Onstad Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Onstad Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,319 feet. It measures about 80 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 1.9 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Fergus Falls lies 9.9 miles from the water. For a city, Fargo is 59 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Onstad Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Onstad Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 7°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Expect Onstad Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Bass Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Onstad Lake.