O'Conner Lake Fishing near Crosslake, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for O'Conner Lake in the Cass County part of Minnesota. The water sits 1,335 feet up. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Nearest town is Crosslake, 19 miles off. It is 130 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on O'Conner Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of O'Conner Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 6°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish O'Conner Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Island Lake, 0.8 miles out. The position on O'Conner Lake is worth confirming on the day.