Mountain Lake near Long Prairie: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Mountain Lake, in Todd County. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 45 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.1 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Long Prairie sits 10 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Melrose lies 14 miles off, Sauk Centre another 14 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Todd County records list largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Take Mountain Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 9°F to 71°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mountain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Bony Dog Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Mountain Lake should be assumed from this page alone.