Fishing at North Lake Oscar, Douglas County, Minnesota

• Overview

  North Lake Oscar stands in Douglas County, Minnesota. It stands 1,368 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 121 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 2.2 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Head to Alexandria, 12 miles away, for anything you forgot. For a city, Fargo is 91 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on North Lake Oscar

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Douglas County: largemouth bass, common carp and bluegill. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work North Lake Oscar in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 8°F in January up to 70°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on North Lake Oscar more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Holmes City Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on North Lake Oscar is worth confirming on the day.