. The water covers some 55 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Elbow Lake sits 9.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Fergus Falls (19 miles) and Parkers Prairie (24 miles). The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Melby 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. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Grant County cover common carp, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Melby Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 8°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Melby Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Little Lake, 0.7 miles out. Check the position at Melby Lake before loading the car.